DIKSHANT

Classification of soil
NAME-DIKSHANT LEHRIA
ROLL NUMBER-2114859
BSC AGRICULTURE(2ND SEM)
INTRODUCTION......
Soil can be simply defined as a mixture of small rock particles and organic materials
which develop on the earth surface and support growth of plants.
SOIL IS COMPOSED OF FOUR ELEMENTS
 Inorganic or mineral fraction derived from the parent material.

 Organic matter.
 Air.
 Water.
Soil Profile:
The soil profile is a vertical cross-section of the soil, made of layers parallel to the
surface. Each layer of soil has a different texture and is known as the horizon.
 Horizon A (Topsoil) – It is the topmost layer where the organic
materials have got incorporated with the mineral matter, nutrients and water –
elements necessary for the growth of plants.
 Horizon B (Subsoil) – This zone has a greater content of minerals
and humus is present in smaller quantities. It represents a transition between
Horizon A and Horizon C and contains matter derived from below as well as
above.
 Horizon C (weathered and decomposed rock) – This
zone is composed of the loose parent/rock material. This layer is the first stage
in the soil formation process and eventually forms the above two layers.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOIL IN INDIA
 In the ancient period, soils were mainly classified into two – Urvara
(fertile) and Usara (sterile).
 The first scientific classification of soil was done by Vasily Dokuchaev.
In India, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has
classified soils into 8 categories. They are:
 Alluvial Soil
 Black Cotton Soil
 Red & Yellow Soil
 Laterite Soil
 Mountainous or Forest Soil
 Arid or Desert Soil
 Saline and Alkaline Soil
 Peaty and Marshy Soil
ALLUVIAL SOIL
 Alluvial soils are widespread in the northern plains and river valleys.
 It covers about 40% of the total land area of the country.
 These soils are mainly derived from the debris brought down from the Himalayas.
 In the Peninsular region, they are found in deltas of the east coast and in the river valleys.
 The colour of the alluvial soil varies from light grey to ash grey.
 The alluvial soil varies in nature from sandy loam to clay.
 They are rich in potash but poor in phosphorus.
 Two different types of alluvial soils have developed in the Upper and Middle Ganga plains
– Khadar and Bhangar.
 Khadar is the new alluvium and occupies the flood plains of the rivers. Khadar is enriched with fresh silt
deposits every year.
 Bhangar is the old alluvium, deposited away from the flood plains.
 Both Khadar and Bhangar soils contain concretion (kankars) of impure calcium carbonate.
 These soils are more loamy and clayey in the lower and middle Ganga plains and the
Brahmaputra valley.
 Alluvial soils are intensely cultivated – wheat, maize, sugarcane, pulses, oilseed, etc. are
mainly cultivated.
RED AND YELLOW SOIL
 Also known as the “omnibus group”.

 It covers about 18.5 % of the total land area of the country.
 It is found in regions of low rainfall (eastern and southern parts of the
Deccan Plateau). Along the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats, a long
stretch of area is occupied by red loamy soil. This soil is also present in
parts of Odisha and Chattisgarh and in the southern parts of the Middle
Ganga Plain.
 The red colour is due to the presence of iron in crystalline and metamorphic
rocks. The soil appears yellow when it is in hydrated form.
 The fine-grained red and yellow soil is usually fertile while the coarse-
grained soil is less fertile.
 This type of soil is generally deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus and humus.
 Wheat, cotton, oilseeds, millets, tobacco, pulses are mainly cultivated in red
and yellow soil.
BLACK SOIL
 Black soil is also known as “Regur Soil” or the “Black Cotton Soil”.
 It covers about 15% of the total land area of the country.
 It covers most of the Deccan Plateau – parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,
Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Tamil Nadu. In the upper reaches
of the Godavari and Krishna, and the north-western part of Deccan Plateau,
the black soil is very deep.
 The colour of these soils varies from deep black to grey.
 The black soils are generally clayey, deep and impermeable. They swell greatly
and become sticky when wet in the rainy season. In the dry season, the
moisture evaporates, the soil shrinks and develops wide cracks.
 Black soils are rich in iron, lime, aluminium, magnesium and also contain
potassium. However, these soils are deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus and
organic matter.
 Cotton, pulses, millets, castor, tobacco, sugarcane, citrus fruits, linseed, etc.
are mainly cultivated in black soil.
DESERT SOIL
 Also known as arid soil, it accounts for over 4.42 % of the total land area of
the country.
 The colour ranges from red to brown.
 Desert soils are sandy to gravelly in texture, have low moisture content and
low water-retaining capacity.
 These soils are saline in nature and in certain regions the salt content is so
high that common salt is obtained by evaporating water.
 These soils have normal phosphate content but are deficient in nitrogen.
 Due to increased calcium content in the lower horizons of the soil, there is
the formation of ‘kankar’ layers. These kankar layers restrict the
penetration of water and as such when water is made available through
irrigation, the soil moisture is readily available for sustainable plant growth.
 Desert soils are profoundly found in western Rajasthan and contain little
humus and organic matter.
LATERITE SOIL
 The name has been derived from the Latin word “later” which means brick.
 It accounts for about 3.7% of the total area of the country.
 These are typical soils of the monsoon climate which is characterised by
seasonal rainfall. With rain, lime and silica are leached away, and soil rich
in iron oxide and aluminium are left leading to the formation of laterite soil.
 Laterite soil is deficient in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphate and calcium,
however iron oxide and potash are in abundance.
 Although low in fertility, they respond well to manures and fertilisers.
 Laterite soils are found in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh
and hilly regions of Assam and Odisha.
 Red laterite soil in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are well suited
for tree crop cultivation like cashew nuts.
 Laterite soil hardens rapidly and irreversibly on exposure to the air, a
property that leads to its use as building bricks in southern India.
MOUNTAIN SOIL
 This type of soil is found in the forest regions where rainfall is sufficient.
 The texture of the soil depends on the mountain environment where they are
found.
 These soils are coarse-grained in the upper slopes and loamy and silty on valley
sides.
 In the snowbound areas of the Himalayas, these soils undergo denudation and
are acidic with low humus content. The soils found in the lower valleys are
fertile.
 Also called forest soil.
PEATY AND MARSHY SOIL
 These soils are found in regions of heavy rainfall and high humidity, and it
supports the good growth of vegetation.
 Peaty soils are rich in humus and organic matter.
 These soils are generally heavy and black in colour. In many places, these soils
are alkaline.
 These are found in southern Uttarakhand, the northern part of Bihar, and the
coastal areas of West Bengal, Odisha and Tamil Nadu.

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Classification of soil

 Inorganic or mineral fraction derived from the parent material.

 Also known as the “omnibus group”.

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