● Study of soil: Pedology
🌱 Soil in India
● ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research): HQ – New Delhi; classifies soils
into 8 categories
● Soil formation factors: Parent rock, Climate, Time, Human Habitation, Topography
● Indian soils generally lack: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Humus
TU
Types of Indian Soils:
1. Alluvial Soil (40%)
○ Most fertile SE
○ Found in: Northern Plains, Delta regions
○ Rich in: Potash
○ Poor in: Phosphorus
A
○ Two types:
Y
■ Khadar: New, fertile
■ Bhangar: Old, less fertile
ID
○ States: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam
2. Black Soil (18%)
V
○ Formed by: Lava
○ States: Maharashtra, Gujarat
○ Also called: Regur Soil
○ Nature: Clayey, high water retention, cracks when dry
○ Good for: Cotton cultivation
○ Rich in: Iron, Lime, Alumina
3. Red Soil (15%)
○ Formed from: Metamorphic rocks
○ Colour: Red due to iron oxide, turns yellow when hydrated
○ Found in: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Piedmont zone of Western
Ghats
○ Found in: Water-deficit regions
4. Laterite Soil (4.3%)
TU
○ Formed by: Leaching
○ Found in: High temperature + rainfall zones (TN, AP, Kerala)
○ Also called: Brick Soil
SE
○ Good for: Cashew cultivation
○ Requires: 210 frost-free days
5. Marshy/Peaty Soil
A
○ Found in: Coastal areas
○ Rich in: Organic matter, humus
Y
○ Found in: High rainfall + high humidity zones
ID
6. Desert Soil
○ Found in: Western Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana
○ Rainfall: Less than 50 cm
V
7. Montane/Forest Soil
○ High in humus
○ Found in hilly forest areas
8. Alkaline Soil
○ Not discussed in detail
🏞️ National Parks & Biosphere Reserves
🔒 National Parks:
● Fixed boundary
● Very limited or no human activity
● Objective: Conservation of flora, fauna, and landscape
🔄 Biosphere Reserves:
TU
● Three zones: Core, Buffer, Manipulation
● Limited human activity allowed
● Objective: Sustainable conservation + human coexistence
SE
🌳 Important National Parks (State-wise):
A
Assam:
● Manas NP
Y
● Nameri NP
ID
● Kaziranga NP (Famous for one-horned rhino)
● Orang NP
● Dibru Saikhowa NP
V
● Raimona NP (2021)
● Dihing Patkai NP (2021)
West Bengal:
● Jaldapara NP
● Neora Valley NP
● Singalila NP
● Sunderban NP (Mangroves)
● Gorumara NP
● Buxa NP
Madhya Pradesh:
● Panna NP
TU
● Kanha NP
● Pench NP
● Satpura NP
● Bandhavgarh NP
SE
● Mandla Plant Fossil NP
● Van Vihar NP
A
● Sanjay Gandhi NP
● Madhav NP
Y
Rajasthan:
ID
● Mukundra Hills NP
● Ranthambore NP
● Sariska NP
V
● Desert NP
● Keoladeo NP
● Great Indian Bustard: State animal
Uttar Pradesh:
● Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
● Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
● Chandra Prabha WS
● Dudhwa NP
● Chambal WS
Uttarakhand:
● Jim Corbett NP (1st NP of India, 1936, under Project Tiger 1973)
TU
● Rajaji NP
● Nanda Devi NP
● Valley of Flowers NP
● Gangotri NP
SE
Gujarat:
● Gir NP (Asiatic Lions)
A
● Marine NP
Y
● Blackbuck NP
● Vansda NP
ID
Himachal Pradesh:
● Pin Valley NP
V
● Simbalbara NP
● Great Himalayan NP
● Khirganga NP
● Inderkila NP
Jammu & Kashmir / Ladakh:
● Hemis NP (Largest)
● Salim Ali NP
● Dachigam NP
● Kishtwar NP
● State animal: Snow Leopard
Kerala:
TU
● Eravikulam NP
● Periyar NP
● Silent Valley NP
Tamil Nadu:
SE
● Annamudi NP
● Mudumalai NP
A
● Guindy NP
Y
● Indira Gandhi NP
● Gulf of Mannar NP
ID
● Palani NP
Karnataka:
V
● Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarhole) NP
● Kudremukh NP
● Anshi NP
● Bannerghatta NP
Goa:
● Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Sikkim:
● Kanchenjunga NP
Bihar:
● Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Odisha:
TU
● Bhitarkanika NP
● Simlipal NP
Jharkhand:
SE
● Palamu NP
● Betla NP
A
Chhattisgarh:
Y
● Indravati NP
● Kanger Valley NP
ID
● Guru Ghasidas NP
Manipur:
V
● Keibul Lamjao NP
(World’s only floating NP – Loktak Lake; Famous for Sangai Deer)
🧪 Biosphere Reserves (18 total; 12 under UNESCO – MAB
Program)
UNESCO-listed:
1. Nilgiri (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka – First BR)
2. Great Rann of Kutch (Largest)
3. Sundarban
4. Nanda Devi
5. Nokrek
6. Panchmarhi
7. Simlipal
TU
8. Achanakmar–Amarkantak
9. Great Nicobar
10.Agasthyamalai
SE
11.Kanchenjunga (Highest, also World Heritage Site)
12.Panna (Latest addition – 2018)
A
🌿 Forests & Miscellaneous Facts
Y
● 1976: National Commission on Agriculture classified forestry into:
ID
○ Urban Forestry
○ Rural Forestry
○ Farm Forestry
V
● Coringa: Mangrove forest at Godavari–Bay of Bengal junction
● Sundari Tree: Common in Mangrove (Littoral) forests
● Nallamala Forests: AP-Telangana
● Temperate Evergreen Forests: Mid-latitude coastal areas
● Temperate Grasslands: Ideal for wheat cultivation
● Hubbardia heptaneuron: Grass species nearing extinction
● Amazon: Largest tropical rainforest
● IUCN:
○ Established: 1948
○ Red List: Since 1964
○ HQ: Gland, Switzerland
TU
SE
A
Y
ID
V