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NCERT Class 11 Geography Chapter 22 Soils
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Soils
Chapter: 22
GEOGRAPY [ PART – II ]
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. What is soil?
Ans. Soil is a layer of unconsolidated material at the surface of the earth which has been derived from rocks and organic matter through agencies of decay and disintegration.
Q.2. What are the main factors responsible for the formation of soil?
Ans. The major factors affecting the formation of soil are:
(i) Relief.
(ii) Parent material.
(iii) Climate.
(iv) Vegetation and other life forms.
(v) Time.
Besides these human activities also influence it to a large extent.
Q.3. Mention the three horizons of a soil profile.
Ans. Three horizons of soils are:
1. Top soils.
2. Sub soils.
3. Parent rock.
Q.4. Name physical properties of soils.
Ans. The common physical properties of soil are:
1. Texture.
2. colour.
3. effective depth.
4. structure.
5. permeability.
6. moisture-holding capacity.
7. surface drainage.
8. slope and erosion.
Q.5. Name the three measures to conserve soils.
Ans. The three measures to conserve the soils are:
1. Scientific land use i.e. using land for the purpose it is most suited.
2. Scientific crop rotation.
3. Contour ploughing and bunding.
Q.6. How is humus formed? What is its significance for soil fertility?
Ans. Humus is the organic matter. It is formed by the decomposition of plant remains and vegetation. It adds to the fertility of soil. The presence of humus makes the soil dark in colour.
Q.7. What are the characteristics of laterite soil? Name one region where it is found?
Ans. (i) The laterite soil are of brick colour.
(ii) These are shallow acidic and less fertile.
(iii) These are less fertile due to leaching of soil.
(iv) These are poor in nitrogen potash but rich in iron.
(v) These are found in Tamil Nadu.
Q.8. What do you mean by loams?
Ans. Loam is mixture of sand and clay. It is a rich soil. Loamy soils are good for farming. Clayey loams and sandy loams are the two main types.
Q.9. What are ravines? Where are these found in India?
Ans. Due to gully erosion, channels form deep gullies troughs are called ravines. These are found in Chambal Valley.
Q.10. Why is soil important?
Ans. It produces food for all forms of life. It sustains plants, animals and human beings.
Q.11. Name two main types of alluvial soils found in Northern India.
Ans. Khadar and Bangar soils.
Q.12. Which two types of soils are found in sandy desert?
Ans. Saline and alkaline.
Q.13. In which part of India is bad land topography formed due to soil erosion?
Ans. Chambal valley.
Q.14. Why are alluvial soils important?
Ans. Alluvial soils are excellent soils, rich in minerals. These are the bases of agriculture in India.
Q.15. What is the cause of sheet erosion?
Ans. Cultivation on hill slopes.
Q.16. What is soil degradation?
Ans. The decline in the soil fertility is called soil degradation.
Q.17. What are the characteristics of Alluvial soils?
Ans. 1. Alluvial soils are deposited by river.
2. These soils are limited to river basins and plains.
3. These are very fertile soils.
4. These consist of fine grained clay and sand.
5. These soils are rich in potash but poor in phosphorus.
6. These are generally deep soils.
Q.18. Which type of soils are derived from Deccan lavas? Explain two important characteristics of these soils.
Ans. Black soils are derived from Deccan lavas. Their important characteristics are:
1. They are generally clayey, deep and impermeable.
2. Chemically these soils consists of lime, iron, magnesia and alumina.
3. They also contain potash. But they lack in phosphorus, nitrogen and organic matter.
Q.19. What is degradation of soil?
Ans. Soil degradation can be defined as the decline in soil fertility when the nutritional states decline and depth of the soil goes down due to erosion and misuse. Soil degradation is the main factor leading to the depleting soil resources base in India. The degree of soil degradation varies from place to place according to the topography, wind velocity and amount of the rainfall.
Q.20. What is parent material?
Ans. The soils are formed due to the weathering and erosion of rocks exposed to the surface. The parent material is that particular rock which has undergone weathering and erosion and had contributed to soil formation. The nature and type of parent materials play a vital role in determining the properties of soil.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. Name two nutrients in which alluvial soils are deficient. Briefly write how fertility of soils affect distribution of population. Give two examples.
Ans. The alluvial soils are the most widespread and fertile soils of India. These are poor in nitrogen and phosphorus. The economic development and density of population of a region depends upon soils and their fertility. Indian agriculture is based upon deep rich soils. The state of West Bengal (Ganga Delta) is the most densely populated area with a density of population of about 800 persons per sq. km. It is due to deep alluvial soils. On the other hand, Rajasthan has shallow sandy soils. It has a sparse population with a density of population of 128 persons per sq. km.
Q.2. What is the role of parent material in soil formation? Elaborate with the help of any three points.
Ans. (i) Colour: The soil formed by lava is black in colour. The soils of river valleys is brown because it is derived from eroded material by the rivers. The soils of Chhotanagpur region are red because of iron content in them.
(ii) Fertility: Black soils and alluvial soils are fertile, while laterite and yellow soils of Deccan plateau are poor in fertility.
(iii) Grains: Alluvial and black soil are fine- grained whereas soils of Deccan plateau are coarse-grained due to parent material.
Q.3. Climate is the most dominant factor in soil formation. Give three arguments to support the statement.
Ans. The elements of climate such as temperature and rainfall affect the soil formation through their amount and seasonal distribution. Climate determines quantity of water seeping through the soil and the type of microorganisms present therein.
The climate affects the soil formation in the following ways:
1. Seasonal distribution of temperature.
2. Amount of rainfall.
3. Type and effectiveness of weathering of parent rock material.
4. Quantity of water seeping into rocks material.
5. Type of microorganisms present in the soil.
6. Climate affects the vegetation which helps in soil formation.
Q.4. How are laterite soils formed? Name two regions from India where such soils may be found.
Ans. The laterite soil is a result of intense leaching owing to heavy tropical rains. They are usually found covering the flat uplands and are spread in western coastal region receiving very high rainfall. This poor soil is also found in some parts of Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Chhottanagpur plateau and Meghalaya.
Q.5. How is black soil formed? Where are these soils found in India?
Ans. The black soils are made up of the lava flows and are found in Deccan plateau. They cover the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and extend eastwards in the south along the Godavari and Krishna valleys. The black soil is also known as regur. It is black in colour and ideal for growing cotton.
Q.6. Describe the importance of soils.
Ans. Soil is a valuable natural resource. Many human economic activities depend upon soils. All our food comes directly or indirectly from soils. Livestock farming depends upon raising of grass on different soils. Soils have affected the march of civilisation. Ancient civilisations developed in fertile river valleys. Fertile soils attract human settlements. Density of population depends upon soil fertility and productivity.
Q.7. What is soil? Discuss four major factors of pedogenesis.
Ans. Soil: Soil is defined as loose rock material with humus that forms the upper layer of the earth.
Factors of pedogenesis:
(i) Parent material.
(ii) Relief features.
(iii) Climate. and
(iv) Natural vegetation.
(i) Parent Material: The parent material is derived from the rock exposed to the weathering agents. It determines the type, colour and fertility of the soil. For example the soil which is formed by lava is black in colour and is fertile.
(ii) Relief: The variation of slope of land determines the degree of its deepness and fertility. If the slope is steep, the soil cover is thin or shallow and less fertile due to the intensive erosive activity there. On the other hand if the slope is gentle, the soil cover is deep and rich.
(iii) Climate: The elements of climate such as temperature and rainfall affect the soil formation through their amount and seasonal distribution. Climate controls the type and effectiveness of weathering of parent material, the quantity of water seeping through the soil and the type of microorganisms present there.
(iv) Natural Vegetation: The natural vegetation provides the much needed content of humus through its decayed leaf material. The densely forested areas of the country contain some of our best soils.
Q.8. What is contour ploughing? How can we guard against that danger of soil exhaustion?
Ans. Contour ploughing: It is a method of tilling or ploughing hillsides or sloping lands among the contour lines, that is, around rather than up and down a slope mainly with a view to conserving soil and water.
Soil exhaustion refers to the lost of fertility due to excess use of land and improper methods of cultivation. We can guard our soils against the danger of soil exhaustion by adopting the following techniques:
1. Keeping the land fallow.
2. Rotation of crops. and
3. Combination of crops.
Q.9. What methods should be used to improve the fertility of soils?
Ans. The fertility of the soil refers to the presence of humus contents and enough soil nutrients which nourish plants. To improve the fertility of the soil, following methods should be adopted:
1. Natural Methods:
(a) Adoption of rotation of crops.
(b) Adoption of combination of crops.
(c) Keeping the land fallow.
2. Addition of manures, fertilizers
(a) Decomposed vegetative and animal waste materials.
(b) Chemical fertilizers.
Q.10. What are red soils? Where are these found?
Ans. Red soils are developed from old crystalline rocks ‘in situ’. They cover the Chota Nagpur Plateau, M.P., Telangana regions, Tamil Nadu and Konkan in Maharashtra. These soils are loamy, have deep depressions and are coarse. They are of red colour due to the high iron content. They are porous and poor in lime and humus. They become useful after adding fertilizers. Crops like wheat, rice, cotton, etc. are grown in such soils.
Q.11. Write short notes on:
(i) Laterite Soils.
Ans. The laterite soils are typical soils of the tropical regions with heavy seasonal rainfall, which promotes leaching of the soil. With rain, lime and silica are leached away and soil rich in iron oxide and aluminium compound are left behind. Humus content of the soil is removed fast by the bacteria that thrive well in high temperatures. The organic matter, nitrogen, phosphate and calcium are low in these soils while iron oxide and potash are in excess. Hence laterite soil are not fertile enough for crop growth.
Laterite soils are widely cut as bricks for use in house construction. The laterite soils are commonly found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, M.P. and hilly areas of Orissa and Assam. Cotton, rice, wheat, pulses, tea and coffee are grown in these soils.
(ii) Black soils.
Ans. Black soils are mainly found over the Deccan lava tract including Maharashtra, M.P., Gujarat and A.P. These soils are found in river valleys of Narmada, Tapi, Godavari and Krishna. These soils cover an area of about 5 lakh sq. m. These soils are rich in lime, iron, magnesia and aluminia. But these lack phosphorus, nitrogen and organic matter. These are also called ‘Regur’. These soils are most suitable for cotton cultivation and are known as ‘cotton soils’. These soils are compared with Chernozem soils of Russia and Prairies soils of U.S.A. These soils can hold water. These soils are also suitable for wheat, jowar, sugarcane, tobacco and oil seeds.
(iii) Arid soils.
Ans. Arid soils range from red to brown in colour. They are generally sandy and alkaline. In some areas salt content is so high that common salt is obtained by evaporating the saline water. Due to dry climate, high temperature and accelerated evaporation, the lack of moisture and humus content is normal. Lower horizons of soils are occupied by kankar because of increase calcium content downward. Arid soils are characteristically developed in western Rajasthan, which exhibits characteristic desert topography. These soils are poor and contain less humus and organic matter. They are generally used for the cultivation of coarse grains like jowar, bajra, ragi etc. and oil seeds.
(iv) Saline soils.
Ans. They are also known as Usara soils. Saline soils contain a larger portion of sodium, potassium and magnesium. Thus they are poor and infertile and do not support any vegetative growth. They acquire more salts largely because of dry climate and poor drainage. They occur in arid and semi-arid regions, and water logged and swampy areas. Their structure ranges from sandy to loamy. They lack in nitrogen and calcium. Saline soils are most wide-spread in western Gujarat, deltas of the eastern coasts & Sunderban areas of West Bengal. In the area of intensive cultivation with excessive use of irrigation specially in areas of green revolution, the fertile alluvial soils are becoming saline.
Q.12. Distinguish between:
(i) Light and Heavy soils.
Ans. Light Soil: Light soil has a large amount of sand.
Heavy Soil: Soils in which large amount of clay is found are heavy soils.
(ii) Deep and Shallow soils.
Ans. If the soil is more than 90 cm deep, it is quite useful for the crops. If the depth is less than 50 cm, the soil is said to be shallow.
(iii) Gentle and Steep Slopes.
Ans. If the land is less than 5 per cent slope it is gentle and if more than 10 per cent slope it is steep. Steep slopes are more valuable to erosion to erosion than gentle slopes.
(iv) Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation.
Ans. Soil Erosion: The removal of upper layer of the soil by the running water and wind is called soil erosion.
Soil Conservation: It is effort by man to prevent soil erosion or at east to reduce the rate of erosion. Soil can be conserved in many ways.
(v) Khadar and Bangar.
Ans.
| Khadar | Bangar |
| 1. Found in the lower level in the plains near the rivers. | 1. Found at higher level in the plains at river terraces away from rivers. |
| 2. Loamy, porous soil. | 2. Clayey and non-porous. |
| 3. More fertile than Bangar as new layers are developed year after year during monsoonal floods. | 3. Less fertile than Khadar due to old deposits. |
(vi) Alluvial soil and Black soil.
Ans.
| Alluvial Soil | Black Soil |
| 1. It is a transported soil. | 1. Black soil is clayey in nature. |
| 2. It is formed when the river deposits its load as it flows from the upper to the lower course. | 2. It has a great capacity to retain moisture. |
| 3. It is the most important soil for agriculture. | 3. It develops deep cracks due to dry condition which help in aeration (air circulation). |
| 4. It is rich in mineral, especially in potash. | 4. When wet, the soil becomes sticky and is difficult to work with. |
(vii) Regur soil and Laterite soil.
Ans.
| Regur soil | Laterite soil |
| 1. These soils are black in colour and are called black soils. | 1. These are yellow in colour. |
| 2. These soils are formed by decomposition of lava. | 2. These soils have been formed by leaching of soils in tropical areas. |
| 3. These are suitable for cultivation of cotton hence they are also called cotton soils. | 3. These are infertile soils suitable only for millets. |
| 4. These soils are found in Deccan plateau (in Maharashtra and Gujarat). | 4. These soils are found in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Assam. |
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. What are black soils? Describe their formation and characteristics.
Ans. The black soils are popularly known as cotton soils. They are also known as regur. They are derived from two groups of rocks-the Deccan trap and the ferruginous, gneiss and schist rocks. Black soil of Tamil Nadu have developed largely on the ferruginous rocks. The colour of the soil ranges from deep black to grey. The soil contain clay minerals black in colour. They are developed on basaltic rocks of the Deccan plateau which falls under the semi-arid climatic regime.
Characteristics:
1. Black soils are rich in iron, lime and aluminium.
2. They are quite fertile and supportive to crop growth.
3. Organic content of the soil is poor.
4. They are suitable for cotton crops.
5. Due to the slow absorption and slow loss of moisture, the black soils retain the moisture for a very long period.
Q.2. What is soil erosion? In what different ways does it occur? What methods have been used to check the soil erosion?
Ans. Soil erosion: The removal of soil by running water and wind is known as soil erosion. The running water or wind loosens soils which are caused due to various activities of man such as deforestation, overgrazing and the irrational methods of cultivation.
Ways of soil erosion: The soils erosion occurs in two ways. They are:
(i) Sheet Erosion.
(ii) Gully Erosion.
(i) Sheet Erosion: It takes place on the gentle slopes where rain water removes the soil in rather uniform thin layers. This results in removal of fine particles from the soil layer over a large area.
(ii) Gully Erosion: It takes place on the steep slopes where the running water cuts easily into the soil and forms deep channels and converts the land into bad land. The ravines of Chambal valley in India are the result of gully erosion.
Methods of Conservation: As the soil is an important resource, so its conservation is necessary. It may be conserved by adopting the following methods:
1. Afforestation, reforestation and checking of blind deforestation.
2. Checking of overgrazing.
3. Terracing the hill slopes before cultivation.
4. Adopting the contour ploughing.
5. Construction of bund across slopes.
6. Strip cropping in dry areas to conserve the sub-soil moisture.
Q.3. Describe the causes of soil erosion.
Ans. Causes of Soil Erosion:
1. Steep slope : Steep slopes affect the rapidity of running water. On steep slopes, the intensity of soil erosion increases.
2. Torrential rainfall: Heavy rainfall makes the soil particles loose and scoopes out the soil, forming gullies and ravines. This gives rise to a dissected surface called bad land as in the Chambal Valley of India.
3. Strong winds: Winds and dust storms blow away soils in dry areas. This process is known as depletion.
4. Overgrazing: Due to overgrazing, the vegetation cover becomes too thin to protect the soil. Rain and wind can easily erode the uncovered soil.
5. Overcropping: Crop rotation maintains soil-fertility. But overcropping and shifting cultivation renders soil infertile.
6. Deforestation: Deforestation means the removal of forest cover and it exposes the area to soil erosion. Reckless cutting of trees has resulted in soil erosion along the Shivalik hills. Human misuse of the land through wrong farming practices, deforestation etc. leads to the removal of soil cover.
Q.4. Describe the areas affected by soil erosion. Mention factors responsible for it, and suggest measures to conserve it.
Ans. The areas affected by the soil erosion are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi, Rajasthan and many other parts of India.
The following factors are responsible for the soil erosion:
1. Excessive grazing by cattle on the slopes of hill causes rapid soil erosion.
2. Potato cultivation in Meghalaya and in the Nilgiri hills cause soil erosion.
3. Clearing of forests in the Himalayas and on the Western Ghats.
4. Jhum cultivation practiced by the tribal people in different parts of the country has caused considerable depletion of the soils.
5. Steep slopes affect the rapidity of running water and the intensity of soil erosion increases.
6. Torrential rainfall i.e. heavy rainfall loosens the soil particles and scoopes out the soil forming gullies and ravines.
7. Strong winds also cause soil erosion. They blow away soils in dry areas.
8. Deforestation – it means the removal of forest cover and it exposes the area to soil erosion.
The following are the measures to conserve the soils:
1. Scientific land use.
2. Scientific crop rotation.
3. Contour ploughing and bunding.
4. Afforestation, especially in the upper reaches of river basins.
5. Construction of barriers against water gullies in wet regions.
6. Increased use of organic manures.
7. Replacing flood irrigation by sprinklers and drip irrigation.
Q.5. What is soil conservation? Suggest some measures to conserve soil.
Ans. Soil is a fundamental natural resource. Soil formation is a slow process. But it is easily lost by soil erosion. Soil erosion must be checked. The following are the methods of soil conservation:
1. Afforestation: In some areas the original vegetation cover has been removed such and reafforestation is needed to hold the soil. as the Siwalik Hills. In such areas afforestation
2. Controlled grazing: The number of cattle grazing the slopes should be according to the carrying capacity of pastures.
3. Terraced agriculture: Slopes must be cut into a series of terraces for cultivation so as to slow down inflow of rainwater.
4. River dams: River dams should be built in the upper course of rivers to control floods and check soil erosion.
5. Contour ploughing: Contour ploughing, terracing and bunding should be done to check soil wash on slopes. Ploughing is done at right angles to the hill slopes.
6. Crop rotation: Crop rotation system should be adopted and the land should be allowed fallow for sometime.
7. Other methods: In areas of heavy rain basin type of cultivation should be adopted. Tall trees should be grown as wind and shelter breaks belts in areas of strong winds.
Q. 6. How do the genetic factors of soil formation affect the soils of India?
Ans. The genetic factors of soil formation are:
(i) Parent material.
(ii) Relief features.
(iii) Climate.
(iv) Natural vegetation.
These factors affect soil formation and create distinction in the soils of the different regions of India in the following ways:
1. Parent material: The parent material is derived from the rock exposed to the weathering agents. It determines the types, colour and structure of the soil. Its fertility also depends upon the constituents of the rock. For example, the soil which is formed by lava, is black and has rich fertility.
Moreover, if the soil is deposited by running water, it has little relation with surface rock. For example, the soils of plains of India are deposited by the rivers flowing from the Himalayan and plateau regions. They consist of fine grains of loamy, sand and clay. Hence, they have high degree of fertility.
On the other hand, soils of the plateau regions are poor. They are closely related to the parent rocks. They are coarse-grained and less fertile.
2. Relief features: The relief features affect the soil formation in various ways. The variation of slope of land determines the degree of its deepness and fertility. If the slope is steep, the soil cover is thin or shallow and less fertile due to intensive erosive activity there. On the other hand, if the slope is gentle or low the soil cover is deep and rich in its fertility. Because of this reason, the soils of plains and river basins are rich and deep while the soils of the plateau regions are poor and shallow. Hence, the degree of slope largely determines the fertility of the soils.
3. Climate: The elements of climate such as temperature and rainfall affect the soil formation through their amount and seasonal distribution. Climate determines the type of soil and the effectiveness of weathering of the parent rock material, the quantity of water seeping through the soil and the type of micro-organisms present therein.
4. Natural vegetation: The natural vegetation provides the much needed content of humus through its decayed leaf. Hence, the dense forestlands of our country have rich soils.
Q.7. Give the description of major soils of India.
Ans. Types of soils of India: India is primarily an agricultural country. The success of agriculture depends upon the fertility of soils. The soils of India are classified into the following main groups depending upon the rock cover and climatic conditions.
1. Black Soils: Black soils are mainly found over the Deccan lava tract (Deccan Trap) including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. These soils are found in river valleys of Narmada, Tapi, Godavari and Krishna. These soils have been formed due to weathering of lava rocks. These soils cover an area of about 5 lakh sq. km. These soils are rich in lime, iron, magnesia and alumina. But these lack in phosphorus, nitrogen and organic matter. These are also called ‘Regur Soils’. These soils are most suitable for cotton cultivation and are known as ‘Black Cotton Soils.’ These soils are compared with Chernozem soils of Russia and Prairies soils of U.S.A. These soils can hold water. These soils are suitable for wheat, jowar, sugarcane, tobacco and oil seeds.
2. Red Soils: These soils are found in Chota Nagpur plateau, Telangana, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and areas of periphery of Deccan plateau. These soils have been formed due to decomposition of underlying igneous rocks under heavy rainfall. These soils have different shades of red and yellow. The red colour of these soils is due to oxidation and diffusion of iron in hard crystalline rocks. These are suitable for the cultivation of millets, pulses, lin-seed, tobacco etc. These soils cover the largest area in Peninsular India, particularly south-east part of the peninsula. These soils are poor in lime, nitrogen and humus. Fertilizers are added to make these fertile.
3. Laterite Soils: Laterite soils are found! on the highland areas of the plateau. These are found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and hilly regions of Assam, Rajmahal hills and Chota Nagpur plateau. Due to monsoonal climate (wet and dry seasons alternately occurring), there is the leaching of soils due to heavy rains. It washes away the silica content in soils. These are shallow, acidic and less fertile soils. The lowland laterite soils are useful for cultivation of food-grains and other crops. The upland laterite are thin, coarse and infertile. These soils are poor in nitrogen and lime, but rich in iron. So these are suitable for plantation of crops like tea, rubber, coffee etc.
4. Alluvial Soils: These soils are the most widespread soils covering an area of 8 lakh sq. km from Punjab to Assam (the entire northern plains). These cover 22.16 per cent total area. These soils have been deposited by sediments brought by rivers. These are found in river basins, flood plains and coastal areas. These are deep soils rich in potash, but poor in nitrogen. These soils contain fine particles of soils called alluvium deposited over thousands of years. This alluvium has been deposited by three great Himalayan rivers-Sutlej, Ganga and Brahmaputra. These soils are common in the eastern coastal plains.
These soils have been deposited by the rivers in river valleys of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and their deltas. These are deep and fertile soils. These soils are suitable for cultivation of jute, sugarcane etc.
These are of three types:
(i) Khadar soils: The finer and new alluvium deposited in flood plains is called Khadar.
(ii) Bangar Soils: The older alluvium is known as Bangar.
(iii) Newest Alluvial Soils: The fine alluvium in deltas is known as newest alluvial soils.
5. Other Soils:
(a) Desert Soils: These soils cover 2 lakh sq. km area in dry areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana. These coarse soils are suitable for cultivation of jowar, bajara, cotton etc.
(b) Saline and Alkaline Soils: These soils are found in dry and marshy areas. These are locally known as Bhur, Rehu, Kallar. The accumulation of salts makes these infertile.
(c) Mountain Soils: These soils are mostly thin and infertile. These include peat, meadow, and forest hill soils.
(i) Stony soils which are coarse and infertile.
(ii) Tea soils found in Dun valleys are suitable for tea cultivation.
(iii) Volcanic soils are found on mountains slopes.
Q.8. How do you know that a particular type of soil is fertile or not? Differentiate between naturally determined fertility and culturally induced fertility.
Ans. We can know a particular soil is fertile or not on the basis of its colour texture humus mineral content etc.
Natural fertility of the soil is determined on the basis of fertility gained by fallow soil which is used for crop production rotation wire which culturally included fertility by adding external inputs like organic manure to the soil.
| Naturally determine fertility | Culturally induced fertility |
| 1. Regaining the fertility of soil without the use of external inputs. | 1. Regaining of the fertility of soil with the use of external inputs. |
| 2. It makes use of multiple cropping crop rotation alternatively with food crops naturally by earth worms or land left fallow for sometime rainfall humus etc. | 2. It makes use of chemical fertilizers mineral and organic inputs irrigation dry leaves, roots etc. |
| 3. These natural methods never cause harm however it replanishes the soil nutriant. | 3. These artificial inputs sometime cause nutrient imbalance to the soil. |
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