Definition of Soil
Soil can be simply defined as a mixture of small rock particles/debris and organic
materials/ humus which develop on the earth surface and support growth of
plants.
Soil Classification – Urvara vs Usara
In India, soil had been classified from the ancient period itself even
though it was not as detail as the modern classifications.
In the ancient period, the classification was based on only two things,
whether the soil is fertile or sterile. Thus, the classification is:
1. Urvara [fertile]
2. Usara [sterile]
Soil Classification – Agencies involved.
In the modern period, when men started to know about the various
characteristics of soil they began to classify soil on the basis of texture,
colour, moisture etc.
When the Soil survey of India was established in 1956, they studied
soils of India and their characteristics.
The National Bureau of Soil Survey and the Land Use Planning, an
institute under the control of Indian Council of Agriculture Research
did a lot of studies on Indian soil.
ICAR The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an
autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural
Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare, Government of India.
Major classification of Indian soils
1. Alluvial soil [43%]
2. Red soil [18.5%]
3. Black / regur soil [15%]
4. Laterite soil
Alluvial soil:
Mostly available soil in India (about 43%) which covers an area of 143
[Link].
Widespread in northern plains and river valleys.
In peninsular-India, they are mostly found in deltas and estuaries.
Humus, lime and organic matters are present.
Highly fertile.
Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputhra plain, Narmada-Tapi plain etc are
examples.
They are depositional soil – transported and deposited by rivers,
streams etc.
Sand content decreases from west to east of the country.
New alluvium is termed as Khadar and old alluvium is termed
as Bhangar.
Colour: Light Grey to Ash Grey.
Texture: Sandy to silty loam or clay.
Rich in: potash
Poor in: phosphorous.
Wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, pulses, oilseed etc are cultivated
mainly.
The Bhangar
The Bhangar is the older alluvium along the riverbeds forming terraces
higher than the flood plain.
It is made with calcareous concretions known as ‘KANKAR’.
This has been formed due to accumulation of wind-blown sands
during the hot dry months of the year.
Bhangar contains fossils of animals like rhinoceros, hippopotamus,
elephants, etc.
The Khadar
The Khadar is composed of newer alluvium and forms the flood plains
along the river banks.
A new layer of alluvium is deposited by river flood almost every year.
This makes them the most fertile soils of Ganges.
Red soil:
Seen mainly in low rainfall area.
Also known as Omnibus group.
Porous, friable structure.
Absence of lime, kankar (impure calcium carbonate).
Deficient in: lime, phosphate, manganese, nitrogen, humus and
potash.
Colour: Red because of Ferric oxide. The lower layer is reddish yellow
or yellow.
Texture: Sandy to clay and loamy.
Wheat, cotton, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, potato etc are cultivated.
Black soil / regur soil:
Regur means cotton – best soil for cotton cultivation.
Most of the Deccan is occupied by Black soil.
Mature soil.
High water retaining capacity.
Swells and will become sticky when wet and shrink when dried.
Self-ploughing is a characteristic of the black soil as it develops wide
cracks when dried.
Rich in: Iron, lime, calcium, potassium, aluminium and magnesium.
Deficient in: Nitrogen, Phosphorous and organic matter.
Colour: Deep black to light black.
Texture: Clayey.
Laterite soil:
Name from Latin word ‘Later’ which means Brick.
Become so soft when wet and so hard when dried.
In the areas of high temperature and high rainfall.
Formed as a result of high leaching.
Leaching describes the “washing out” from soils any soluble chemicals
that are not “bound” to the soil particles. It occurs as excess rain (or
flood) waters drain through the soil.
Lime and silica will be leached away from the soil.
Organic matters of the soil will be removed fast by the bacteria as it is
high temperature and humus will be taken quickly by the trees and
other plants. Thus, humus content is low.
Rich in: Iron and Aluminium
Deficient in: Nitrogen, Potash, Potassium, Lime, Humus
Colour: Red colour due to iron oxide.
Rice, Ragi, Sugarcane and Cashew nuts are cultivated mainly.
Soil Erosion
Sheet erosion
With continued rainfall the displaced soil particles fill in the spaces between
soil particles and prevent water from seeping into the soil. This results in
surface runoff and even more erosion.
The detachment and transportation of soil particles by flowing rainwater is
called sheet or wash off erosion.
Weathering and erosion tend to level down the irregularities of landforms
and create a peneplane.
Rill erosion
In rill erosion finger like rills appear on the cultivated land after it has
undergone sheet erosion.
These rills are usually smoothened out every year while forming.
Each year the rills slowly increase in number become wider and deeper.
Gully erosion
Gully erosion is the removal of soil along drainage lines by surface water
runoff.
When rills increase in size, they become gullies. Once started, gullies will
continue to move by headward erosion or by slumping of the side walls.
Gullies formed over a large area gives rise to badland topography (Chambal
Ravines).
When a gully bed is eroded further due to headward erosion, the bed
gradually deepens and flattens out, and a ravine is formed. The depth of a
ravine may extend to 30 m or more.
Further erosion of ravine beds gives rise to canyons. Canyons are few
hundred meters deep and wide.
Soil erosion and degradation are significant environmental problems, and
prevention methods are essential to maintain healthy soils. Here are some
prevention methods of soil erosion and degradation:
Soil Conservation
Planting cover crops: Cover crops, such as clover, rye, or wheat, can help prevent
soil erosion by holding the soil in place and reducing water runoff. Cover crops can
also add nutrients to the soil.
Terracing: Terracing is a technique that involves creating level platforms on steep
slopes to reduce soil erosion. The terraces slow down the flow of water and allow
it to soak into the soil, reducing runoff.
Conservation tillage: This method involves leaving crop residue on the soil surface
after harvest, which helps protect the soil from erosion by reducing water runoff
and retaining moisture in the soil.
Mulching: Mulching involves covering the soil with a layer of organic material such
as leaves, straw, or bark. This helps retain moisture in the soil, reduce erosion, and
add nutrients to the soil as the organic material decomposes.
Contour farming: This technique involves plowing furrows perpendicular to the
slope of the land to reduce water runoff and soil erosion. The furrows slow down
the flow of water and allow it to soak into the soil.
Crop rotation: Crop rotation involves planting different crops in the same field in a
specific order. This helps to reduce soil erosion by preventing the depletion of
nutrients in the soil, reducing the risk of pests and diseases, and improving soil
structure.
Limiting grazing: Overgrazing by livestock can lead to soil erosion and
degradation. Limiting grazing by using rotational grazing or reducing the number
of animals can help prevent soil erosion.
Soil testing: Regular soil testing can help identify soil nutrient deficiencies, pH
imbalances, and other soil problems. This information can be used to adjust
fertilization and management practices to prevent further soil degradation.
These are just a few examples of prevention methods of soil erosion and
degradation. It's essential to choose the most suitable method based on the
specific needs of the soil and the environmental conditions in your area.