The classification of soils is based on origin, colour, composition, texture and location.
1. Alluvial soil: It is a fertile soil formed by the depositional action of rivers. Rivers transport eroded material from their higher reaches and deposit this material on their banks as they reach the plains. This rich fertile alluvial soil supports agriculture. This soil is found in the vast Indo-Gangetic Plains and the deltaic regions of the peninsular belt.
2. Black soil: It is also known as regur soil. It is found in and around lava plateaus. This deep and clayey soil swells when it is wet and contracts when dry. Hence, it develops wide cracks during summers. It is good for growing cotton. In India, it is found in the basaltic Deccan Plateau in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, parts of Gujarat and Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. This soil is also considered good for growing cereals, pulses, oil seeds and sugarcane.
3. Red soil: It is sandy and red in colour. It looks red due to the presence of iron oxides. In this lowlands the are normally fertile but in the dry uplands they are less fertile. It is suitable for the growth of millets, wheat, onions, potatoes, etc. It is also good for growing cotton. In India, it is found in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
4. Laterite soil: This soil is formed in regions with heavy rainfall. It is not naturally fertile as the top soil along with the humus is washed away by heavy rainfall. To make this soil cultivable it has to be treated with fertilisers. It is used for growing jute, millets, fodder crop, etc. It is also useful for making bricks. In India, it’is found in Maharashtra and West Bengal.
5. Arid soil: It is also called sandy soil. It is found in dry regions. The colour of this soil varies from dark shades of reddish and humus content as it is found in the dry deserts. In India. It is found in Western Rajasthan.
6. Peaty and forest soil: This soil is found in the regions where there is dense vegetation. It is rich in humus as the organic matter that accumulates in the forests decomposes to provide the same. In India, this soil is found in Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar and the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats.
