Soils of India Notes for SSC Exams
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
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Soils of India are an important and easy chapter of Indian Geography. The questions ask which soil is found in which region, which crop grows best in which soil and what the special features of each soil are. These soils of India notes for SSC follow the classification of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and give the soil types in simple tables with practice questions.
Types of Soils in India
| Soil | Where found | Main crops | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alluvial | Northern plains, river deltas and coastal plains | Wheat, rice, sugarcane, jute | Most widespread (about 40 per cent of the land) and most fertile; rich in potash, poor in nitrogen and phosphorus |
| Black (Regur) | Deccan plateau: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka | Cotton, soybean, sugarcane, wheat | Made from volcanic rocks (basalt); holds moisture; sticky when wet and cracks when dry (self-ploughing) |
| Red | Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand | Millets, groundnut, pulses, tobacco | Red colour from iron oxide; porous; poor in nitrogen, humus and lime |
| Laterite | Areas of heavy rain: Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, Assam, hills of Meghalaya | Tea, coffee, rubber, cashew | Formed by leaching; hard when dry; poor in fertility; "later" means brick |
| Desert (Arid) | Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat and Haryana | Bajra, barley (with irrigation) | Sandy, low in humus and moisture; rich in salts |
| Mountain (Forest) | Himalayan and hilly areas | Tea, fruits, spices, rice in terraces | Varies with height; rich in humus but poor in potash and lime |
| Saline and Alkaline | Dry areas of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh | Not suitable for crops | Called Reh, Kallar or Usar; contain salts |
| Peaty and Marshy | Kerala (Kuttanad), Sundarbans, Odisha | Rice | Rich in organic matter; black and heavy |
Alluvial Soil in Detail
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Khadar | New alluvium of the flood plains; light colour and more fertile |
| Bhangar | Old alluvium of the higher plains; darker and with kankar nodules |
Black Soil in Detail
- It is also called regur soil or black cotton soil.
- It is rich in iron, lime, calcium and magnesium, but poor in nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter.
- It is very good for cotton, so Maharashtra and Gujarat are cotton growing states.
- It becomes sticky in the rainy season and develops deep cracks in summer.
Soil Erosion
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Heavy rain and floods | Washing away of the top soil; ravines (as in the Chambal) |
| Deforestation | Loose soil is carried away by wind and water |
| Overgrazing and wrong farming | Loss of fertility |
Soil Conservation Methods
- Contour ploughing: ploughing along the slope lines to slow the flow of water.
- Terrace farming: making steps on hill slopes.
- Shelter belts: planting rows of trees to stop wind erosion.
- Crop rotation and mixed farming: keep the soil fertile.
- Afforestation: planting trees to hold the soil.
Useful Facts
- World Soil Day is celebrated on 5 December.
- The Soil Health Card Scheme was started in 2015 to tell farmers about the quality of their soil.
- The study of soil is called pedology.
- The ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) classified the soils of India into eight major groups.
Quick Tips
- Learn the soil, region, crop and feature in one table.
- Link black soil with cotton and alluvial soil with wheat and rice.
- Remember that laterite soil is formed by leaching in heavy rainfall areas.
- Remember that Khadar is new and Bhangar is old alluvium.
Quick Revision Points
- Alluvial soil is the most widespread and most fertile.
- Black soil is best for cotton and holds moisture.
- Red soil gets its colour from iron oxide.
- Laterite soil is formed by leaching.
- World Soil Day is on 5 December.
Practice Questions With Answers
- Which is the most widespread soil of India?
Answer: Alluvial soil - Which soil is best for cotton?
Answer: Black (regur) soil - Which soil is formed from basalt rocks?
Answer: Black soil - Which soil is red because of iron oxide?
Answer: Red soil - Which soil is formed by leaching?
Answer: Laterite soil - What is the new alluvium called?
Answer: Khadar - What is the old alluvium called?
Answer: Bhangar - Which soil is found in the Rajasthan desert?
Answer: Desert (arid) soil - Which method of conservation is used on hill slopes?
Answer: Terrace farming - On which date is World Soil Day celebrated?
Answer: 5 December
How to Practise This Chapter
Make a table of the soil, the region and the crop, and revise it daily for a week. Then solve questions from our practice papers, the free SSC quizzes and the previous year papers page. Read the previous chapters, Rivers of India and National Parks of India, and the next chapter, Climate and Monsoon of India. See all topics on the Indian Geography notes page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many types of soils are there in India?
The ICAR classifies the soils of India into eight major groups, and the main ones are alluvial, black, red, laterite, desert and mountain soils.
Which is the most fertile soil of India?
Alluvial soil is the most fertile and the most widespread soil of India.
Which soil is best for cotton?
Black soil, also called regur soil, is best for cotton.
Why is black soil black?
It is formed from volcanic basalt rocks and has titanium and iron compounds, which give it the dark colour.
What is laterite soil?
Laterite soil is formed by the leaching of nutrients in areas of heavy rain and high temperature. It is suitable for tea, coffee and cashew.
What is the difference between khadar and bhangar?
Khadar is the new, fertile alluvium of the flood plains, and bhangar is the old alluvium of the higher land with kankar.
What is soil erosion?
Soil erosion is the removal of the top layer of the soil by wind, water or human activity.
How can soil erosion be controlled?
It can be controlled by contour ploughing, terrace farming, shelter belts, crop rotation and planting trees.
What is the Soil Health Card Scheme?
It is a scheme started in 2015 that gives every farmer a card with the details of the nutrients in his soil.
How can I remember soils easily?
Learn the soil with its region, crop and one feature in a table, and revise it with a quiz every week.
What is pedology?
Pedology is the study of soils.
How many questions come from soils in SSC exams?
Usually one question comes from soils in SSC General Awareness papers, but the number changes from year to year.
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National Parks of India Notes for SSC Exams
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Climate and Monsoon of India Notes for SSC Exams
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.