Topic:-SOILS OF INDIA

Question 1. Answer the following questions

1. The largest land area of India is occupied by which type of soil :
(a) Alluvial.
(b) Black.
(c) Red.
(d) Laterite.
Answer: Alluvial
2. Which soil is essentially formed by weathering of the Deccan
Trap?
(a) Red.
(b)Black.
(c) Alluvial.
(d)Laterite.
Answer:Black
3. Which of the following is not a cause of soil erosion?
(a)Overgrazing.
(b)Drainage.
(c) Deforestation.
(d) Weathering.
Answer: Drainage.
4. What is Humus? Choose the correct statement
(a) It is not a mineral.
(b) It is organic matter formed by the decomposition of plant and
animal.
(c) It imparts fertility to the soil.
(d) All of these.
Answer: All of these.
5. Parent rocks of which type of soil are granite and gneisses?
(a) Red soil.
(b) Regur soil.
(c) Laterite soil.
(d) Black soil.
Answer:Red soil.
 6. Which of the following statements regarding Khadar is not correct?
(a) It is younger alluvium.
(b) It is full of lime nodules.
(c ) It is formed of fine silt and clay.
(d) It is very fertile and ideal for intensive cultivation.
Answer: It is full of lime nodules.
7. Why are black soils ideal for growing cotton?
(a) They made of lava.
(b) They are found in the plateau region.
(c) They are black in colour.
(d) They can retain moisture for a long a long duration.
Answer:They can retain moisture for a long a long duration.
8. Which soils retains maximum water?
(a) Sandy soil
(b) Clayey soil.
(c) Loamy soil.
(d) Mountain soil.
Answer:Clayey soil.
9. Which of the following is a technique of soil conservation?
(a)Contour ploughing.
(b) Terrace farming.
(c) Crop Rotation.
(d) All of these.
Answer:All of these.
10. What is pedogenesis?
(a)Process of soil deposition.
(b)Process of soil formation.
(c) Process of soil erosion.
(d) None of these.
Answer: Process of soil formation.

Question 2. VERY SHORT QUESTIONS:

1. Question 1.Which subject deals with the study of Soil?
Answer: Pedology is the subject deals with the study of soil.
2. Question 2.What do you mean by ‘Soil’?
Answer: ‘Soil’ means the uppermost layer of the earth’s crust,
which contains the organic as well as mineral matter necessary
for the growth of plants.
3. Question 3:What conditions can alter the characteristics of Soil?
Answer: The conditions of climate, topography, vegetation and underlying
rock can alter the characteristics of Soil.
4. Question 4:Mention the types of Soils found in India.
Or
Name the four major Soil types found in India, leaving out desert and
mountain Soils.
Or
Name four major groups of Soil found in the Indian Plains and Plateaus.
Answer: There are four main types of Soils found in India:
(i) Alluvial Soil, (ii) Black Soil,
(iii) Red Soil, (iv) Laterite Soil.

5. Question 5:Which two types of Soils are the most important Soils?
Answer: Alluvial Soil and Black Soil are the most important Soils.
6. Question 6:What is meant by ‘in Situ’?
Answer: ‘In situ’ are the Soils which are found where they are formed.
7. Question 7:Mention two ways by which Soil can get nitrogen.
Answer: Fertilizers and mixed farming.
8. Question 8:What do you understand about Humus?
Answer: Humus:The decaying of organic materials,eg,dead
leaves,stems,roots,living bacteria,fungus,worms etc,produce humus,which
is important for soil fertility,

9. Question 9:Where are Alluvial Soils found in India?

Answer: Alluvial Soils occupy the extensive tracts of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, Bengal, Orissa, and the coastal strips of Peninsular India. They also
occupy parts of Gujrat and Rajasthan.
10 Question 10:What is one disadvantage of Bhangar alluvium?
. Answer: Sometimes it has high content of sodium salts which makes it
unproductive.
11 Question 11:(i) Which minerals are found in Regur Soil?
. (ii) Name the important crops grown on it.
Answer:(i) Iron, Calcium, Aluminium and Magnesium.
(ii) Cotton, Sugarcane, Groundnut, Jowar and Bajra.
12 Question 12:Name one important crop that thrives best in Regur and Red
. Soil, and a sea-port from where it is exported.
Answer: The crop that thrives best in Regur Soil is Cotton. It is exported
from Mumbai sea-port. The crop that thrives best in Red Soil is Sugarcane.
It is exported from Chennai.
13 Question 13:How is the Red Soil formed?
. Answer: Red Soil is formed due to the prolonged weathering of the old
crystalline rocks. They have a mixture of clay and sand.
 14 Question 14:Name the soil which is formed due to high temperature and
. heavy rainfall with alternating wet and dry periods.
Answer: Name two states where this type of soil is found.
(i) Laterite soil (ii) Orissa and Karnataka.
15 Question 15:Which of the Soil is affected by Soil erosion and which crops
. grow well in Laterite Soil?
Answer: The Soil affected by Soil erosion is Laterite Soil. The important
crops of this Soil is Tapioca and Cashewnuts.
16 Question 16 :In which areas is Soil erosion prominent in India.?
. Answer: Soil erosion is prominent in the North-eastern hilly region of
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, the Chambal Valley, West Bengal and Thar
Desert.
17 Question 17:Mention the types of Soil erosion.
. Answer: Types of Soil erosion are as follows:
(i) Erosion by water (ii) Erosion by wind.
18 Question 18:How does erosion by wind take place?
. Answer: Sometimes in dry areas, dust and silt may be lifted and carried to
a great distance by the wind. This is known as Wind erosion.
19 Question 19:Mention causes of Soil erosion.
. Answer: Causes of Soil erosion are:
(i) The agents of gradation like wind and water
(ii) Nature of the Soil
(iii) Human factors
20 Question 20:How is man responsible for Soil erosion?
. Answer: (i) Indiscriminate cutting down of forests.
(ii) Overgrazing by cattle.
(iii) Faulty methods of cultivation e.g. Jhooming.
21 Question 21:Name the Soil known for its self-ploughing quality and the
. capacity to hold moisture. Name any two cash crops for which it is specially
suited.
Answer: Black cotton Soil; Cotton and Sugarcane.
22 Question 22:What is gully erosion?
. Answer:When rain falls heavily,the run off scours out deep grooves,This
cutting up of the soil gives rise to badlands or ravine lands. This type of
erosion is called gully erosion.
QUESTION 3. Short Questions
1. Question 1:How is Soil formed?
Answer: Soil is formed by the Parent rock material through a process of
break up or wear and tear. The decomposition of plant remains, animal
manures and dead animals add to the fertility of the soil.
2. Question 2: How do we define Soil from an agricultural point of view?
Answer: 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, grasslands and crops from which all living creatures
on earth derive their food.
3. Question 3: Alluvial Soils are also called ‘Riverine Soils’. Why?
Answer: The chief region of Alluvial Soils in India is the Indo-Gangetic
plain, where Alluvial Soils have been deposited mostly by rivers. The coastal
belts are the areas of alluvium. The deltaic alluvium on the eastern coast
has also been deposited by river-channels. Therefore, Alluvial Soils are
rightly called Riverine Soils.
4. Question 4: How is the Alluvial Soil found in the Ganga plain different from
that found in the Godavari valley?
Answer: The Alluvial Soil of the Ganga plain is formed due to the deposition
of alluvium which is brought from the Himalayan region. These are light in
colour. The Alluvial Soil of the Godavari valley is formed due to the
deposition of alluvium brought mainly from the Deccan trap region which is
volcanic in origin. It is dark in colour.
5. Question 5: How is Alluvial soil formed? Why is this soil agriculturally
important?
Answer: Alluvial soils are formed by the sediments brought by the rivers.
The rivers deposit very fine silt called ‘alluvium’ in their plains during the
course of their journey starting from its source in the mountains and
ending till its mouth.
This soil is agriculturally very important because it is a mixture of sand,
clay and silt (loamy) which makes it very fertile. It is rich in potash and
lime. It is light and porous therefore easily tillable. It is suitable for growing
a large variety of Rabi and Kharif crops.
6. Question 6: (i) What is Black Soil?
(ii) Give any two characteristics or features of the Soil found most suitable
for growing cotton and sugarcane in Maharashtra.
Answer: (i) It is Black in colour therefore it is called Black Soil. These Soils
are also called Regur Soil. These are formed in situ, i.e., formed where they
are found. These Soils have originated from solidification of basic lava
spread over large areas of Deccan Plateau during volcanic activity.
(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.
7. Question 7: How is Black Soil formed?
Answer: Black Soil is formed as a result of denudation of lava-flow rocks.
They contain large quantities of lime, potash, aluminium, magnesium. They
are deficient in phosphorus, nitrogen and organic matter. Black Soil is
highly retentive of moisture, and become sticky when wet.
8. Question 8: What are the other names of Black Soil? Where are they found?
Answer: 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 Orissa and the western parts of Andhra
Pradesh.
9. Question 9: (i) Explain the origin of the Black Soil. Name two States in
India, which have Black Soil.
(ii) Mention any two advantages of the Black Soil.
Answer: (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.
10 Question 10: Where is Red Soil found?
. Answer: Red Soil is found in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, South-eastern
Maharashtra, parts of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. They are also found in
the southern districts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and eastern
Rajasthan.
11 Question 11: What are mineral deficiencies of Red Soil? How can they be
. corrected?
Answer: The Red Soils are generally poor in nitrogen, phosphoric acid and
humus. They become reasonably fertile when fertilizers are added to it.
12 Question 12:How is Red Soil formed?State two reasons for the low
. productivity of Red Soil or disadvantages.
Answer :Red soil is formed by the weathering of crystalline and
metamorphic rocks.
Reasons for low productivity:
(i)Deficient in nitrogen,humus
(ii)Porous,friable
13 Question 13: How is Laterite Soil formed?
.. Answer: It is formed by the weathering of Soil or due to intense leaching
during the periods of heavy rainfall. All the soluble materials are removed
and a hard stony layer remains.
14 Question14: Alluvial Soils are also called ‘Riverine Soils’. Why?
. Answer: The chief region of Alluvial Soils in India is the Indo-Gangetic
plain, where Alluvial Soils have been deposited mostly by rivers. The coastal
belts are the areas of alluvium. The deltaic alluvium on the eastern coast
has also been deposited by river-channels. Therefore, Alluvial Soils are
rightly called Riverine Soils.
15 Question 15: Where is Laterite Soil found?
. Answer: It is found in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam,
Bengal, Orissa and along the Western and Eastern Ghats.
16 Question 16: State two disadvantages of Laterite Soil.
. Answer: Disadvantages of Laterite Soils are:
(i) They contain a high percentage of acidity.
(ii) It is generally coarse in texture and cannot retain moisture.
17 Question 17: (i) Why is Laterite Soil unsuitable for cultivation? Name an
. area where this Soil is found.
 (ii) Name the type of Soil found on the summit of the Eastern Ghats.
Explain the causes of its formation.
Answer: (i) Laterites are intensively leached Soils of the monsoon climate.
They lack elements of fertility and thus are normally of low value for crop
production. Laterite Soil is found in India in hill summits ot Eastern and
Western Ghats and Assam Hills.
(ii) Laterite Soils are found on the summits of the Eastern Ghats. These are
formed in the areas which experience high temperature and heavy rainfall.
They are formed by the process of leaching.
18 Question 18: What is the meaning of ‘Soil Erosion’?
. Answer: The washing away or the removal of the Soil is known as Soil
erosion. Soil erosion, thus, may be termed as the detachment and
transportation of Soil particles by agents of denudation such as weathering,
running water and wind, etc.
19 Question 19: Mention the types of Soil erosion by water.
. Answer: Soil erosion by water can be of the following sub-types:
(i) Sheet erosion (ii) Rill erosion (iii) Gully erosion
(iv) Stream Bank erosion. (v) Sea-shore erosion.
20 Question 20: State the factors upon which the rate of Soil erosion depends.
. Answer: The rate of Soil erosion depends upon:
(i) Character of the slope of land. (ii) The density of vegetation.
(iii) Rainfall—Heavy or Light.
21 Question 21: Define leaching ? In which region south of the Tropic of
Cancer,can one find soil formed by ‘Leaching’?
Answer: Leaching is the process of percolation by which soluble
substances such as organic minerals and mineral salts are washed out of
the upper layer of the soil into the lower layer by rain water eg Laterite soil
Found in Karnataka which is south of Tropic of Cancer.
22 Question 22: What is sheet erosion?
Answer: 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 Soii.
This is known as Sheet Erosion.
23 Question 23: What is rill erosion?
Answer: 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 declining crop yields.

Question 24: What is stream bank erosion?

Answer: 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 Question 25: How does wind erode Soil?
. Answer: When wind blows over barren land, there will be damage to the top
Soil. In the areas of scanty rainfall wind erosion is predominant. When
deaf-forestation due to overgrazing of cultivation makes the top Soil bare,
wind erosion occurs.
26 Question 26: Mention some measures to check Soil erosion.
. Answer: Some measures to check Soil erosion are: Contour method of
ploughing, terraced farming, plugging of gullies and ravine method,
constructing dams across the streams, check on unrestricted grazing over
the pastures, afforestation and legal binding on primitive method of
Jhooming cultivation should be exercised.
27 Question 27: Explain the need for Soil conservation in India. State two
. methods of Soil conservation.
Answer: A rich soil in plant food is the chief requirement of a successful
agriculture. It is an essential as a support for plants.
Soil is a very important natural resource of India because agricultural
production is basically dependent on the fertility of Soil. Food products like
cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables are obtained indirectly from the Soil.
Two methods:
(i) Contour ploughing. (ii) Afforestation.
28 Question 28:How does the nature of soil affectSoil erosion?
Answer: Sandy soil and porous soils are subjected to least erosion by water
action because they absorb a good amount of waterat the time of
rainfall.mpervious soils are subjected to gradual erosion by water because
they are incapable of absorbing rain water.

29 Question 29: State any two methods of controlling soil erosion.

. Answer: (i) Terrace farming.
(ii) Planting shelterbelts to check the speed of wind.

30 Question 30: What is soil conservation? How does re-afforestation help in

. soil conservation?
Answer: Soil conservation refers to the methods of protecting the soil from
erosion. Roots of the trees protect the soil by holding it in place against
wind and water erosion. Re-afforestation means replanting trees which
have been cut down. For every tree that is cut, two trees are grown. In this
way forest cover is increased.

31 Question 31: Mention two ways by which soil can get nitrogen.
. Answer: (i) Use of fertilizer.
(ii) Crop rotation: Rotation of crops is a system in which farmers grow
 pulses of leguminous crops after the harvest of a soil-exhausting crop.
Through this method the soil retains its fertility or gets back the nitrogen.

QUESTION 4. Long Answers

1. Question 1: Name the factors responsible for the formation of Soil.
Answer:
1. Climate: The climate in which Soil develops is the most important
factor. It is responsible for the following:
(a) Weathering: Extremes of temperature, freezing and thawing of ice
break down rocks and favour Soil formation.
(b) Vegetation: The growth and decay of vegetation determines the
humus content of the Soil. Roots of plants penetrate the Soil and
make it porous.
(c) Biochemical processes taking place in Soil: Bacteria and fungi
cause the decay of plants and animal remains. Some transform the
atmospheric nitrogen into Soil nitrogen.
2. The Parent rock: The physical and chemical composition of the
parent rock determines the relative proportion of different minerals in
the Soil layers.
3. The Topography: The slope of the land surface is an important
factor in the formation of Soil layer.
(a) Hills and slopes: Steep slopes usually have a thin Soil layer
because weathered particles are easily carried downslope by running
water and wind.
(b) Plains and Valleys: On flat plains and in valleys, thick fertile Soils
are developed.
2. Question 2:What are the main componentsof soil?
Answer:(i)Silica: the main constituent is sand,it is present as
smallcrystalline grains.It is mainly derived from the weartheringof rocks.
(ii)Clay: It is a mixture of silicates and contains many minerals like
iron,potassium,calcium,and aluminium.Particles of clay absorb water and
swell.
(iii)Chalk:It consists of calcium carbonatewhich provides the important
element calcium.
(iv)Humus: It is the organic matterpresent in the soilformed by the
decomposition of plants and animal remains.It is the most important
element that determines the fertility of the soil.
3. Question 3: Name the varieties of Alluvial Soils. Where are they found?
Answer: Alluvial Soils are of two varieties: Bhangar and Khadar.
‘Bhangar’ is older alluvium. It is found usually higher up in the plains, and
occurs at river terraces away from the river. It is found in massive beds,
and is characterized by calcareous clays. It is light grey and less fertile.
 ‘Khadar’ is newer alluvium. It occurs in the lower levels near the river, and
is mainly clay loamy. Its new layers are deposited year after year during the
season of monsoon floods.

4. Question 4: How is Regur Soil formed? Mention four important features of

Regur Soil.
Answer: Regur or Black Soil is formed by weathering of volcanic (basalt)
rock formed by the Deccan Lava.
Four important features of Regur Soil are:
(i) Fine grained (ii) Moisture retentive
(iii) Sticky when wet (iv) Cracks when dry.

5. Question 5: Mention some of the properties of Red Soil.

Or
Mention two characteristics of Red Soil.
Answer: (i) Red Soils are formed in situ by weathering of the ancient
crystalline and metamorphic rocks.
(ii) They are rich in iron content, hence, they are red in colour.
(iii) The productivity of the Red Soil increases with regular use of fertilizers.
(iv) Red Soils are porous in nature but not retentive to moisture.
(v) They are suited for dry farming as it does not require much moisture.

6. Question 6: What are the salient characteristics of Laterite Soils?

Answer: (i) Laterite Soils are leached Soils because alternating dry and wet
spells cause the soluble silica to be removed.
(ii) These Soils are acidic in nature and coarse and crumbly in texture.
(iii) The proportion of lime and silica is reduced when leaching takes place.
(iv) In the upper layers, the compounds of iron and aluminium become
higher giving a reddish colour to the Soil.
(v) Lack of nitrogen, potassium and organic elements make these Soils
unsuitable for cultivation. These Soils support pastures and scrub forests.
(vi) With the use of manures, coffee, rubber, cashew, etc., can be grown on
these Soils.

7. Question 7: For each, state one method of controlling the erosion caused.
Answer: Methods of Controlling Erosion:
(i) Erosion by water: During heavy downpours deep ‘gullies’ are made on
account of water run
off. Gully erosion can be stopped by plugging it with stones and pebbles or
quick growing grasses can be grown in gullies to stop its expansion.
(ii) Erosion by wind: Wind erosion reduces the productive capacity of the
soil by removing the loose particles of soil with the high velocity wind. The
nutrients required by the plants are taken away by the wind. Therefore
more and more trees should be planted along the edges of the field, the
 waste land and also on the steep slopes. If it is difficult to grow trees, grass
should be grown but no land should be left devoid of plants.

8. Question 8: (i) Define the term ‘Soil conservation’.

(ii) Why is it necessary?
Answer: (i) The protection of the topSoil, which is constantly being shifted
by wind and water from one area to another, is called Soil conservation. In
other words, Soil conservation refers to the steps taken to protect the Soil
from erosion.
(ii) Soil is our most precious resource. It is important to our national
economy as productive Soil ensures prosperity in agriculture, industrial
development and general economic development.

QUESTION 5. GIVE REASONS

1. Give Geographical Reasons for the following:
Question 1: Why are Alluvial Soils agriculturally important?
Answer: Alluvial Soils are agriculturally important, as they are formed by
the deposition of sediments brought by the rivers which gets replenished by
the deposition of fresh sediment every year, and are rich in chemical
nutrients.
2. Question 2: Why is deltaic alluvium more fertile than coastal alluvium?
Answer: Deltaic alluvium (Khadar) is more fertile than coastal alluvium
(Bhangar) as new layers are deposited year after year during monsoonal
floods.
3 Question 3: Laterite soil is not suitable for cultivation.
Answer: Laterite soils are acidic in nature and have low water retaining
capacity. It is poor in nitrogen and lime.
: Why is Alluvial Soil fertile?
Answer: Alluvial Soil is very fertile since alluvium is rich in mineral
nutrients like potash and lime.
4 Question 4: Why Black Soils are also called ‘Black Cotton Soil’?
Answer: Black Soil is particularly suitable for cotton cultivation. Therefore
it is also called ‘Black cotton soil’.
5 Question 5: Why Black Soil needs to be tilled after the first rains?
Answer: When wet, the Soil becomes sticky and difficult to work with. So,
the Soil needs to be tilled after the first rains.
6 Question 6: Why Black soil is Black in colour?
Answer: It is Black in colour due to high percentage of iron content
7. Question 7:Why is the Red soil red in colour?
Answer:Red soil is re in colour because it contains a great proportion of
iron-oxides ,at several places their colour has slightly changed and appears
brown or grey.
 8. Question 8: Name one state in India which mostly has Red Soil.
Answer: Tamil Nadu has Red Soil.
9. Question 9: Why is Red Soil ideal for dry farming?
Answer: Red Soil is ideal for dry farming as it does not require moisture.
10 Question 10: Why is Laterite Soil not suitable for agriculture?
. Answer: Laterite Soil is not suitable for agriculture because of its high
content of acidity and it cannot retain moisture also.
Question 11: Laterite soil is not suitable for cultivation.
Answer: Laterite soils are acidic in nature and have low water retaining
capacity. It is poor in nitrogen and lime.

QUESTION 6. Differentiate Between

1. Question 1: State two differences between Black soil and alluvial soil.
Answer:
Black Soil Alluvial Soil
1. Made of alluvium. Transported
1. Made by lava. Residual soil.
soil.
2. Black in colour. 2. Yellow in colour.
3. Rich in humus. 3. Deficient in humus.
2. Question 2: Alluvial soil and Red soil.
Answer:
Alluvial soil Red Soil
Reddish in colour as it contains Iron
1. Light grey in colour.
Oxide.
2. Very fertile, suitable for wheat, Rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton and
sugarcane, rice, cotton, jute, oil pulses can be cultivated when well
seed. watered with fertiliser.
3. Question 3: Alluvial soils found in the lower courses and the upper courses
of rivers.
Answer:
Upper course Lower course
1. It is coarser i.e. particles bigger It is finer and finest in the lowest
in size. section.
2. It is dry, less compact. It is more moist and more compact.
4. Question 4: State two differences between Khadar and Bhangar Soil.
Answer:
Khadar Soil Bhangar Soil
1. The newer alluvium is called The older alluvium is called
Khadar. Bhangar.
2. It is fine textured and more It contains pebbles and gravels. It is
fertile. less fertile.
 5. Question 5: Black Soil and Alluvial Soil.
Answer:
Black Soil Alluvial Soil
1. Made by lava Made by rivers.
2. Black in colour. Yellow in colour.
3. Rich in humus. Rich in iron.
6. Question 6: Alluvial soil of the northern plains and the alluvial soil on the
coastal plains of India.
Answer:
Alluvial Soil of Northern Plains Alluvial Soil on the Coastal Plain
1. Light in colour Dark in colour
2. Sandy Clayey
3. Porous Non porous
4. Coarse in texture Fine in texture
7. Question 7: Sheet erosion and Gully erosion.
Answer:
Sheet Erosion Gully Erosion
1. Occurs on even surface layers. Occurs on steep slopes.
2. The top Soil is removed. Steep sided valleys are formed.
3. Found in Western India. Found in Chambal ravines.
4. Sheet erosion is harmful since it
Gullies cut up agricultural land and
removes the finer and more fertile
make it unfit for cultivation.
top Soil.
Question 8: Transported soil and In Situ soil, quoting a suitable example
for each.
Answer:
Transported Soil In Situ Soil
If a soil is carried else where at the
place of rest by the agents of If the soil remains at the place of
gradation from the place of its origin its origin is called in situ, e.g.
is called transported soil, e.g. Alluvial Black soil.
soil.
QUESTION 7. 1. Map Plotting
Question 1: On the map of India, shade and name an area each of:
(a) Alluvial Soil, (b) Red Soil, (c) Desert Soil and (d) Hill Soil or Mountain
Soil.
Answer:
QUESTION 8 1. Name the Following
Question 1: Name the soil which
(i) covers the summits of the Eastern Ghats.
(ii) Makes up the delta of the River Ganga.
(iii) is sticky when wet and cracks when dry.
 Answer: (i) laterite (ii) alluvial (iii) black
2. Question 2: Give a single word for each of the following:
(i) The loose rock material, together with humus, forming the uppermost
layer of the earth’s crust and serving a source of food and moisture for
plants.
(ii) The process of percolation by which valuable mineral nutrients are
washed down from the top layer of the Soil only to deposit them in the
lower layers, making the top Soil infertile.
Answer: (i) Soil (ii) Leaching
3. Question 3: Name the transported Soil most widely found in India. State
the two sub-categories into which it is generally divided. What are their
local names and which one of them is superior to the other.
Answer: Alluvial Soil; Older alluvium—Bhangar, Newer alluvium—Khadar.
Khadar is superior to Bhangar.
Question 4: Point out the region where coastal alluvium is found.
Answer: The coastal alluvium occurs in the coastal strips of peninsular
India and the plains of Gujrat and also some parts of Rajasthan.

5. Question 5: Name the three types of Alluvium Soil.

Answer: Alluvium Soils include:
(i) Deltaic alluvium (ii) Coastal alluvium
(iii) Inland alluvium
6. Question 6: Name the crops for which Red Soils are suitable.
Answer: Red soil is suitable for the cultivation of wheat, rice, millet, gram,
pulses and sugarcane.

7. Question 8: Name one area where Laterite Soil is found in large-scale.

Answer: It is found along summits of Western Ghats in Karnataka and
Kerala.
Question 8: Name the soil which is formed due to high temperature and
heavy rainfall with alternating wet and dry periods .Nmae two states where
this type of soil is found.
Answer: Laterite soil.Kerela and Karnataka.
9. Question 9: Name the parent rock of Laterite Soil. Name one area in India
which has Laterite Soil.
Answer: The parent rock of Laterite Soil is Laterite rock. It is mainly found
in the Malwa Plateau region.

10 Question 10: Which Soil is found suitable to grow coffee in Karnataka?

. Answer: Laterite Soil.

11Question 11: Name two important agents of erosion.

. Answer: The two important agents of erosion are:
(i) Water (ii) Wind.

12 Question 12: Name a part of India where:

. (i) Wind is the main agent of erosion.
(ii) Water is the main agent of erosion.
Answer: (i) Thar Desert, western Rajasthan and south Punjab.
(ii) In hilly regions such as the Himalayas, hills of North-east India and the
Nilgiris.