Chapter 5.

Soils in India
0.1. How is Soil formedd?
Ans Soil is formed by the Parent rock material
through a process of break up or wear and tear.
decompOsition of plant remains, animal manures
soil. and dead animals add to the fertility ofIhe
the

How we define Soil from

agricultural point of view?
Ans. Soil is the thin layer
of loose mixture of small rock
particles and rotting organic matter that
covers much of the world's land surface. It
supports all forests, grasslarnds and crops from which
all living creatures on earth derive their food.
Q.3. What are the different types of Soil according to their Zones ?
Ans. Zonal Soils
Soils of the Tropical Zone

Desert soil Red soil

Laterite soil Black soil

'Riverine Soils'. Why?

Soils
Alluvial a r e also called where Alluvial Soils have
Q.4. India is the Indo-Gangetic plain,
Alluvial Soils in The deltaic
Ans. The chief region of coastal belts a r e the areas of alluvium.
rivers. The Alluvial
been deposited mostly by been deposited by river-channels. Therefore,

eastern coast
has also
alluvium o n the
Soils. the Godavari
called Riverine
different from that found in
Soils are rightly the Ganga plain
Alluvial Soil found in
.5. How is the of alluvium which
is
due to the deposition Godavari
valley? of the Ganga
plain is formed
in colour. The Alluvial Soil of the
Ans. The Alluvial Soil These a r e light
region. from the Deccan trap region
the Hirtelayan alluvium brought mainly
brought from the deposition
of
is formed due to colour.
valley It is dark in
in origin.
which is volcanic
 56 ICSE Most Likely Question Bank, Class: X
important ?
Alluvial soil formed ? Why is this soil agriculturally
96.
How is The rivers deposit very fine sil
Alluvial soils a r e formed by the sediments brought
by the rivers. trom its source in
Ans.
their journey starting the
c o u r s e of
called 'alluvium' in their plains during the
mountains and ending till its mouth. and silt (loamy) which
is a mixture of sand, clay
This soil is agriculturally important because it
and porous therefore easily tillable. t
it very fertile. It is rich in potash and lime. It is light
makes
is suitable for growing large variety of Rabi and Kharit crops.

Q.7. (i) What is Black Soil?

features of the Soil found
most suitable for growing cotton
(i) Give any two characteristics or

and sugarcane in Maharashtra.

Ans. () Black soil is formed as a result of disintegration of lava rocks. It is often referred to as8

is black in colour because of the

regur, but popularly known as 'black cotton soil'. It
presence of fine iron content so it is called 'Black soil'.
(ii) Two characteristics or features of the Black Soil which is most suitable for growing cotton
and sugarcane in Maharashtra are
(a) It is fine grained, rich in iron, lime and calcium.
(b) It retains moisture and becomes exceedingly sticky.
Q.8. How is Black Soil formed?
Ans. Black Soil is formed as a result of denudation of lava-flow rocks. They contain large quantities of
lime, potash, aluminium and magnesium. They are deficient in phosphorus, nitrogen and
organic matter. Black Soil is highly retentive of moisture, and become sticky when wet.
Q.9. What are the other names of Black Soil ? Where are they found?
Ans. Black Soil is also known as 'Regur Soil' or "Black Cotton Soil'. Black Soil is found in Gujrat,
Maharashtra, parts of Madhya Pradesh, South Uttar Pradesh, North-west Odisha and the
western parts of Andhra Pradesh.
10. ) Explain the origin of the Black Soil. Name two States in India, which have Black Soil.
(i) Mention any two advantages of the Black Soil.
Ans. (i) Black Soil is formed
by weathering of volcanic rocks. It is found in Maharashtra and M.P.
(ii) It retains moisture for a long time, is rich in lime, potash and calcium.
Q.11. Where is Red Soil found?
Ans. Red Soil is found in Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, South-eastern Maharashtra, parts of Andhra
Pradesh and Odisha. They are also found in the southern
districts of Uttar Pradesh,
Pradesh and easterm Rajasthan. Madhya
Q.12. What are mineral deficiencies of Red Soil ? How can
they be corrected?
Ans. The Red Soils
generally
are
poor in
nitrogen,
reasonably fertile when fertilizers are added to it. phosphoric
acid and humus. They become
Q. 13. How is Red Soil formed ? State two
reasons for the low
disadvantages. productivity of Red Soil or
Ans. Red Soil is formed by weathering of crystalline and
Reasons for low metamorphic rocks.
productivity:
)Deficient in nitrogen, humus.
(ii) Porous, friable.
Q. 14. How is Laterite Soil formed ?
Ans. It is formed
by the weathering of Soil or due to intense
rainfall. All the soluble leaching during the periods of heavy
materials are removed and a hard
Laterile soil is formed. stony layer remains this is how
Q. 15.
Where is Laterite Soil found?
Ans. It is
found in Andhra
Pradesh, Tamil
Western and Eastern Ghats. Nadu, Karnataka, Assam,
Bengal, Odisha and along the
 ShortQuestions 57
16 State two disadvantages of Laterite Soil.
Ans Disadvantages of Laterite Soils are:
G)They contain high percentage of acidity.
(ii) It is generally coarse in texture and
cannot retain moisture.
Q.17. i) Why is Laterite Soil unsuitable for
i)
cultivation ? Name an area where this
soil 1s
10u
Name the type of Soil found on the summit of the Eastern Ghats. Explain the causes or its
formation.
Ans. Laterites are intensively leached Soils of the monsoon climate. They lack in elements or
ertility and thus are normally of low value for crop Droduction. Laterite Soil is found in
India in hill summits of
Eastern and Western Ghats and Assam Hills.
(i) Laterite Soils
are found on the summits of the Eastern Ghats. These are in tne
which experience high temperature and heavy rainfall. They are formedformed areaof
by the process
leaching.
o.18. What is the meaning of 'Soil Erosion'?
Ans. hewashingaway or the removal of the Soil is known as Soil erosion. Soil erosion, thus, may be
termea as the detachment and transportation of Soil particles by agents of denudation such as
weathering, running water and wind, etc.
o.19. Mention the types of Soil erosion by water.
Ans. Soil erosion by water can be of the following sub-types:
) Sheet erosion (il) Rill erosion (ii) Gully erosion.
(iv) Stream Bank erosion. (v) Sea-shore erosion. (vi) Slip erosion.
0.20. State the factors upon which the rate of Soil erosion depends.
Ans. The rate of Soil erosion depends upon:
(i) Character of the slope of land. (i) The density of vegetation.
(ii) Rainfall-Heavy or Light.
Q.21. Define Leaching' ? In which region of south of Tropic of cancer can one find Soil formed by
Leaching' ?
Ans. Leaching Soil is the process by which soluble substances such as organic basic minerals and
mineral salts are washed out of the upper layer of a Soil into a lower layer by percolating rain
water, e.g., Laterite Soil.
Found in Karnataka which is south of Tropic of Cancer
Q.22. What is sheet erosion?
Ans. When the vegetation cover of an area is removed, the rain water instead of sinking into the
ground, washes the Soil down the slope. Each succeeding rain-stream washes away a thin layer
of absorbent top Soil. This is known as Sheet Erosion.
Q.23. What is rill erosion?
Ans. In rill erosion small finger-like rills begin to appear on the landscape. These rills are usually
smoothened out by working of the farm implements. But, slowly the rills increase not only in
number but also in their shape and size. They get wider and deeper. This reduces the actual area
under crop and results in decining crop yields.
Q.24. What is stream bank erosion?
Ans. The banks of the streams or rivers get eroded every year by the flowing water. In certain areas,
the streams and rivers often change their course bit by bit every year and their beds get

widened.
25. (i) How does sea or shore erosion occur ?
(i) How is slip erosion caused?
Ans. (i) The tidal waters of sea
cause considerable Soil erosion along the coast, particularly during
the rainy season when the sea gets rough. The roaring waves rush and dash on the coast,
bits of coastal lands.
swallowing every time exerted by moisture penetrating into the Soil
i) Slip erosion is caused by hydraulic pressure
durine heavy rains. Sometimes the entire field on hill side may slide down because of slip

erosion.