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There are seven soil deposits in [[Indian subcontinent|India]]. They are [[Alluvium|alluvial soil]], [[Black Soil|black soil]], [[red soil]], [[laterite soil]], or [[Acid soil|arid soil]], and [[forest]] and [[Mountain|mountainous]] soil,marsh soil. These soils are formed by the sediments brought down by the rivers. They are also have varied chemical properties. Sundarbans mangrove swamps are rich in Marsh soil.
== Major soil deposits ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Soil deposit
!Description
!Image
|-
|Alluvial soil
|Alluvial soil have been deposited by the [[Indus River|Indus]], the [[Ganges]], and the [[Brahmaputra River|Brahmaputra]] rivers. The entire [[Indo-Gangetic Plain|northern plains]] (including parts of [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Assam]], [[Bihar]] (Almost entirely), [[Chandigarh]], [[Delhi]] (Almost entirely), [[Haryana]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], and [[West Bengal]]) are made of alluvial soil. These soil also extend in [[Rajasthan]] and [[Gujarat]] through a narrow corridor. It is also found in the [[Eastern Coastal Plains|eastern coastal plains]] particularly in the deltas of [[Mahanadi]], the [[Godavari River|Godavari]], the [[Krishna River|Krishna]], and the [[Kaveri]] rivers.<ref name=":5">https://www.ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/jess101.pdf</ref><ref name=":0">https://ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/kegy106.pdf</ref>
Alluvial soil as a whole are very fertile. Mostly these soils contain adequate proportion of [[potash]], [[phosphoric acid]] and [[Calcium oxide|lime]] which are ideal for the growth of [[sugarcane]], [[Paddy field|paddy]], [[wheat]], and other [[cereal]] and [[Legume|pulse]] crops.<ref name=":5" />
|[[File:Alluvium.JPG|thumb|Alluvial soil deposit]]
|-
|Black soil
|Black soil is typical of the Deccan trap ([[Basalt]]) region spread over northwests [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan plateau]] and is made up of lava flows. They cover the plateaus of [[Maharashtra]], [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]], [[Malwa]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], and [[Chhattisgarh|Chattishgarh]] and extend in the south-east direction along the [[Godavari River|Godavari]] and the [[Krishna River|Krishna]] valleys.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/437-1391266962.pdf</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=India - Black soils|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/India|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
Also known as ''regur soil'', black soil is ideal for growing [[cotton]] and is known as ''black cotton soil''. They are rich in soil nutrients, such as [[calcium carbonate]], [[magnesium]], [[potash]] and [[Calcium oxide|lime]]. These soils are generally poor in [[Phosphoric acid|phosphoric]] contents.<ref name=":5" />

The black soils are made up of [[Clay|clayey soil]], well-known for their capacity to hold moisture. Because of their high [[clay]] content, black soils develop wide cracks during the dry season, but their iron-rich granular structure makes them resistant to wind and water erosion. They are poor in [[humus]] yet highly moisture-retentive, thus responding well to [[irrigation]]. Those soils are also found on many peripheral tracts where the underlying [[basalt]] has been shifted from its original location by [[fluvial processes]]. The sifting has only led to an increased concentration of [[Clastic rock|clastic]] contents.<ref name=":6" />
|[[File:A farm waiting for rain, note black regur soil - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Black regur soil in [[Buldhana]], [[Maharashtra|Maharashrta]] ]]
|-
|Red and yellow soil
|Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern parts of the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan plateau]]. Yellow and red soils are also found in parts of [[Odisha]], [[Chhattisgarh]], southern parts of the [[Indo-Gangetic Plain|middle Ganga plain]] and along the Piedmont zone of the [[Western Ghats]]. Red and yellow soils develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and [[Metamorphic rock|metamorphic rocks]]. It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0" />
|
|-
|Laterite soil
|Laterite soils are mainly found in [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], and the hilly areas of [[Odisha]] and [[Assam]]. After adopting appropriate [[soil conservation]] techniques particularly in the hilly areas of [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]] and [[Tamil Nadu]], this soil is very useful for growing [[tea]] and [[coffee]]. Red laterite soils in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Kerala]] are more suitable for crops like [[Cashew|cashew nut]].

The laterite soil develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall. This is the result of intense [[Leaching (agriculture)|leaching]] due to heavy rain. [[Humus]] content of the soil is low because most of the microorganisms, particularly the decomposers, like bacteria, get destroyed due to high temperature. Laterite soils are suitable for cultivation with adequate doses of manure sand fertilizers.
|[[File:Abandoned laterite quarry. C 014.jpg|thumb|Abandoned laterite quarry in [[Angadipuram]], [[Kerala]]]]
|-
|Arid soil
|Arid soils range from red to brown in colour. They are generally sandy in texture and saline in nature. In some areas the salt content is very high and common salt is obtained by evaporating the water. Due to the dry climate, high temperature, evaporation is faster and the soil lacks [[humus]] and moisture. The lower horizons of the soil are occupied by ''[[Kankar]]'' because of the increasing [[Calcium oxide|calcium]] content downwards. The ''[[Kankar]]'' layer formations in the bottom horizons restrict the infiltration of water. After proper irrigation these soils become cultivable as has been in the case of western [[Rajasthan]].
|[[File:Chandeni arid land.jpg|thumb|Arid land in [[Chandeni]], [[Haryana]]]]
|-
|Forest soil
|Forests soils are found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient [[Rainforest|rainforests]] are available. The soils texture varies according to the mountain environment where they are formed. They are [[Loam|loamy]] and [[Silt|silty]] in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes. In the snow covered areas of Himalayas, these soils experience denudation and are acidic with low humus content. The soils found in the lower parts of the valleys particularly on the river terraces and alluvial fans are fertile.
|[[File:In forest.jpg|thumb|Forest soils]]
|}

==Alluvial soils==
The rivers deposit very fine particles of soil in different parts of India. This type of soil is widespread in the [[Northern Plains]] of India. Alluvial soils are rich in humus as they are deposited by three important river of [[Himalayas]], [[Indus river]], [[Ganges]] and [[Brahmaputra River]]. They are found in the eastern coastal plains of [[India]], particularly in the [[deltas]] of rivers [[Mahanadi]], [[Godavari river]], [[Krishna river]]
and [[Kaveri]]. These are generally rich in [[Phosphoric acid]], [[Lime (material)|lime]] and [[potash]], which makes it ideal for growing [[sugarcane]], [[Paddy (unmilled rice)|paddy]], [[wheat]] and other [[cereal crops]].

== Mountain soils ==
Mountain soils are found in the valleys and hill slopes of the Himalayas at altitudes of 2500 m to 3000 m. These soils are least studied and often the vegetation cover helps in their classification. The carbon nitrogen ratio is very wide. They are silty loam to loam in texture and dark brown in colour.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

==Desert soils==
These soils are found in [[Thar desert]] in the Indian state of [[Rajasthan]]. This soil is formed from arid condition with practically negligible [[rainfall]]. This type of soil is highly [[pervious]] and have a low density. It requires densification to increase its bearing capacity and shearing strength. Commonly recognised [[plants]] that grow in these soils are [[cactus|cacti]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

==Black soils==
This type of soil is black in colour. These soils are also called as [[regur]] soils. In the north-westen found [[Deccan plateau|Deccan Plateau]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sites.google.com/.../soils-of-india | title=Soils of India | access-date=11 November 2014}}</ref> The soil is suitable for growing [[cotton]]s, due to which it is also known as [[black cotton soil]]. It is believed that the climatic conditions along with the parent rock material are the important factors for the formation of black soil. This type of soil is typically of the Deccan trap region spread over Northwest Deccan plateau and is made from [[lava flows]]. They cover the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and extend in South-East direction along Godavari and Krishna valleys. These soils contain essential [[clay minerals]] as [[montmorillonite]]. These soils cover an extensive area of 300,000 square kilometres.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vh9DkErx14gC&q=major+soil+deposits+of+India&pg=PA10 | title=Google books | isbn=9788122406337 | access-date=11 November 2014| last1=Nagaraj | first1=T. S. | last2=Srinivasa | first2=B. R. | year=1994 }}</ref> The engineering properties of such soils are as follows:{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
* High compressibility
* Low bearing capacity
* Low shearing strength
They are made up of clayey materials. They are well known for their capacity to hold moisture. They are rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime. During summer, they develops crack. This is very helpful for aeration of black soil.

==Red Soils==
{{Main|Red_soil#Red_soil_in_India}}
'''Red soil''' is a type of [[soil]] that develops in a warm, [[Temperate climate|temperate]], moist climate under [[deciduous]] or [[Temperate broad leaf and mixed forest|mixed forest]], having thin organic and organic-mineral layers overlying a '''yellowish-brown''' leached layer resting on an illuvium red layer. Red soils are generally derived from [[Crystal|crystalline]] rock. They are usually poor growing soils, low in nutrients and [[humus]] and difficult to cultivate because of its low [[Field capacity|water holding capacity]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

==Laterite soils==
[[Laterite]] soils are formed from chemical decomposition of rocks. These [[soils]] mainly contain [[iron oxide]] which gives them characteristic [[pink]] or [[red]] color. These soils are found in Central,Eastern and Southern India. These are residual soils is formed from basalt and have high [[specific gravity]]. These soils are mostly composed as calcite depositions.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

==Marine deposits==
These soils are found in narrow belt near the south-west coast of [[India]]. These soils have low shearing strength and high compressibility. The marine clays are soft and highly plastic. They contain large amount of [[organic matter]] and are not suitable for construction of [[Megastructure|megastructures]] like [[buildings]], [[crane (machine)|crane]]s etc.<ref>soil mechanics and foundation engineering by Dr. K.R. ARORA.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.civilengg.blogspot.com | title=Civil engineering hub | access-date=11 November 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Asia topic|Major soil deposits of}}

[[Category:Geology of India]]
[[Category:Soil science in India]]
[[Category:Soil]]
[[Category:Soil mechanics]]

Major soil deposits of India - Revision history

imported>Pachu Kannan: Reverting edit(s) by 110.172.154.169 (talk) to rev. 1041273925 by Jejsiguoa: test edits (RW 16.1)