The loose material consisting of humus and small organic particles that can support plants to grow is known as “soil”. The vertical cross section of soil is made of layers, these layers are known as horizons.

In ancient India, soils were classified as Urvara(fertile) and Usara(sterile). The ICAR has classified the soils into 8 categories:

ALLUVIAL SOIL:

• consists of 40% of land area
• rich in potash
• types
  • khadar
  • bhangar
• wheat, maize is cultivated

BLACK SOIL:

• consists of 15% of total land area
• rich in iron and aluminium
• cotton, pulses etc are grown

RED & YELLOW SOIL:

• covers 18.5% of land area
• deficit in nitrogen, phosphorus and humus content
• crops grown are millets and pulses

DESSERT SOIL:

• covers 4.42% of land area
• ranges from red to brown in colour
• deficit in nitrogen
• saline in nature

LATERITE SOIL:

• covers 3.7% of land area
• rich in iron oxide
• cashew nuts are grown majorly

MOUNTAIN SOIL:

• found in forest regions
• acidic in nature
• low in humus content

PEATY AND MARSHY SOIL:

• rich in humus and organic content
• found in heavy rainfall regions
• alkaline in nature

SALINE AND ALKALINE SOIL:

• rich in sodium and magnesium
• found in swampy regions
• suitable for leguminous crops