Resources and Development
| Class 10 Notes | Part - II |
- Priyanka Chandratre
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ЁЯСЙ Soil as a Resource :
- The most important renewable natural resource.
- It is the medium of plant growth and supports different types of living organisms on the Earth.
- It takes thousands of years to form.
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Importance of Soil :
a) Agriculture
b) Habitat for organisms
c) Water storage
d) Raw material
e) Supports vegetation
ЁЯСЙ Classification of Soil :
On the basis of the factors responsible for soil formation, color, thickness, texture, age , chemical and physical properties, the soils are classified in different types :
1] Alluvial Soil :
Formation :
- This soil is formed by the deposition of sediments brought by rivers.
- Rivers flowing from the Himalayas carry eroded material and deposit it in plains over thousands of years.
- Major rivers responsible for this soil are Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus.
- It is most widely spread and important soil. It covers about 40% India's land area - the largest soil group.
Distribution in India :
a) Northern Plains :
1) Indo-Gangetic plains
2) States : Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal , Assam
b) Coastal Plains :
Eastern coastal plains ( deltas of rivers like Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri )
c) River Valleys :
Found in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan
Composition :
Alluvial soil consists of varying properties of :
- Sand ( coarse particles )
- Silt ( fine particles )
- Clay ( very fine particle )
Texture varies :
- Sandy near river banks
- Clayey in floodplains
- Loamy in most regions
Types of Alluvial soil :
I) Bhangar ( Old Alluvium )
- Found in upland areas away from rivers
- Older deposits
- Contains kankar ( Calcium Carbonate )
- Not renewed annually
II) Khadar ( New Alluvium )
- Found in low-lying floodplains
- New deposits brought by floods
- Very fertile
- Renewed every year
- More fertile than Bhangar
Characteristics :
Physical properties :
- Light to dark color
- Soft, porous and easily tillable
- Good water retention
Chemical properties :
- Rich in potash, lime and phosphoric acid ( in small amounts)
- Deficient in nitrogen and humus
Crops grown :
Food crops :
- Rice
- Wheat
- Maize
- Pulses
Cash crops :
- Sugarcane
- Cotton
- Jute
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2] Black Soil :
Formation :
- Black soil also called Regur soil , is formed from the weathering of volcanic rocks, especially basalt
- It is mainly associated with the lava flows of the Deccan plateau formed millions of years ago.
Distribution in India :
- Black soil is mainly found in the Deccan plateau region
- Major states : Maharashtra ( largest area ) , Madhya Pradesh , Gujrat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
- River flowing through these regions : Godavari, Krishna, Narmada and Tapi.
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Composition :
- Clay ( very high amount )
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Lime
- Potash
Characteristics :
- Color : Deep black to dark brown
- Texture : Clayey and fine-grained
- Moisture retention : very high
- Cracking nature : develops cracks in dry seasons
- Rich in : Calcium carbonate, Magnesium, Iron and Potash
- Poor in : Nitrogen and Phosphorous
Crops grown :
- Cotton ( most important )
- Sugarcane
- Wheat
- Soybean
- Groundnut
- Pulses
- Sunflower
3] Red and Yellow Soil :
Formation :
- Red and yellow soils are formed by the weathering of ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks, especially in areas with low rainfall
- Their color depends mainly on the presence and state of iron
- Red color ➡️ due to iron oxide ( oxidation of iron )
- Yellow color ➡️ due to iron oxide ( presence of moisture )
Distribution in India :
- These soils are widely spread across eastern and southern parts of India:
- Tamil Nadu
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Telangana
- Odisha
- Chhattisgarh
- Jharkhand
- Maharashtra ( eastern parts )
- Parts of Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal
Characteristics :
- Color : Red to yellow
- Texture : Sandy to loamy
- Water retention : Low ( drains quickly )
- Structure : Porous and friable
- Rich in : Iron and Potash
- Poor in : Nitrogen, humus and Phosphorous
Crops grown :
- Rice
- Wheat
- Millets ( like jowar, ragi )
- Pulses
- Groundnut
- Potato
- Cotton
4] Laterite Soil :
Formation :
- Laterite soil forms in hot and wet tropical regions with high temperature and heavy rainfall over a long time.
- First, parent rocks (igneous or metamorphic) undergo intense chemical weathering.
- Then, due to heavy rain, leaching occurs — water washes away soluble minerals like silica, calcium, and potassium.
- What remains are insoluble oxides of iron and aluminum.
- These oxides accumulate and harden, giving the soil its reddish color.
Distribution in India :
- Laterite soil is mainly found in areas with high rainfall and high temperature such as :
- Western Ghats
- Parts of : Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Odisha, Assam
Characteristics :
- Color : Red to yellow ( due to iron content )
- Texture : Coarse and porous
- Water retention : Poor
- Fertility : Low
- Rich in : Iron and Aluminum
- Poor in : Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorous
Crops grown :
- Tea
- Coffee
- Rubber
- Cashew nuts
- Coconut
5 ] Arid soil :
Distribution in India :
- Arid soil is mainly found in the north-western parts of India :
- Thar desert
- Major regions - Rajasthan ( largest area ) , Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana
Characteristics :
- Color : Red to brown
- Texture : Sandy and loose
- Water retention : Very low
- Fertility : Low
- Salt content : High ( saline nature )
- Humus : Very low
Crops grown :
- Bajara
- Wheat
- Barley
- Mustard
- Cotton
6 ] Forest Soil :
Formation :
- Forest soil is found in hilly and mountainous regions where forests grow naturally
- Its properties vary depending on altitude, climate and vegetation
- Formed by the decomposition of leaves and organic matter ( humus )
- It is influenced by temperature, rainfall and type of vegetation
Distribution in India :
- Forest soil is mainly found in :
- Himalayas
- Western Ghats
- Eastern Ghats
- Hilly areas of : Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh , Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh
Characteristics :
- Color : varies ( brown, dark brown, black )
- Texture : Coarse on slopes, finer in valley
- Water retention : Good in lower areas
- Humus content : High in upper layers
- Rich in - Organic matter
- Poor in - Nutrients like Potassium, Phosphorous, Lime in some areas
Crops grown :
- Tea
- Spices
- Maize
- Coffee
- Fruits ( apple and peach )
ЁЯСЙ Soil Erosion :
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