4 Indian Soils - Study of Soil in India

Introduction to Soil

Soil is defined as Upper Most Surfac Layer of Loose or Unconsolidated Materials which Overlie the causal rock on which plants grow

The Mixture of Minerals, Organic Matter, Gases, Liquids and Organisms

Rock is any materail which helps to constitte earths crust can be hard like Granite or Softer Fine like Clay

Ex is of Rock → Granite Rock Contain

Feldspar → Silicates of Al, Na, Ca, K → Used in Ceramic Industry & Glass Industry

Quartzite → Silicon + Oxygen → Watches or Prism

Biotite → Al, Fe etc

Factors Affecting Soil Formation

Parent Material

Soil can be - In Situ or Ex Situ (Indo Ganegetic)

Humus Gives → Dark Colors to Soil

Climate

Humus Gives → Dark Colors to Soil

Process of Leaching for Tropical and Equatorial Climate

Tropical Climates & Equatorial Climates are → Hot & Humid

In Layers of Soil there is Al, Fe, Si → Here Temp and Rainfall is very high

There can be dry to wet spells.

In this process Silica will get mixed with water and move downards

Here upper layer is left with Oxides of Iron and Alluminium as Silica has gone Down

Sun will act on this Oxides, it will break this Iron and the Soil will be called as Laterite Soil or Red Soil

This Process is called as Laterisation

Here if Al > Fe → Alfisols

Here if Fe > Al → Ferrosols

Process of Podsolisation for Temperate Climate of Himalayas in Tropical Areas

Rainfall and Evaporation are allmost Equal

Here Soil Moisture will be Balanced too

Coniferous Evergreen Vegetation Leaves have Wax Coating, Hence Relative Moisture Content is High and Transpiration is Low

In Process of Decomposition these Leaves will fall on ground and release water

This Iron Oxides Reacting with water from Leaves and taking air from atm

Here Al and Fe will go down the layers of Soil and Upper Layer will be left with Silica only

Process of Salinisation of Deserts

In Desets Evaporation > Precipitation

Hence, Salt will be pumped to the Surface

this is called Salinisation of Soil

Difference Between Leaching and Cheluviation

In Leaching Water in action is of Rain Water or River Water

In Cheluviation Water in action is from Chluviating Agents like Leaf etc

Natural Vegetation

Processes Involved in Soil Formation

Organic Accumulation*

This Process Involves the Accumulation of Decaying Vegetables and Animal Matter on the Ground Surface, the Accumulated Mass Slowly Breaks down to form Humus which is a Major Component of the Soil

Humus Detemines Fertility of the Soil

Elluviation*

This is the Mechanical Washdown of Finer Mineral Particles from the Upper Layer of the Soil into the Middle Lower Layer of the Soul

Elluviation can also take place in the same layer when the water percolates horizontally

The Upper Layer from which material has been elluviated is called as Elluvial Zone

Process - Elluviation

Jahan Deposition Hua - Illuviation

Jahan se Deposite Hone ke Liye Nikla - Elluviation Layer

Leaching*

This is the Removal of Soluble Mineral Material in the Solution from the Upper Layer (Horizon) to the Lower Horizon of the Soil. The Process can be referred as Chemical Elluviation

It is common in Wet Climates

Leaching of Minerals causes the Top Soil to be Deficient of Minerals.

Illuviation

Illuviation is the Deposition of Material that has been washed down from upper layer to the lower horizon

Precipitation

This is the Formation of Solid Material in the Sub Soil. The Solid material is formed from the Solution washed down from Upper Layers through Leaching, Elluviation, Illuviation and precipitation takes place at the same time under the same climatic condition

Cheluviation*

This is the Downward Movement of Material in the Soil which is Similar to Leaching. However, Cheluviation occurs through the influence of Organic Agents also called Chelating Agents

The Process Involves Plant Acids Rather than Mere Water as was in the Case of Leaching

Organic Sorting

This is the Separation of material usually of Different Size through Organic Influence

4 Step Process of Soil Formation

Translocation is Upward and Downward Movement → Calcification → Upward && Salination → Downward Movement

Jahan Salinity Badh Jaaye ya Calcium Gir Jaaye Wahan → Lime Stone Add Karna Hai

Pulverisation: Process of Converting Big Soil Particle into Smaller Soil Particles

There is High Capillary Action in Deserts

Agar Soil main Salt Add ho jaaye toh Usme Gypsum or Cowdung ka Layer Add Karo

Other Processes Related to Soil

Physical Property → Texture & Size of Soil

Chemical Property → Alaklinity and Basicity

What Happens to Soil when OH Ions Increases or it becomes more Alkaline ?

Soil Profile & Its Formation

Distribution of Soil in India

Alluvial Soil

Azonal - Ex Situ && Zonal - In Situ

Indian Soils are mainly Lacking in Nitrogen

Black Soil

Red and Yellow Soil

Laterite Soil

Arid Soil

in 1974-75 India Started a program called as Command Area Development Program - Creation of Canals and connecting those canals to the field by means of Field Channels

Harike Wetland - Beas & Sutlej