Question

In the general geographical area of our country, the soil that occupies the largest area is _______
A. Red soil
B. Laterite soil
C. Alluvial soil
D. Mountain soil

Answer 1

Hint: It is a very fertile kind of soil. It is found in river valleys and plains most commonly. It is built up of silt deposits.

Complete Answer:
India has a large range of soil groups, which are all very distinct from each other. The soils in India have been classified into different types depending on relief, geology, chemical composition, fertility, physical structure etc. Some kinds of soils are found more abundantly than others.

Let us now see how abundant each kind of soil in India are-
A. Red soil is a type of soil that has thin organic and mineral layers. They are generally formed out of crystalline rocks. It is the third most commonly found soil type in India, so it is not the correct answer.

B. Laterite soil is a type of soil that is rich in iron and aluminium. They are formed by weathering of parent rock. Around 10% of India has laterite soil, so it is not the correct answer.

C. Alluvial soil is the most abundantly available type of soil in India. It is formed by the deposition of silt by the rivers on the plains surrounding them. It covers around 46% of the total land area of India. Therefore, this is the correct answer.

D. Mountain soil is the kind of soil found in mountainous regions. This type of soil covers around 8.7% of the total geographical area of India. Therefore, this is not the correct answer.

Hence the correct answer is option C.

Note: Red soil in India is used to grow wheat, cotton, millets, oilseeds, tobacco etc. with the use of fertilizers. Laterite soil is used to grow coffee, rubber, coconut, cinchona, arecanut etc. with the help of adequate fertilizers and irrigation. Alluvial soil is used to grow a wide variety of crops like rice, wheat, jute, sugarcane, potato, vegetables etc. Mountain soil is used to grow tea, rice, beans, squash, corn and many kinds of vegetables.