Question

Which one of the following soils covers the largest area in India?
A.Alluvial soil
B.Black cotton soil
C.Lateritic soil
D.Red soil

Answer 1

Hint: This soil covers almost 46% of the total area of India. This soil is formed by the Indo-Gangetic Brahmaputra rivers due to the residue of the mud. This soil is classified in the two categories which shows its new and old form.

Complete answer: Alluvial soil covers most areas in India. This soil is formed by three important rivers of India namely, The Brahmaputra, the Indus and the Ganga. This soil is prevalent in northern India. But it’s area of stretch is vast and up to Gujarat, Rajasthan, coastal areas like the Godavari and the Kaveri rivers. Alluvial soil has different sizes of the grains and components. It has four different proportions: clay, sand, gravel and silt.
Alluvial soil is classified under two categories Bangar and Khadar that is old alluvial and new alluvial respectively. Although alluvial soil is fertile in nature, Khadar is more fertile as compared to Bangar. Khadar also has fine particles as compared to Bangar. Its importance in agriculture is enormous as it is suitable for wheat, sugarcane, pulses and cereals due to optimum fertility.

So the correct option is A. Alluvial soil. This soil covers the largest area in India.

Note: Note- there are 6 kinds of soil namely chalk, clay, silt, peat, loam and sand. The simplest kind of soil has three layers: topsoil, subsoil and C horizon. Topsoil is also called humus and it is dark in colour due to decomposition of organic matters. An interesting fact about soil is that a handful of soil contains more organisms than the entire population on earth.