Land Resources - RAILWAY EXAM- CGL - SSC 2016

Land Resources

India has a geographical area of about 329 million hectares but statistical information is available only for about 93 percent of the area. More than half of the area is under cultivation compared to 11 percent of world’s average. Our farmer is very hard- working and raises two crops in a year instead of one being the normal practice in the other countries.

According to 2013Forest Survey of India , forest cover about 23 percent of land area for which data is available. Another 30.3 percent of area is not available for cultivation because it either comprises fallow lands, residential or commercial areas or is otherwise not fit for cultivation. Consequently, cultivation is done only on about 50 percent of the total reporting area in the country. 

Soli  Types:

Soil quality is an important factor in crop-yield. The soil provides nourishment and water to the plant life. It consists of minerals, organic matter, water, air, etc. all of which determine its characteristics, fertility, depth , texture and structure and , thus , govern the type and quality of plants and crops that can be grown in any region of the country . India, with its vast land surface and diverse relif features, possess a large variety of soils, which according to the National Council of Agriculture Research, are classified into the following eight categories.

Alluvial Soil:

Alluvial soil covers almost a quarter of India’s land surface and provide the base for the largest share of country’s agricultural production. This type of soil is composed of sediments deposited by the Might Rivers in the interior parts of India and by the sea wave in the coastal areas of the country. The Great Plains of India running from Punjab to Assam possess rich alluvial soil which is also found in Narmada and Tapti valleys in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, Mahanadi Valley in Chhattisgarh and Odisha, Godavari valley in Tamil Nadu. It also occurs in the deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery rivers. Alluvial soils are generally deficient in nitrogen and humus and thus necessitate repeated fertilisation. Such soils are suitable for growing all types of cereals, pulses, sugarcane, vegetables, oilseeds, etc.

Black Soil:

Black Soil is found largely in the Deccan Plateau. It is eminently suitable for cotton cultivation and is, therefore, also called black cotton soil. In some areas, it is known as ‘ regur’ . The black colour of the soil is attributed to the presence of compound of iron and aluminium. This soil is generally deficient in nitrogen, phosphates and organic matter, but is quit rich in potash , lime , aluminium, calcium and magnesium. The black soil exists in many areas of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Cotton , cereals, some oilseeds and a variety of vegetables are grown in areas of black soil.

Red Soil:

The red soil occurs mostly in the southern peninsula and extends up to Jhansi(Uttar Pradesh) in the north, Kutch(Gujarat) in the west and Rajmahal Hills in the east. This soil is made up of crystalline and metamorphic rocks and is rich in ferromanganese minerals and soluble salts but deficient in nitrogen and humus and thus needs fertilisation. It has a light texture and a porous structure. Red soil is most suited to the growth of rice, ragi, tobacco and vegetables.

Laterite Soil:

This type of soil is found in areas of high rainfall and temperature with alternate dry and wet periods. The soil contains high content of iron oxides. It is deficient in nitrogen , pphosphorus, potash and magnesium. Such soil is found in the high reaches of Sahyadris, Western Ghats, Rajmahal Hills and the hilly tracts of east region. It is also found in parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal. This type of soil is suitable for  rice , ragi  and sugarcane cultivation.

Forest Soil:

Forest soil is rich in organis matter and humus . it is found in the Himalayas and other mountain regions of the north, higher summits of the Sahyadris, Eastern Ghats, Karnataka, Tamil Nude, Kerala, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Crops like tea, coffee, spices and tropical fruits are grown on this type of soil.

Arid and Desert Soil:

The arid and semi-arid region of north- west India have this type of soil which is generally deficient in nitrogen and humus. It is largely found in the areas west of Aravalli Range and covers Rajasthan, parts of Haryana and Punjab and extends up to the Rann of Kutch. Generally desert soil is infertile but its fertile improves with proper irrigation and fertilisation.

Saline and Alkaline Soil:

Saline and alkaline soils are found in the arid and semi-arid parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. These soils, variously called ‘red’, ‘usar’ ar ‘ kallar’ are largely infertile. However, they can be improved through proper treatment and reclamation measures.

Peaty and other Organic Soils:

Peaty soils contain large accumulations of humus, organic matter and soluble salts. These soils are highly saline and are deficient in phosphorus and potash. Marshy soils occur in regions of Odisha, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. They are alos found in central and north Bihar and in Almora district of Uttarakhand.


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