This post is a continuation of our previous article on Soils of India: Classification and Characteristics. The Indian council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) set up an All India Soil Survey Committee in 1953 which divided the Indian soils into eight major groups. For ease of understanding and comparative study, this post about the 8 soil types is prepared in tabular form, highlighting the key differences.
Different soil types in India: Understand the differences
- Alluvial soils
- Black (or Regur soil)
- Red and Yellow soils
- Laterite soils
- Arid and desert soils
- Saline and alkaline soils
- Peaty and marshy soils
- Forest and mountain soils
Types of Soils |
States where found |
Rich in: |
Lacks in: |
Crops grown |
| Alluvial | Mainly found in the plains of Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand etc. | Potash and Lime | Nitrogen and Phosphorous | Large variety of rabi and kharif crops such as wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton, jute etc. |
| Black (Regur soil) | Deccan plateau- Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu, Valleys of Krishna and Godavari. | Lime, Iron, Magnesia and Alumina, Potash | Phosphorous, Nitrogen and organic matter | Cotton, sugarcane, jowar, tobacco, wheat, rice etc. |
| Red | Eastern and southern part of the deccan plateau, Orissa, Chattisgarh and southern parts of the middle Ganga plain. | Iron and Potash | Nitrogen, Phosphorous and humus. | Wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane and pulses |
| Laterite | Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Orissa hills. | Iron oxide and potash | Organic matter, Nitrogen, Phosphate and Calcium | Cashewnuts, tea, coffee, rubber |
| Arid and Desert | Western Rajastan, north Gujarat and southern Punjab | Soluble salts, phosphate | Humus, Nitrogen | Only drought resistant and salt tolerant crops such as barley, rape, cotton, millets maize and pulses |
| Saline and Alkaline | Western Gujarat, deltas of eastern coast, Sunderban areas of West Bengal, Punjab and Haryana | Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium | Nitrogen and Calcium |
Unfit for agriculture |
Model questions based on soil types for UPSC Prelims
Qn 1: Among the statements given below, identify the correct statement(s):
- Laterite soil is also known as ‘self-ploughing’ soil.
- Alluvial soils are rich in humus and nitrogen.
- Forest soils are deficient in potash and lime.
Choices:
- a) 1 only
- b) 1 and 2 only
- c) 3 only
- d) 1, 2 and 3
Right Answer c) 3 only
Explanation: The Black soil is known as self-ploughing soil. Alluvial soil lacks nitrogen.
Article Contributed by: Anushka H
Rajiv says
June 12, 2015 at 8:56 amHelpful material, thanks. But it is incomplete as it misses out on descriptions of : a) Peaty and marshy soils, and b) Forest and mountain soils.
Abhinav singh says
May 29, 2018 at 8:32 pmYeah ! You are right
Radhakrishana says
December 25, 2018 at 12:05 pmAppdiya they r righta
dhillonz says
June 16, 2015 at 10:06 pmthe topic is very nicely compiled
thanks CLEAR IAS Team
rahul says
July 16, 2015 at 5:31 pmVery helpful to understand things.
priyanka says
September 22, 2015 at 12:30 amThanks, but it is incomplete
maq says
September 22, 2015 at 8:47 pmwonderful:::::::::::::::::::
Shashwat Khokhar says
September 27, 2015 at 12:28 amFinally got the handy information
Thanks ClearIAS
Rani says
March 10, 2016 at 12:26 amHow to remember dis
Ananya Raj says
January 5, 2019 at 4:36 pmBy figuring out the map in india we can remember it a bit easily.
Titu Antony D'silva says
June 5, 2016 at 11:33 pmKindly mention the crops of each soil.
Mrs nupur chauhan says
October 12, 2016 at 12:52 pmIt’s nice helps at urgent ??
HANNA LATHEEF says
August 27, 2017 at 10:30 pmIT SEEMS GOOD BUT SOMETHING IS MISSING AS MR.RAJIV SAYS IT.SO I AM NOT REPEATING
Ravikant says
December 9, 2017 at 10:34 pmPls earth and sun p bhi topic banaiye n
Gaury says
June 9, 2019 at 11:07 amyes
Jasman says
February 17, 2018 at 10:12 pmForest soils….description is missing…nd…otherwise it is helpful
Ansh says
March 17, 2018 at 4:03 pmWonderful
persivefire says
April 17, 2018 at 11:00 pmalkaline soil can support crops which are resistant to waterlogging
persivefire says
April 17, 2018 at 11:00 pmlike rice
Murugalakshmi says
May 14, 2018 at 10:37 pmVery useful Thanks clear IAS
Pritam says
May 29, 2018 at 6:16 amOutstanding…… I was in search of this very thing only😶😶😶😶😶😶😶☺☺☺☺☺☺
AsKarl fatima says
July 8, 2018 at 2:56 pmGood but some soils description are missing
Ani Kumar sukuri says
August 13, 2018 at 12:10 pmWonderful information…
Means a lot….
Thanks …soomuch👌👌👌💝
Vansh says
October 3, 2018 at 6:17 amnice but incomplete
Divyansh says
October 12, 2018 at 10:33 pmDesert soil,mountain soil,marshy soil and alkaline soil what are they,and different names of them please tell
jj says
March 6, 2019 at 7:39 pmhelpful
Dipu says
June 13, 2019 at 12:17 pmWhy alluvial soil question is said that it rich in what and as mentioned above you guys have portrayed lacks in nitrogen and phosphorus than how could be the question is option 3, please take a look and reply fast. Thank you.