Question

The most fertile soil of India is ______.
A. Alluvial soil
B. Red soil
C. Laterite soil
D. Mountain soil

Answer 1

Hint:A mixture of organic matter and inorganic minerals, gases, water, and dead or living organisms together is known as a soil. Soil acts as a functional unit in the ecosystem to support life on earth. Soil can be classified into three basic types depending on the size of mineral particles it contains, these are sandy, clayey and loamy or silt.

Complete answer:
In India, Indo-Gangetic plains and the floodplains of Brahmaputra river are loaded with a lot of silt. The rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra and many other Himalayan rivers bring along silt on their due course through the Himalayas which are deposited in their floodplains. This silt forms the alluvial soil which is porous and loamy (equal proportion of sand and clay) in nature. Thus, they provide good drainage as well. Alluvial soil is very fertile in nature and is favourable for agriculture and supports high productivity. The rocks of the mighty Himalayas are the parent rocks from which the alluvial soils originate. They cover about 46 per cent of the total land area of India. They provide the most fertile agricultural lands and support more than 40% of India's population. Alluvial soils are best suited for crops of rice, wheat, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, jute, maize, oilseeds, vegetables and fruits.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note:Alluvial soil is formed due to the action of water on rocks which results in its weathering. Thus, as the river flows it carries the silt along with it. The soil in the plains is constantly replenished by the recurrent floods.