Q. Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct?

  1. They are generally red in colour,
  2. They are rich in nitrogen and potash.
  3. They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP.
  4. Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

  • 1, 2 and 3
  • 2, 3 and 4
  • 1 and 4
  • 2 and 3 only

Answer: (c) 1 and 4

Lateritic Soils
  • Laterite soils are mostly the end products of weathering.
  • They are formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods.
  • Heavy rainfall promotes leaching (nutrients gets washed away by water) of soil whereby lime and silica are leached away and a soil rich in oxides of iron and aluminium compounds is left behind.
  • ‘Laterite’ means brick in Latin. They harden greatly on losing moisture.
  • Laterite soils are red in colour due to little clay and more gravel of red sand-stones.
  • Chemical composition of Laterite – Lateritic Soils
    • Laterite soils are rich in bauxite or ferric oxides.
    • They are very poor in lime, magnesia, potash and nitrogen.
    • Sometimes, the phosphate content may be high in the form of iron phosphate.
    • In wetter places, there may be a higher content of humus.
  • Distribution of Laterite – Lateritic Soils
    • Laterite soils cover an area of 2.48 lakh sq km.
    • A continuous stretch of laterite soil is found on the summits of Western Ghats at 1000 to 1500 m above mean sea level, Eastern Ghats, the Rajmahal Hills, Vindhyan, Satpuras and Malwa Plateau.
    • They also occur at lower levels and in valleys in several other parts of the country.
    • They are well developed in south Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka etc. and are widely scattered in other regions.​
  • Crops in Laterite – Lateritic Soils
    • Laterite soils lack fertility due to intensive leaching.
    • When manured and irrigated, some laterites are suitable for growing plantation crops like tea, coffee, rubber, cinchona, coconut, arecanut, etc.
    • In some areas, these soils support grazing grounds and scrub forests.
Red Soils
  • Red soils along with their minor groups form the largest soil group of India.
  • The main parent rocks are crystalline and metamorphic rocks like acid granites, gneisses and quartzites.
  • Characteristics of Red Soils
    • The texture of these soils can vary from sand to clay, the majority being loams.
    • On the uplands, the red soils are poor, gravelly, and porous. But in the lower areas, they are rich, deep dark and fertile.

Must Read: Soil types in India