GEOGRAPHY

CLASS: 10
LESSON: SOILS OF INDIA

1. What is Soil?
Soil is the uppermost layer of the earth’s crust capable of supporting life. It is a mixture of inorganic
materials like minerals and organic materials like humus.

2. What is meant by Pedogenesis?

It is the process of soil formation.

3. Mention the factors affecting soil formation.

 Weathering: Extremes of temperature (desert regions), freezing and thawing of ice breaks down rocks
 Vegetation: The growth and decay of vegetation determines the humus content in the soil
 Biochemical processes in the soil: Bacteria and fungi cause the decay of plant and animal remains
 Nature of the parent rock: This affects the proportion of different minerals in the soil.
 Topography: Hill slopes have a thin layer of soil but plains and valleys have a thick layer of soil.

4. What is meant by Soil Profile?

It is the cross section of different layers of the soil consisting of top soil, sub soil, weathered parent rock
and parent rock.

5. Mention the two major factors which determine the type of soil found in India.
Climate and nature of the parent rock.

6. What is meant by soil fertility?

The power of the soil to support vegetation is termed as fertility of the soil. A fertile soil has sufficient
depth, adequate nutrients and high moisture content.

7. Explain the terms:-

 Residual Soil: These soils are formed where they are found eg. Black soil, Red soil. These are also
termed as in-situ soils as they are formed where they are found.
 Transported Soil: These are soils which are carried down by agents of erosion such as rivers and winds
eg. Alluvial soil, Loess. These are also termed as ex-situ soils.

8. Classify soils according to their colour and texture.

Sandy soil: 60% sand and 10% clay. It allows water to seep through easily. Clayey soil: More than 60%
clay. It is moisture retentive. Loamy soil: It is a mixture of sand and clay and is very fertile soil.

9. How is alluvial soil formed?

It is formed by sediments brought down by rivers. Alluvial soils are the most important soils found in India
and cover the largest area. These soils contribute the largest share to the agricultural wealth of India.

10. Name the two types of alluvial soils and mention their differences.
The two types of alluvial soils are Khadar and Bhangar.
 Khadar : More fertile, replenished by the floods every year, new alluvium, found in the lower beds in
the valley, fine texture, lighter in colour.
 Bhangar : Less fertile, not replenished by the floods, old alluvium, found on river terraces, coarse
texture, darker in colour, contains lime nodules ( kankar)

11. Name the 3 types of alluvial soil according the area of deposition.
 Deltaic Alluvium – found in the plains of the Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari,
Krishna and Kaveri.
 Inland Alluvium – This is found in the plains of the Ganga, Brahmaputra and of Punjab, Haryana, UP,
Bihar.
 Coastal Alluvium – It is of Tidal origin and is found in the coastal strip of peninsula India and the
coastal strip of Gujarat.
12. Mention 2 differences between the alluvial soil of the Northern plains and the coastal plains of India.
 Northern Plains – the alluvial soil is porous, sandy, coarser, light coloured
 Coastal Plains – Darker, more clayey, non porous, finer

13. What is the difference between the alluvial soil of the upper course and the lower course of a river
 Upper course – Soil is coarse, porous,, not so fertile, older, bhangar soil, calcareous clay
 Lower course – fine grained, fertile, newer, khadar soil, clayey loams

14. Mention the main characteristics of alluvial soil.

 Transported or ex situ soil
 Rich in potash and lime
 Formed when the river deposits its load as it flows from the upper course to the lower course. In the
upper course the soil is coarse, medium in the middle course and fine grained in the lower course.
Note: The alluvial soil of the Deccan is darker than that found in the Northern plains as it mixes with the
black regur soil.

15. a) Name the main crops that grow on alluvial soil?

Rice, wheat (food crops) sugarcane, cotton, oilseeds, jute, tobacco (cash crops)

b) Why does alluvial soil differ in texture? It varies in texture as it is deposited by rivers. Coarse material is
deposited in the higher altitude areas and fine material is deposited in the lower plain.

16. How is Black or Regur soil formed?

It is formed by the weathering of lava rocks or Basalt.

17. Mention the main characteristics of Black soil.

It is fertile soil rich in lime, iron, magnesium, calcium, alumina and potash ( LIMCAP) *It is moisture
retentive and clayey *It is sticky when wet and hardens to form cracks when dry *It is fine grained and
self ploughing * It is formed by the disintegration of basalt and is fine grained * It is insitu soil ( insitu
means the soil is formed where it is found) * Poor in phosphorous, nitrogen and organic matter.

18. Why is Black soil mainly found in the Deccan Trap region? Why does Black soil not get leached?
The Deccan Trap is made up of lava or basaltic rocks and the disintegration leads to the formation of black
soil. Black soil does not get leached as it is sticky when wet, is clayey and moisture retentive.

19. Name the regions where Black soil is found.

It is found in the Deccan lava trap, in parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and
Tamil Nadu.

20. Name the main crops grown on Black soil.

Cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, oilseeds, tobacco

21. What is meant by (i) Deccan Trap?

Trap means steps. It describes the step like formation of lava rocks that cover the Northwestern part of the
Deccan Plateau.
(ii) Self ploughing- Black soil is known for its self ploughing nature because it is clayey soil and has much
moisture in it. It also develops cracks during the summer which exposes it to sunlight and water from rains.
Thus, it is easy to plough it.

22. Why does Black soil need to be tilled after the first rains?
It is sticky when wet and forms cracks when dry. Black soil can hold a lot of moisture in it. It needs to be
tilled after the first rain because it stores enough water required for farming. If more rain occurs before
tilling then the Black soil is bound to become sticky and it becomes difficult for the farmers to work on
such soil.

23. How is Red soil formed and where is it mainly found?

 Red soil is formed due to weathering of ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks. The parent rocks are
granite and gneiss. Red soils form the second largest soil group in India. These soils are found in parts of
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal. They are also found in parts of Meghalaya,
Mizoram and Tripura.

24. Mention the main characteristics of Red soil.

 It is red in colour due to the presence of iron oxide.
 It is deficient in phosphoric acid, humus, nitrogen and lime (PHNL)
 It is formed in situ due to the decomposition of crystalline and metamorphic rocks.
 It is porous, friable and not moisture retentive.
 The productivity of Red soil increases with the use of fertilizers,

25. Mention the main crops grown on Red soils. Why does Red soil need irrigation?
Wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, pulses. Red soil needs irrigation as it is porous and does not retain moisture.

26. How is laterite soil formed?

It is formed by the leaching of laterite rocks due to high temperature, heavy rainfall and alternating wet and
dry spells.

27. Mention the main characteristics of laterite soil.

 It is leached soil.
 It is acidic, coarse and friable.
 It is not moisture retentive, not fertile and is porous, hardens when dry.
 It is red in colour due to the high iron content.
 It is poor in nitrogen, humus and lime.

28. What is meant by Leaching?

Leaching is the process of percolation by which valuable mineral nutrients are washed down, due to heavy
rainfall, from the top layer of soil to be deposited in the lower layers, thereby making the top soil infertile.
This is also called desilication (lime and silica are leached away and iron and aluminum compounds
remain).

29. Why is laterite soil not suitable for agriculture?

This soil is highly acidic and not moisture retentive. It is leached soil. It is good as building material since it
becomes hard when dry.

30. Mention the crops that grow on laterite soil.

Coffee, rubber, cashew, tapioca

31. Where is laterite soil mainly found?

It is found on the summits of the Western and Eastern Ghats, Malwa plateau, parts of Andhra Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha

32. a) What are the differences between Black soil and Alluvial soil.
 Black Soil: *Residual soil, *formed by the denudation of lava rocks, *rich in lime, iron, magnesium,
calcium, alumina and potash * moisture retentive * black to chestnut brown in colour * in situ *poor
in humus
 Alluvial Soil: *Transported soil * formed by the sediments brought down by rivers * rich in potash
and lime * yellow to light brown in colour *ex situ *rich in humus
b) Similarities between red soil and laterite soil. Both are red in colour due to the presence of iron oxide,
both are infertile, friable, not moisture retentive, poor in organic matter, nitrogen, humus.

33. Mention the differences between Alluvial soil and Red Soil.
 Alluvial Soil - *Transported soil * Formed by the sediments brought down by rivers *Yellow to brown in
colour * moisture retentive when compared to red soil
 Red soil – *In situ soil *formed by the weathering of crystalline and metamorphic rocks *not moisture
retentive * deficient in nitrogen, humus and lime *red in colour due to the high iron content
34. Which type of soil is suitable for growing coffee in Karnataka?
Red Soil
35. How does the soil of the Yamuna plain differ from that of Central Maharashtra?
The Yamuna plain has alluvial soil which is transported soil and Central Maharashtra has Black soil which
is insitu soil

36. Mention two ways in which soils get nitrogen.

Growing leguminous crops, crop rotation, fertilizers, manure.

37. What is meant by soil erosion?

It is the removal of the top soil by water, wind and human activities

38. Name two agents of soil erosion and state a method of controlling the erosion caused.
 Water – afforestation, contour ploughing, step farming, plugging of gullies
 Wind – Planting of shelter belts, afforestation, contour ploughing

39. Why is there a need to conserve soil in India?

 Loss of top fertile soil with its minerals leads to loss of fertility and agricultural productivity
 Lowering of the underground water table and decrease in soil moisture
 Extension of arid regions, increase of droughts and floods
 Silting of river beds causing landslides

40. Explain the terms:

i) Sheet erosion – the slow removal of a thin layer of the top soil due to heavy rainfall. It occurs in regions
where the vegetation has been destroyed eg. Flood plains of Brahmaputra, Ganga, Kosi, Damodar, Chos of
Punjab
(ii) Gully erosion – Due to heavy rainfall and prolonged erosion, the soil maybe removed by water flowing
in definite paths down the slope, in channels. Gully erosion removes the nutrients and loose soil making
land unfit for cultivation eg. Chambal, Mahi, Sabarmati valley. Badland is a region with a large umber of
deep gullies or ravines eg. Chambal valley in Madhya Pradesh

41. How does man cause soil erosion?

Deforestation, overgrazing, shifting cultivation, industralisation, urbanization, mining, construction.

42. Why is soil erosion by wind common in arid regions?

There is no vegetation or human habitation to reduce the velocity of wind or stop it from carrying away the
soil. Arid regions do not support vegetation and since there are no roots to hold the soil together, the wind
can carry the loose soil easily.

43. What is meant by soil conservation?

It refers to the steps taken by man to prevent soil erosion and retain its fertility.

44. Mention the farming techniques that help in soil conservation.

Contour ploughing, strip cropping, mixed farming, growing cover crops.

45. How does Reafforestation help in soil conservation?

The roots of trees hold the soil together and prevents it from being carried away by wind or water.

46. What is meant by wind erosion and what is its effect?

Wind erosion refers to the movement and deposition of soil particles by wind. It reduces the productive
capacity of soil as most of the nutrients required by plants are carried away by the wind.

47. Mention the regions worst affected by erosion.

 Badlands of the Chambal and Yamuna
 Foothills of the western Himalayas
 Chota Nagpur Plateau
 Dry areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana
48. Mention some methods of soil conservation. *Terrace farming *Afforestation * Shelter Belts *Contour
Ploughing *Strip Cropping * Construction of dams

49. Name some soil conservation schemes. * Integrated Watershed management in catchments of flood prone
areas * Reclaiming and development of ravine areas *Control of Shifting cultivation

50. How can deserts be protected from soil erosion?

By planting trees perpendicular to the wind direction.

51. How does destruction of vegetation contribute to soil erosion?

Vegetation holds and binds the soil in one place. Due to cutting of trees, rain falls heavily on soil and
washes it away easily.

52. What is Reafforestation?

It involves replanting of trees in areas which have been deforested. It is planting two saplings for every tree
cut.
53. Explain the terms:
i) Contour ploughing- It is a method of ploughing hillslopes along the contour lines to prevent washing
down of soil.
ii) Strip Cropping- Growing different crops in strips in the same field to increase soil fertility and
production.

54. Why is the soil in the desert regions not suitable for agriculture?
It is porous, sandy, not moisture retentive, high in soluble salts, poor in humus.

55. Give geographical reasons:

i) Terrace farming is an ideal soil conservation method for hill slopes – Terraces check the speed of
running water and thus reduce the chance for erosion.
ii) Dry farming is preferred in areas of red soil – Red soil is ideal for dry farming since it is porous and
does not retain moisture. It is coarse in texture and found in areas of low rainfall.
iii) Alluvial soil is extremely fertile – It contains minerals like iron, potash, lime. It is loamy, has sufficient
depth, is renewed annually. It is transported soil

56. How can deepening of river beds help in preventing soil erosion?
Deepening of river beds increases the capacity of the river to hold water which will then not overflow to
cause soil erosion

57. State the characteristics of each of the soils named below that makes them most suitable for crop
cultivation:
i) Black Soil: Moisture retentive, self ploughing, rich in lime, iron, calcium
ii) Red Soil: Rich in iron, potash, friable, does not get water logged, responds to manures or fertilizers

58. Why is there a need for soil conservation?

Soil supports all plant life, helps to increase agricultural production, helps to retain soil fertility. It takes
years for soil formation. If soil is not conserved, the land becomes barren and cannot be cultivated.

59. Why do different regions of India have different kinds of soils?

This is because of different rocks which get weathered to form soil, different minerals, vegetation, relief.
There are different agents of erosion and differences in temperature and rainfall.

60. Name the soil:

i. Is good for the cultivation of cashew-___________
ii. Covers almost all of West Bengal-_____________
iii. Is the result of leaching- ___________
iv. Good for growing cotton-___________
v. Acidic soil-___________
vi. Leached soil-___________
vii. Formed from volcanic rocks-__________
viii. Found on river terraces____________