Peaty soils in India are typically found in areas of:

Peaty (and marshy) soils develop in areas of heavy rainfall and high humidity, where the land is waterlogged for long periods and there is a good growth of vegetation. Under these conditions, large quantities of dead plant matter accumulate faster than they can decompose.

How peaty soils form:

• In waterlogged conditions, oxygen is scarce, so the decomposition of plant material by microorganisms is very slow.
• As a result, partly decomposed organic matter builds up, forming thick, dark, spongy layers called peat.

Characteristics of peaty soils:

• They are very rich in organic matter (often 40 to 50 per cent or more in the most organic layers).
• They are black in colour and heavy.
• They are usually highly acidic.
• They are deficient in potash and phosphate.
• They are often saline in coastal areas, where sea water mixes with fresh water.

Where they are found in India:

• Kerala: the Kuttanad region of Alappuzha and Kottayam districts, where the peaty soils are locally called "kari" soils.
• West Bengal: the Sundarbans delta.
• Odisha: coastal areas of the Mahanadi delta.
• Tamil Nadu: parts of the south-eastern coast.
• Uttarakhand: Almora district and parts of the Himalayan region (forest and wetland areas).

Agricultural use:

• With proper drainage and fertilisers, these soils can be used to grow rice (especially in Kuttanad, where rice is grown below sea level), jute and some other crops.
• Liming is often needed to reduce the acidity.

Kuttanad:

The Kuttanad region of Kerala is known as the "Rice Bowl of Kerala". Farmers there grow rice on land about 1 to 2 metres below sea level, using a system recognised by the FAO as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) in 2013.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Low rainfall and high temperature produce arid (desert) soils.
• ✗Moderate rainfall and cold winters produce temperate soils, such as podzols and grassland soils.
• ✗Very low rainfall with salt accumulation produces saline soils.