Which type of soil covers the maximum area in India?

Alluvial soils are the most widespread soils in India, covering about 40 to 43 per cent of the country's total land area. They are also the most important soils for agriculture, supporting a large part of India's population.

How alluvial soils are formed:

• They are formed by the deposition of sediments (alluvium) brought down by rivers.
• The great rivers of the north, the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra, and their tributaries carry huge amounts of silt from the Himalayas and deposit it in their plains.

Where they are found:

• The Northern Plains: from Punjab and Haryana through Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to West Bengal and Assam.
• The river valleys of Gujarat and the Narmada and Tapi valleys.
• The deltas of the east coast: the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri deltas.

Characteristics:

• Texture varies from sandy loam to clay, depending on the location; they are generally loamy and fine-grained.
• They are rich in potash, but usually poor in nitrogen and phosphorus (and organic matter).
• They are easy to plough and highly fertile.

Crops grown:

Alluvial soils are suitable for a wide range of crops, including rice, wheat, sugarcane, pulses, oilseeds, jute and vegetables. These regions are among the most intensively cultivated and densely populated parts of India.

Classification of soils of India (ICAR):

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research classified Indian soils into eight major groups: alluvial, black, red and yellow, laterite, arid (desert), saline and alkaline, peaty and marshy, and forest and mountain soils.

Approximate shares:

• Alluvial soils: about 40 to 43 per cent.
• Red and yellow soils: about 18 per cent.
• Black soils: about 15 per cent.
• Laterite, arid and other soils make up the rest.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Black soil is the third largest group in area.
• ✗Red soil (with yellow soil) is the second largest group.
• ✗Laterite soil covers a smaller area, mainly in high-rainfall hills of the peninsula.