Question

Which types of soil in India is most widespread and important?

Answer 1

Hint:
 The alluvial soil is primarily present in the Satluj-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plains. They are also present in the Narmada, Tapi, and the Eastern and Western coastal plains of the valleys.

Complete solution:
The most widely distributed and valuable soil is alluvial soil. The whole northern plains are actually composed of alluvial soil. These were deposited by the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra, three major Himalayan river systems.

Alluvium is loose, unconsolidated soil or sediment that has been eroded in a non-marine environment, reshaped by water in some manner, and redeposited. Typically, alluvium is made up of a number of materials, including fine silt and clay particles, and larger sand and gravel particles. It is called an alluvial deposit when this loose alluvial material is deposited or cemented into or lithified in a lithological unit.

It is mostly accessible in India, which covers an area of 143 sq. km and is widespread in northern plains and river valleys (about 43 per cent). They are mainly found in deltas and estuaries in peninsular-India. In this soil, humus, lime and organic matter are present. In nature, it is extremely fertile.

This soil is classified into:-
- Khadar Soil (New): Fresh silts are enriched with khadar soil. They are low lying, mostly inundated during the rainy season by flooding. The floodplains of rivers are occupied by it. The khaddar tracts known as kankar are rich in focus.
- Bhangar Soil (Old): This soil is above the level of flooding. It is well-drained, but the soil texture differs from the loamy soil to the artificial soil because of the calcium carbonate nodules.

Note:
This soil, with an immature profile in undulating areas, is well-drained and poorly drained. There is a phosphorus deficiency in this soil.