Question

Why does alluvial soil differ in texture? State two cash crops that grow well in alluvial soil.

Answer 1

Hint: Alluvial soil is formed due to silt deposited on riverbanks and floodplains. In India, the geographic area with the largest alluvial soil deposits is the Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra plains. The rivers Indus, Ganga, Yamuna and Brahmaputra that originate in the Himalayas bring down rocks and boulders from the mountain region which due to the water current are crushed and deposited along the plains. Because the soil has a porous texture good for drainage and is rich in minerals like potash, phosphoric acid and iron oxide, it provides favourable conditions for agriculture.

Complete answer:
i) Alluvial soil has both sandy and clayey textures. Because the soil erodes and is deposited over a long track, the deposits in the northernmost stretch at the foothills of the Shiwalik are coarse and not suitable for agriculture. The deposits in the upland region along the river beds are at a higher level than the floodplains with deposits of older Bhangar. Because their texture is more clayey and they are rich in minerals like phosphorus, they are very suitable for agriculture. The lowland plains that have fresh deposits of new Khadar every year due to flooding are loamier and also suitable for certain kinds of crops.
ii) Some cash crops that grow in alluvial soil are sugarcane and jute.

Note: Other than the Indo-Gangetic plains, alluvial soil deposits are also found along the river banks and in the deltas of rivers Mahanadi, the Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri in the Deccan region and the Narmada and Tapi valleys in Gujarat. Alluvial soil supports the cultivation of crops like rice, wheat, pulses and oilseeds very well. About 40% of India’s agricultural produce is cultivated on alluvial soil lands.