Types Of Soil Of India

India is mostly an agricultural country and its economy is mostly reliant upon the export of agricultural good. There are different types of soil of India and each one of them has their own characteristics, qualities and benefits though, naturally, there are quite a few of these soils that do not allow one to grow many crops on some of these types of soil of India. As per the Indian Council of Agricultural Research there are 8 types of soil of India that are used for agricultural purposes and that are known to exist in the country.

The first of the types of soil of India is alluvial soil. Alluvial is deposited by the rivers during floods or when the river expands. These are rich in different types of nutrients and minerals that are important for plant and crop growth. These types of soil of India are ideal for plant and crop growth and there are two types of soil of India where alluvial soil is concerned- Khadar and Bhangar. The former is former is found in the southern parts of India and are sandy and pale in color. The latter is coarse, clay-like and consists of pebbles and gravel as well.

Then there are those types of soil of India that are black in color. These tend to retain moisture easily and are usually black in color. They look like crushed coal and are ideal for the growth of cotton. They have rich amounts of calcium, lime and iron. As per finding, the soil is black in color because they have formed as a result of volcanic activity and apart from cotton, wheat, rice and oil seeds can be grown in these types of soil of India too. These soils are a product of igneous rocks.

Red soil, too, is another of the many types of soil of India which is very rich in iron though there are low amounts of phosphorous and nitrogen in the soil. They cannot retain moisture and tend to be towards the acidic side. Usually crops like wheat, sugarcane, rice, tobacco and cotton are grown in red soil. These types of soil of India are said to be formed due to the weathering of rocks that are crystalline in composition and can be found in places where low amounts of rainfall are experienced.

Another of the various types of soil of India is laterite soil which is used to build houses in the country. The silica is usually leached from it and upon exposure to the atmosphere it becomes hard. They are usually brown to yellow in color and are formed where the temperature is very high and where there are bouts of rainfall too. As per research it is rich in iron and is used to grow rubber, coffee, tea and cashew too.

Desert soils are included in the types of soil of India and they tend to lack moisture and are used to grow barley and millets. As is obvious by the name, these can be found in desert areas.