Soil Types of India MCQs
1. Which soil covers the largest area in India?
Alluvial soil covers about 40-43% of India's total land area, making it the most widespread soil type, predominantly found in the Northern Plains.
2. What is the other name for Black Soil?
Black soil is locally known as 'Regur' soil. It is also popularly known as 'Black Cotton Soil'.
3. Which soil is best suited for cotton cultivation?
Black soil has high moisture-retention capacity, making it ideal for growing cotton. It is found extensively in the Deccan Plateau.
4. The red color of Red Soil is due to the presence of:
The presence of ferric oxides (iron) on the crystalline and metamorphic rocks gives the soil its characteristic red color.
5. Which soil is formed as a result of intense leaching in areas of high rainfall?
Laterite soil is formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods, leading to leaching of lime and silica.
6. The old Alluvial soil is known as:
Bhangar represents the older alluvium, deposited away from the flood plains. It often contains calcareous deposits locally called 'Kankar'.
7. The new Alluvial soil found in the flood plains is called:
Khadar is the new alluvium deposited by floods annually, which enriches the soil by depositing fresh layers of silt.
8. Which soil is most suitable for Cashew Nut cultivation?
Red Laterite soils, particularly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, are very suitable for tree crops like Cashew nuts.
9. Which soil is known for its 'Self-ploughing' quality?
Black soil swells and becomes sticky when wet and develops deep cracks during the dry season, which helps in aeration. This property is called 'self-ploughing'.
10. Karewa soil, which is famous for Saffron cultivation, is found in:
Karewas are lacustrine deposits (lake deposits) found in the Kashmir Valley and are famous for the cultivation of Zafran (Saffron).
11. Which nutrient is generally deficient in most Indian soils?
Indian soils are generally poor in Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Humus.
12. What is used to treat Saline and Alkaline soils?
Gypsum is added to Saline soils to replace sodium with calcium, thereby improving soil structure and fertility.
13. Which soil is widely used for making bricks?
The word 'Laterite' is derived from the Latin word 'Later' meaning brick. It becomes very hard when dried, making it suitable for building bricks.
14. Peaty and Marshy soils are typically found in:
These soils are found in areas of heavy rainfall and high humidity. In Kerala, they are locally called 'Kari' soils.
15. Arid soils are found in which part of India?
Arid soils are characteristically sandy and saline, found in dry climatic regions like Western Rajasthan.
16. Which substance is used to reduce the acidity of the soil?
Lime (Calcium Carbonate) acts as a base and neutralizes the acidity in the soil.
17. According to ICAR, how many major groups of soils are found in India?
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has classified Indian soils into 8 major groups.
18. Gully erosion is most prominent in which region?
The Chambal basin is famous for its badlands topography created by severe gully erosion (Ravines).
19. Which soil is derived from the weathering of Basaltic Lava rocks?
Black soils are derivatives of trap lava (Deccan Trap) and are spread mostly across Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
20. Which of the following is a method of soil conservation in desert areas?
Shelter belts (rows of trees) are planted to break the wind force and check soil erosion and sand deposition in desert areas.
21. In which state is Laterite soil most abundantly found?
Laterite soil covers a large part of Kerala due to the region's high rainfall and temperature conditions.
22. Which soil turns yellow when hydrated?
Red soil looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
23. Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in:
Contour bunding helps in retaining soil moisture and preventing erosion on slopes.
24. Which component is rich in Alluvial soil?
Alluvial soils are generally adequate in Potash but deficient in Phosphorus and Nitrogen.
25. "Usara", "Kallar", and "Reh" are local names for which type of soil?
These are infertile soils containing excess sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
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Soils of India – Complete Notes for Competitive Exams (SSC, JKSSB, UPSC)
India, being a diverse country with varying climatic conditions and geology, has a wide variety of soils. Understanding the types of soils in India, their formation, characteristics, and crop suitability is essential for both agriculture and competitive exams like SSC, JKSSB, UPSC, and State PSCs.
๐ What is Soil?
Soil is the uppermost layer of the Earth's surface formed by the weathering of rocks and the decomposition of organic materials. It supports plant life and is classified based on texture, color, fertility, and climatic conditions.
๐ฑ Classification of Soils in India by ICAR (Alluvial, Black, Red, Laterite...)
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has identified 8 major types of soils found across India:
- Alluvial Soil
- Black Soil
- Red Soil
- Laterite Soil
- Mountain Soil
- Desert Soil
- Peaty & Marshy Soil
- Forest Soil
1. Alluvial Soil
Alluvial soil is the most widespread soil type in India, covering around 40% of the total land area.
- Formation: Deposited by rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus
- Regions: Northern Plains (Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar, West Bengal), Coastal Andhra & Odisha
- Texture: Sandy to silty clay
- Fertility: Very fertile, rich in potash, poor in nitrogen
- Best Crops: Wheat, Rice, Sugarcane, Jute, Pulses
2. Black Soil (Regur Soil)
Known for its cotton-growing suitability, Black soil is a product of volcanic lava flows.
- Formation: Weathering of basalt rocks
- Regions: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
- Texture: Clayey and sticky when wet
- Fertility: Rich in iron, magnesium, potash, lime; poor in phosphorus
- Best Crops: Cotton, Oilseeds, Sorghum, Millets
3. Red Soil
Red soil gets its color due to the presence of iron oxide.
- Formation: Weathering of igneous/metamorphic rocks in hot, dry climates
- Regions: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh
- Texture: Sandy to loamy
- Fertility: Low in nitrogen, phosphorus, humus
- Best Crops: Groundnut, Millets, Pulses, Oilseeds
4. Laterite Soil
Laterite soil forms under heavy rainfall and high temperature, resulting in leaching.
- Formation: Intense leaching due to heavy rainfall
- Regions: Western Ghats, parts of Odisha, Kerala, Meghalaya, Karnataka
- Texture: Porous and friable
- Fertility: Poor, needs fertilizers
- Best Crops: Tea, Coffee, Cashew, Tapioca
5. Desert Soil (Arid Soil)
Found in the arid and semi-arid regions of India, especially in western states.
- Formation: Physical disintegration of rocks in dry climate
- Regions: Rajasthan, Gujarat, parts of Haryana and Punjab
- Texture: Sandy and coarse
- Fertility: Low moisture and humus content
- Best Crops: Bajra, Guar, Date Palm (with irrigation)
6. Mountain Soil
Mountain soils are found in hilly regions and vary with altitude.
- Formation: From forest cover, humus-rich
- Regions: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, NE States
- Texture: Loamy and coarse
- Fertility: Good in valleys, acidic in higher regions
- Best Crops: Tea, Apples, Spices
7. Peaty & Marshy Soil
These are waterlogged soils rich in organic matter.
- Formation: Accumulation of organic matter in wet conditions
- Regions: Kerala, Sundarbans (West Bengal), Coastal Odisha
- Texture: Black, heavy and sticky
- Fertility: Rich in humus but acidic
- Best Crops: Paddy, Coconut
8. Forest Soil
Forest soils are formed in the Himalayan and hilly forest regions.
- Formation: Organic decomposition under forest cover
- Regions: Himalayan regions and Northeast
- Texture: Varies from loamy to coarse
- Fertility: Depends on forest type and location
- Best Crops: Maize, Barley, Fruits
๐งช Soil Erosion and Conservation
Soil erosion is the removal of the topsoil by natural forces like wind, water, and human activities.
Major causes:- Deforestation
- Overgrazing
- Shifting cultivation
- Poor farming techniques
Soil conservation methods:
- Afforestation
- Terracing
- Contour ploughing
- Use of organic manure and mulching
๐ Previous Year SSC/JKSSB One-Liners on Indian Soils
- Q: Which soil is most suitable for cotton? — Black Soil
- Q: What is the most widespread soil in India? — Alluvial Soil
- Q: Which soil is known as Regur Soil? — Black Soil
- Q: In which soil is laterization common? — Laterite Soil
- Q: Which soil is rich in iron but poor in nitrogen? — Red Soil
๐ Final Exam Pointers
- India has 8 major soil types based on ICAR classification.
- Alluvial soil is the most fertile and most widespread.
- Black soil retains moisture and is ideal for cotton.
- Laterite and Red soils need regular fertilization.
- Soil conservation is crucial for sustainable agriculture.
๐พ Tip for Exams: Focus on crop-soil matching, regions, and soil properties (like moisture, mineral content, and fertility).