BCW Prelims Class Notes BPSC CONCEPT WALLAH
Soil
Student’s Space
Definition
Soil is a dynamic natural body formed by interactions among mineral particles,
organic matter, water, and air, arranged into distinct layers called horizons
Soils have generally 45% minerals,5% organic matters,255 air and 25%
water.
Soil Texture
Soil texture is determined by the relative proportion of sand, silt, clay, and
humus in the soil. These components influence soil properties like porosity,
water retention, aeration, and fertility.
Component Particle Size Range Texture Notes
Type
Sand Coarse: 2mm - 0.2 mm Coarse- High porosity,
Fine: (0.2 mm-0.2 mm) textured good aeration, low
nutrient retention
Little finer
Silt 0.02 mm – 0.002 mm Medium- Smooth feel,
textured moderate fertility
and water
retention
Clay < 0.002 mm Inorganic High water and
colloid nutrient retention,
but poor aeration
Humus Humus is the dark, Organic Rich in organic
organic material colloid matter, enhances
formed in soil when fertility
plant and animal
matter decays. It is a
stable form of
organic matter and
plays a crucial role in
soil fertility and
structure.
Key Concepts
Rocks are passive pool of minerals while soil is active pool of minerals
In the area with heavy rainfall soil is generally acidic and acidic soil can
be treated with the use of Limestone.
In the area with less rainfall, coastal belt or over irrigation zone we get
“Alkaline soil” and this alkaline soil can be treated with the use of
“Gypsum”.
Anions don’t play any role in determining the acidity of soil
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BCW Prelims Class Notes BPSC CONCEPT WALLAH
Cations are of two types:-
o Base Generating Cations (BGC):- They are dissolved in water
Student’s Space
(E:g :- Mg,Ca,Na etc)
o Acid Generating Cations(AGC) :- They are not dissolved in
water (E:g:- H+)
During heavy rainfall,BGC Leaches inside and soil is left with AGC only
making it acidic
In Kerala Acidic soil is called “KARI”.
Capillary action is inversely proportional to size of soil particles.
• Inorganic colloid = Clay
Organic colloid = Humus
Clay + Humus = Main determinant of soil behavior (e.g., fertility, binding
ability)
Humus acts like "cement" to bind particles together
Zone of leaching
Zone of Accumulation
Partially weathered rock
Unweathered Rock
Soil profile
Do you know?
Zone of leaching and zone of accumulation together is called “Soil solum”.
Laterite soil
Formation: High rainfall and high temperature
Chemical Composition:
o Rich in: Iron oxide(hence crimson red in color) and
potash
o Deficient in: Silica, organic matter, nitrogen,
phosphate, and calcium
Humus: High temperatures encourage bacterial activity, rapidly
depleting humus content.
Agricultural Suitability:
o Naturally infertile—requires application of manures and
fertilizers to support cultivation.
o Red laterite soils in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and
Kerala are better suited for tree crops such as cashew.
PH = 4.5 to 5.5
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BCW Prelims Class Notes BPSC CONCEPT WALLAH
Area:- Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Meghalaya plateau
Laterite soil in Jharkhand is called “PAT. Student’s Space
Alluvial Soil
Feature Details
Coverage & Covers about 15 lakh sq. km or 40% of India’s total land
Importance area; most agriculturally significant soil type in India.
Formation & Formed by deposition of alluvium by rivers, winds,
Composition glaciers, and sea waves; rich in POTASH But lacks humus
and Phosphorus
Fertility Replenished annually by river floods which boost fertility.
Enhancement
Types of • Old alluvium (Bhangar): Clayey, sticky, darker, contains
Alluvial Soil lime nodules.
• New alluvium (Khadar): Lighter, deposited in floodplains
and deltas.
Distribution • Great Northern Plain (Punjab to West Bengal and Assam)
• Lower valleys of Narmada and Tapti
• East coast deltas
• Northern Gujarat plains and parts of Rajasthan
PH Alluvial soils typically have a pH ranging from 6.5 to
8.4. This indicates they are usually neutral to slightly
alkaline
SPECIAL Often called as “Transported soil” hence it has poor soil
FEATURE profile too.
Do you know?
India has around 40% alluvial soils, 18.5% Red soil, 15% Black cotton
soil and around 4.3% arid soil.
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BCW Prelims Class Notes BPSC CONCEPT WALLAH
Black cotton soil
Student’s Space
Feature Details
Alternate Regur Soil, Black Cotton Soil, Lava soil (Malwa belt)
Names
Coverage & Covers approximately 15% of India’s total
Distribution geographical area.
Mainly found in the Deccan Plateau.
Formation & Formed from fissure volcanic rocks; contains alumina,
Composition iron oxide, lime, magnesium carbonates; poor in
nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter.
Characteristics Highly argillaceous with over 62% clay content.
excellent moisture retention.
Black color due to titaniferous magnetite or iron.
Since it is very clayey hence it is often called as
“Self ploughing soil” or self aerated soil.
Fertility & Ideal for cotton cultivation; retains water for long periods
Suitability despite nutrient deficiencies.
PH 7.2 to 8.5
Karewa soil
Formation: - Lacusterine deposits of glaciers
Area: - Pir-Panjal and Great Himalaya
Fit for:- Saffron/Zafron
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BCW Prelims Class Notes BPSC CONCEPT WALLAH
Red soil Student’s Space
Feature Details
Coverage & Occupies around 18.5% of India’s total land area
Distribution
Area:- Hilly Areas (well drained condition)
Example: - found in south Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar
Pradesh, Aravallis, eastern Rajasthan, Assam,
Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and
Meghalaya.
Formation & Formed from the weathering of ancient
Composition crystalline rocks.
Red color due to iron oxide.
Rich in iron but poor in nitrogen, phosphorus,
and organic matter.
Special Red soil when mixed with water becomes
Characteristics yellow and then it is called “Red-Yellow”
soil.
Red soil in Andhra Pradesh is called
“CHALKA”
Red soil formed by weathering of limestone is
called “Terra Rossa”.
Peaty and Marshy Soil
Feature Details
Formation & Form in humid, waterlogged regions where plant
Distribution decomposition slows.
Found in wetlands of Kottayam & Alappuzha (Kerala),
coastal Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Sunderbans (West Bengal),
parts of Bihar and Uttaranchal.
Composition Peaty soils are black and rich in decomposed organic
matter and nitrogen, but deficient in phosphorus and
potassium.
Major Crops Cabbage, broccoli, peas, beans, carrots, radishes,
Grown potatoes, lettuce, spinach.
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