In India, laterite soil is widespread, covering over 10% of the total geographical area, namely on the summits of the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats (Rajamahal Hills, Vindhyas, Satpuras, and Malwa Plateau), southern parts of Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal Orissa, Jharkhand, Kerala, Assam, …
What are the characteristics of lateritic soil?
(i) Laterite Soils are leached Soils because alternating dry and wet spells cause the soluble silica to be removed. (ii) These Soils are acidic in nature and coarse and crumbly in texture. (iii) The proportion of lime and silica is reduced when leaching takes place.
What is the use of laterite soil?
Laterite soil are commonly used as road pavement materials to provide a better sub base, gravel for roads and base materials. They are also good material for embankment construction .
What type of soil is laterite soil?
Laterite is both a soil and a rock type rich in iron and aluminium and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration, because of high iron oxide content.
Is laterite soil good for farming?
Crops in Laterite – Lateritic Soils
Laterite soils lack fertility due to intensive leaching. When manured and irrigated, some laterites are suitable for growing plantation crops like tea, coffee, rubber, cinchona, coconut, arecanut, etc. In some areas, these soils support grazing grounds and scrub forests.
Which soil is rich in humus?
Clayey soil is very fertile and has a high amount of humus in it as humus can easily mix with clay. Thus the correct option is (C) Clayey soil.
Is responsible for the formation of lateritic soils?
Main reason of laterite soils formation is due to intense leaching. Leaching happens due to high tropical rains and high temperature. As a result of high rainfall, lime and silica are leached away, and soils rich in iron oxide and aluminium compound are left behind.
What is the pH of laterite soil?
The subsoil layers of the laterite soil are often very strongly acid (pH 4.5 and less) resulting in solubilisation of exchangeable Al and deficiency of Ca and Mg.
What is Padkhau soil?
Alluvial soil is known as ‘padkhau soil’.
How are lateritic rocks formed?
Lateritic rocks are formed through chemical weathering. … Oxidation majorly occurs in ferrous rocks containing iron. The iron in these rocks reacts with the oxygen in the atmosphere resulting in the formation of iron oxide and rusting the rocks from within.
Which type of soil is found in Meghalaya?
Soil – Department of Agriculture, Government of Meghalaya. The soils of the hills are derived from gneissic complex parent materials; they are dark brown to dark reddish-brown in colour, varying in depth from 50-200 cm. The texture of soils varies from loamy to fine loamy.
Is laterite soil rich in humus?
The laterite soil develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall. … Humus content of the soil is low because most of the microorganisms, particularly the decomposers, like bacteria, get destroyed due to high temperature.
Is laterite soil found in Rajasthan?
Laterite Soil- It is found in East part of Banswara, Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Bhilwara. It also lacks in lime and nitrogen but rich in potash. … It lacks in nitrogen. It is found in North- eastern part of Rajasthan in Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, and Alwar etc.
Why laterite soil is called laterite?
The term laterite is derived from Latin word ‘Later’ which means brick. The laterite soil is rich in aluminum and iron as well as this cemented soil can be easily cut into the bricks. This is why the laterite soil is called laterite.
Which type of soil is best for tea?
Laterite soils is most suited for tea cultivation. Laterite is a soil and rock type rich in iron and aluminium and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas.
Which is the only soil of India that has high water retaining capacity?
To cope with slow absorption rates and excess loss of moisture, the black soil tends to retain the moisture for a very long time, which increases the crops during summer times or dry season. Hence, the correct answer is option (C).
How can I make my laterite soil more fertile?
The pebbly crust is the important feature of laterites which is formed due to alteration of wet and dry periods. These soils are acidic in character due to leaching. Application of manures and fertilisers is required for making these soils fertile for cultivation.
How do you increase humus in soil?
Typically soil in a home landscape is compacted so to reduce compaction, regularly add humus by spreading mulch or organic material on bare soil in beds and under trees and shrubs. Dig in compost, peat moss or the like into garden beds when planting to improve aeration.
How does humus help plants grow?
Humus gives the soil the ability to absorb and retain moisture. Such soils do not dry out and require significantly less irrigation. Humus provides a reservoir for the plant nutrients available in the soil for balanced plant growth.
Is clay rich in humus?
Clay soils are so thick because they have small particles with correspondingly small air spaces between them. They tend to stick together and cause water to fill up the air spaces. … Soil rich in humus is alive.
Which crop grows best in laterite soil?
Laterite soils are generally suitable for most of the dryland crops. It is mainly cultivated with coconut, arecanut, banana, tapioca, vegetables, yams, pepper, pineapple, fruit trees etc.
Why is laterite soil suitable for building purposes?
(i) Laterite soils are used as a building material because they become hard like iron when exposed to air. So, they are used as a building material. Laterite soils are red in color due to the presence of iron oxide. These soils are generally coarse in texture and friable and porous in nature.
What is the most fertile soil in India?
Alluvial soil is the most fertile soil in India. Alluvial soils is are formed by the deposits of the sediments brought by rivers. Most of the rivers originate from the Himalayas and bring along high amount of sediments with them. The soil is made up of particles like silt, sand and clay.