{"id":9990,"date":"2025-11-07T11:26:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T11:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/?p=9990"},"modified":"2025-11-11T09:49:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T09:49:03","slug":"types-of-soils-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Types of Soils in India: Alluvial, Black, Laterite &amp; More"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em><strong>Major soil types in India <\/strong>highlight the diverse soil types that have been formed due to the country\u2019s varied geography and climate.<\/em> <em>Understanding these soil types is crucial for optimising agricultural practices and ensuring sustainable land use. This article aims to study in detail the different types of soils found in India, their characteristics, chemical properties, and the crops best suited for each soil type.<\/em><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_56_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#What_is_Soil\" title=\"What is Soil?\">What is Soil?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Types_of_Soils_in_India\" title=\"Types of Soils in India\">Types of Soils in India<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Alluvial_Soils_in_India\" title=\"Alluvial Soils in India\">Alluvial Soils in India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Red_and_Yellow_Soil_in_India\" title=\"Red and Yellow Soil in India\">Red and Yellow Soil in India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Black_Soil_in_India\" title=\"Black Soil in India\">Black Soil in India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Desert_Soil_in_India\" title=\"Desert Soil in India\">Desert Soil in India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Laterite_Soil_in_India\" title=\"Laterite Soil in India\">Laterite Soil in India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Mountain_Soil_in_India\" title=\"Mountain Soil in India\">Mountain Soil in India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Saline_and_Alkaline_Soils\" title=\"Saline and Alkaline Soils\">Saline and Alkaline Soils<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Peaty_and_Marshy_Soils_in_India\" title=\"Peaty and Marshy Soils in India\">Peaty and Marshy Soils in India<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Table_of_Types_of_Soil_in_India_with_Percentage\" title=\"Table of Types of Soil in India with Percentage\">Table of Types of Soil in India with Percentage<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)\">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#How_many_types_of_soil_in_India\" title=\"How many types of soil in India?\">How many types of soil in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Where_is_black_soil_found_in_India\" title=\"Where is black soil found in India?\">Where is black soil found in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Where_is_alluvial_soil_found_in_India\" title=\"Where is alluvial soil found in India?\">Where is alluvial soil found in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Where_is_red_soil_found_in_India\" title=\"Where is red soil found in India?\">Where is red soil found in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/types-of-soils-in-india\/#Where_is_laterite_soil_found_in_India\" title=\"Where is laterite soil found in India?\">Where is laterite soil found in India?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4e475068beac8aec1355c9df40cda167\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Soil\"><\/span><strong>What is Soil?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Soil <\/strong>is the mixture of <strong>rock debris<\/strong> and <strong>organic materials<\/strong> that develop on the Earth\u2019s surface.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mineral particles, humus, water, <\/strong>and <strong>air <\/strong>are the components of soil.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Various <strong>forces of nature<\/strong>, such as <strong>changes in temperature,<\/strong> actions of <strong>running water, wind, glaciers<\/strong>, and activities of <strong>decomposers<\/strong>, contribute to the formation of soil.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It takes <strong>millions of years<\/strong> to form soil up to a few <strong>centimetres <\/strong>in depth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><strong>Read our detailed article on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/soil\/\">Soils of India.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c7a437337635a0dd085e58a6e333964e\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Types_of_Soils_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Types of Soils in India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The varied relief features, landforms, climatic realms, and vegetation types of India have contributed to the development of various soil types in India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Based on this, the <strong>Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR)<\/strong> classified soils into eight types:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Alluvial Soils,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Red Soils,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Black Soils (Regur),<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Desert Soils,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laterite Soils,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mountain Soils,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alkaline Soils, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peaty and Marshy Soils.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>All<strong> these soils of India <\/strong>have been discussed in detail in the following section.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"530\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/srfsrt.png\" alt=\"types of soils in india\" class=\"wp-image-10054\" style=\"width:326px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/srfsrt.png 460w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/srfsrt-224x258.png 224w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/srfsrt-365x420.png 365w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/srfsrt-150x173.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Alluvial_Soils_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Alluvial Soils in India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Alluvial soils in India<\/strong> occur mainly in the <strong>Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plains, <\/strong>the valleys of<strong> Narmada and Tapi,<\/strong> and the <strong>Eastern <\/strong>and <strong>Western Coastal Plains.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are mainly derived from <strong>debris <\/strong>from the <strong>Himalayas <\/strong>or <strong>silt <\/strong>left out by the<strong> retreating sea.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>This is the largest soil group in India, covering about 46% of the total <\/strong>area and supporting more than<strong> 40% of the<\/strong> <strong>Indian population.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Characteristics of Alluvial Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>alluvial soils&#8217; colour <\/strong>varies from <strong>light grey to ash grey,<\/strong> and their<strong> texture is sandy to silty loam.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These soils are both <strong>well-drained <\/strong>and <strong>poorly drained.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In general, they have an<strong> immature profile in undulating areas,<\/strong> while in the <strong>levelled areas,<\/strong> they have a <strong>well-developed and mature profile.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chemical Properties of Alluvial Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The soil has <strong>low nitrogen content,<\/strong> whereas <strong>potash, phosphoric acid and alkaline<\/strong> are in adequate amounts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Types of Alluvial Soil in India<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The alluvial<strong> soils in India<\/strong> may be divided into the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Khadar Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The<strong> Khadar Soils <\/strong>are<strong> low-lying<\/strong> and frequently <strong>inundated by floods<\/strong> during the<strong> rainy season.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thus, the <strong>khadar <\/strong>occupies the <strong>flood plains <\/strong>of the <strong>rivers <\/strong>and is enriched by <strong>fresh silt deposits <\/strong>every year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the <strong>drier areas,<\/strong> it also exhibits stretches of <strong>saline <\/strong>and <strong>alkaline efflorescences <\/strong>locally known as <strong>reh, kallar, or thur.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bhangar Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is <strong>above the flood level<\/strong>. It is generally <strong>well-drained<\/strong> but contains<strong> concretion (kankars)<\/strong> of impure calcium carbonate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The soil texture varies from <strong>loamy soil to clayey loam<\/strong>. It is well-drained and suited to <strong>wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, pulses, oilseeds, barseem (fodder), fruits, <\/strong>and <strong>vegetables.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Alluvial soils<\/strong> are rich in <strong>humus, phosphoric acid, lime, and organic matter. <\/strong>However, they are deficient in <strong>potash<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the best agricultural soil due to the following reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They contain a <strong>wide variety of salts<\/strong> derived from <strong>Himalayan rocks.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are <strong>light and porous,<\/strong> therefore <strong>easily tillable.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Because of a <strong>high water table <\/strong>and an<strong> easily penetrable stratum, they are suitable for canal irrigation.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, as the water goes very deep, these soils are unsuitable for <strong>crops requiring water retention<\/strong> around the roots.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These soils are <strong>rich in potash<\/strong> and <strong>poor in nitrogen and organic matter.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Red_and_Yellow_Soil_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Red and Yellow Soil in India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They are found mainly over the <strong>Peninsula <\/strong>from <strong>Tamil Nadu<\/strong> in the south to <strong>Bundelkhand <\/strong>in the north, <strong>Rajmahal <\/strong>in the east to <strong>Kathiawad <\/strong>and <strong>Kutch <\/strong>in the west.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These soils are also found in tracts in <strong>western Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, southern Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Orissa<\/strong> and in scattered patches in <strong>Bundelkhand, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra<\/strong> (Uttar Pradesh), <strong>Banswara, Bhilwara, and Udaipur <\/strong>(Rajasthan).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Characteristics of Red and Yellow Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They cover around <strong>18.5%<\/strong> of India&#8217;s total geographical area.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Their colour is mainly <strong>red <\/strong>because of the presence of <strong>ferric oxides.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Generally, the <strong>top layer is red,<\/strong> while the <strong>horizon below is yellowish<\/strong> in colour.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When hydrated, the soil appears <strong>yellow<\/strong>. The texture of red soils varies from <strong>sand to clay and loam.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Their other characteristics include <strong>a porous and friable structure, the absence of lime, kankar, and carbonates,<\/strong> and a<strong> small quantity of soluble salts.<\/strong> They are mainly found in <strong>low-rainfall areas.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chemical Properties of Red and Yellow Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These soils are typically deficient in lime, phosphate, magnesia, nitrogen, humus, and potash.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Intense leaching poses a significant threat to them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the uplands, they are thin, poor, gravelly, sandy, or stony, and porous, with a light colour.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, in the lower plains and valleys, they are rich, deep, dark-coloured fertile loams.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important Crops<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Places where irrigation water is available are devoted to <strong>wheat, cotton, pulses, tobacco, millets, oilseeds (linseed), potatoes, and orchards.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Black_Soil_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Black Soil in India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Black soils<\/strong>, also known as <strong>Regur (cotton-soil)<\/strong>. Getting their <strong>parent material from the weathered rocks of Cretaceous lava.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They stretch over the greater parts of <strong>Gujarat, Maharashtra, western Madhya Pradesh, north-western Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand, up to Rajmahal Hills.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are <strong>mature soils.<\/strong> Over the greater parts of the<strong> black Earth soil,<\/strong> the <strong>average annual rainfall varies between 50 and 75 cm.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The colour of these soils varies from <strong>deep black to light black.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Characteristics of Black Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They cover around<strong> 15% of India&#8217;s total geographical area. <\/strong>Moreover, these soils have a <strong>high water-retaining capacity.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are <strong>compact and tenacious when wet<\/strong> and develop <strong>wide cracks when dry.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In other words, they <strong>swell greatly and become sticky when wet in the rainy season.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When the soil is wet, plowing the field becomes difficult, as the plough gets stuck in the mud.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the dry season, the moisture evaporates, causing the<strong> soil to shrink and develop wide cracks, often 10-15 cm deep.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This results in a natural <strong>&#8216;self-ploughing&#8217; effect<\/strong>. Due to its slow absorption and gradual loss of moisture, black soil retains moisture for a long time, helping crops, especially rain-fed ones, to endure even during dry periods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chemical Properties of Black Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These soils generally have a clayey texture and are <strong>rich in iron, lime, calcium, potash, aluminium, and magnesium.<\/strong> However, they are <strong>deficient in nitrogen, phosphorous, and organic matter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important Crops<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These soils are highly productive and thus well suited for cultivating <strong>cotton, pulses, millets, linseed, castor, tobacco, sugarcane, vegetables, and citrus fruits.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Desert_Soil_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Desert Soil in India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These soils are developed under<strong> arid and semi-arid conditions<\/strong> and deposited mainly by wind.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are found mainly in Rajasthan, west of the <strong>Aravallis, northern Gujarat, Saurashtra, Kutch, western parts of Haryana, and the south-western parts of Punjab.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chemical Properties of Desert Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They cover around <strong>4.4% of the total geographical area.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Desert soils are<strong> sandy to gravel, <\/strong>with low organic matter, low nitrogen, and a varying percentage of<strong> calcium carbonate.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These soils contain a <strong>high percentage of soluble salts<\/strong> but have low moisture content and low water-retaining capacity.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If irrigated, they give high agricultural returns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important Crops<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The availability of water from the <strong>Indira-Gandhi Canal <\/strong>has transformed the agricultural landscape of the desert soils of western Rajasthan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These soils are mainly devoted to <strong>bajra, pulses, guar, and fodder, and less water is required for crops.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Laterite_Soil_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Laterite Soil in India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These are the typical soils of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/monsoon-in-india\/\">monsoon climate<\/a>, <\/strong>characterised by <strong>seasonal rainfall.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With rain, <strong>lime and silica<\/strong> are leached away, leaving soil rich in <strong>iron oxide and aluminium,<\/strong> leading to the formation of <strong>laterite soil.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The name is derived from the Latin word \u201c<strong>later<\/strong>,\u201d which means <strong>brick. Red laterite soil<\/strong> in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh is well suited for growing tree crops such as <strong>cashew nuts.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laterite soil <strong>hardens rapidly and irreversibly <\/strong>on exposure to the air, a property that leads to its use as <strong>building bricks<\/strong> in southern India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chemical Properties of Laterite Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They cover around <strong>3.7% of India&#8217;s total geographical area.<\/strong> The soil&#8217;s<strong> red colour <\/strong>is due to the presence of <strong>iron oxide.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The soils in the <strong>higher areas<\/strong> are generally more <strong>acidic <\/strong>than those in the <strong>low-lying areas.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These soils are rich in<strong> iron and aluminium<\/strong> but poor in <strong>nitrogen, potash, potassium, lime, and organic matter.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Although they have <strong>low fertility,<\/strong> they respond well to <strong>manuring<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These soils are found mainly in the <strong>plateau&#8217;s highlands,<\/strong> in the <strong>hills of the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Rajmahal Hills, Satpura, Vindhya, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, North Cachar Hills <\/strong>of Assam, and the <strong>Garo Hills of Meghalaya.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important Crops<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are mainly devoted to rice, ragi, sugarcane, and cashew nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mountain_Soil_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Mountain Soil in India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They cover around <strong>3.7% of India&#8217;s total geographical area. The soil&#8217;s red colour <\/strong>is due to the presence of<strong> iron oxide.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The soils in the <strong>higher areas <\/strong>are generally more <strong>acidic <\/strong>than those in the<strong> low-lying areas.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These soils are rich in <strong>iron and aluminium<\/strong> but poor in <strong>nitrogen, potash, potassium, lime, and organic matter.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Although they have<strong> low fertility,<\/strong> they respond well to <strong>manuring<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These soils are found mainly in the<strong> plateau&#8217;s highlands,<\/strong> in the <strong>hills of the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Rajmahal Hills, Satpura, Vindhya, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, North Cachar Hills <\/strong>of Assam, and the <strong>Garo Hills <\/strong>of Meghalaya.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Saline_and_Alkaline_Soils\"><\/span><strong>Saline and Alkaline Soils<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>saline soils <\/strong>are characterised by <strong>sodium chloride and sodium sulphate.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In these soils, the <strong>saline and alkaline efflorescence<\/strong> appears on the surface as a layer of <strong>white salt through capillary action.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chemical Properties of Saline and Alkaline Soils<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>These soils vary from sandy to sandy loam texture.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are <strong>deficient in nitrogen and calcium and have very low water retention capacity.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These soils can be reclaimed by<strong> improving drainage, applying gypsum and\/or lime,<\/strong> and cultivating <strong>salt-resistant crops like barseem, dhaincha,<\/strong> and other<strong> leguminous crops.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These soils are known by different names in different parts of the country.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They are called <strong>reh, kallar, usar, rakar, thur, karl, and chopan.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These soils are found in <strong>Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Peaty_and_Marshy_Soils_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Peaty and Marshy Soils in India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Peaty soils originate in <strong>areas of heavy<\/strong> <strong>rainfall <\/strong>where adequate drainage is unavailable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are generally submerged during the rainy season and used to <strong>cultivate rice.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chemical Properties of Peaty and Marshy Soils<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These soils are <strong>rich in organic matter and highly saline but deficient in phosphate and potash.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They mainly occur in parts of the<strong> Kottayam and Alappuzha districts of Kerala and the Sundarban delta.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are also found in the <strong>deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, and the Rann of Kutch.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The above discussed the distribution of soil in India in detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Table_of_Types_of_Soil_in_India_with_Percentage\"><\/span><strong>Table of Types of Soil in India with Percentage<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Soil Type<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Percentage Coverage<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Alluvial Soil<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">40\u201343%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Red Soil<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">18.5%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Black Soil<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">15%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Forest Soil<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">8.7%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Desert Soil<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">4.3\u20134.4%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Laterite Soil<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">4.3%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1ba26816a4b696f5145417d32f4818fd\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>diverse soil types in India<\/strong> are a testament to the country&#8217;s varied geographical and climatic conditions. Each soil type has unique characteristics and properties influence its suitability for different crops and agricultural practices. The ICAR classification provides a comprehensive framework for this understanding, enabling farmers, policymakers, and researchers to make informed decisions for better crop yield and soil conservation. As India advances in agricultural science and technology, maintaining soil health and fertility will remain a cornerstone of its agricultural strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-36e582f5505cc73c4cdb9700b969ac3b\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs\"><\/span><strong>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1722683879996\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h4 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_many_types_of_soil_in_India\"><\/span><strong>How many types of soil in India?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>India has eight major types of soil: <strong>alluvial soil, black soil, red soil, laterite soil, arid soil, saline soil, peaty soil, and forest soil.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1722683902037\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h4 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_is_black_soil_found_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Where is black soil found in India?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p><strong>Black soil<\/strong> is primarily found in the <strong>Deccan Plateau <\/strong>region of India, covering parts of <strong>Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1722683912805\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h4 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_is_alluvial_soil_found_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Where is alluvial soil found in India?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p><strong>Alluvial soil<\/strong> is predominantly found in the <strong>Gangetic Plain,<\/strong> including the states of <strong>Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Punjab.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1722683922954\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h4 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_is_red_soil_found_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Where is red soil found in India?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Red soil is primarily found in the <strong>southern part of India<\/strong>, including states like <strong>Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh,<\/strong> as well as in parts of <strong>Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.<\/strong> It is characterised by its reddish colour due to iron oxide content.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1722683944756\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h4 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_is_laterite_soil_found_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Where is laterite soil found in India?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Laterite soil is primarily found in the <strong>Western Ghats, Northeast India,<\/strong> and along the <strong>coastal regions of Karnataka, Kerala, and Goa<\/strong>. It typically forms in tropical climates with high rainfall.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Major soil types in India highlight the diverse soil types that have been formed due to the country\u2019s varied geography and climate. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":10000,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,832],"tags":[73],"class_list":["post-9990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-geography","category-indian-geography","tag-gs-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9990","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9990"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22892,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9990\/revisions\/22892"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}