Question

The largest and the most important soil group of India contributing to the country’s major agricultural production is ________.
A. Laterite
B. Alluvial
C. Red
D. Peaty

Answer 1

Hint:
> The soil is found in the Terai region.
> It is mainly located in the higher areas which are above the floodplain.
> It consists of the main nutrients needed for cultivation.

Complete answer:
Option A - Laterite is a kind of soil and rock which was found in India for the first time in the Southern part in the year 1807 and described by Francis Buchanan Hamilton. The significant feature of this soil is that it is used in agriculture for the purpose of growing oil palm, tea, coffee and cashew. It possesses a reddish to yellow colour. So, it is not the correct answer.

Option B – Alluvial soils are formed basically due to the presence of silt which is deposited by the Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra Rivers which starts from Punjab in the west to Assam and West Bengal in the east. In the case of coastal areas, these soils are found in Gujarat, Narmada and Tapi valleys which originated due to waves of the sea. The most significant property of this soil is that it has the highest productivity as compared to other soils and requires very less amount of water. It is rich in various nutrients such as potash, phosphoric acid and alkalis in an adequate amount required for the purpose of agriculture. The major crops which are grown in this soil are rice, wheat, sugarcane, tobacco, maize, cotton, soybean, jute. Fruits, vegetables etc. covering a major variety of food products. It covers approx. 46 per cent of the total area of land in India. So, it is the correct answer.

Option C – Red soil is found mainly in warm, temperate and moist regions such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh etc. They lack nutrients and humus and are considered poor for growing purposes. So, it is not the correct answer.

Option D – Peaty soil is mainly found in areas of high humidity and high amount of rainfall such as Bihar, Uttaranchal, West Bengal, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. They are normally black in colour which is suitable for the cultivation of rice only. So, it is also not the correct answer.

Therefore, the correct answer is B

Note:
> In India the alluvial soil is divided into two parts – Khaddar and Bhangar.
> Khaddar is known as the new alluvium which is pale brown in colour.
> Bhangar is known as the old alluvium which is dark in colour.