Soil Classification
Alluvial · Black (Regur) · Red & Yellow · Laterite
MICRO-REALM 01
ICAR Classification
- INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
- BASED ON USDA SOIL TAXONOMY
- 8 MAJOR SOIL GROUPS IDENTIFIED
MICRO-REALM 02
Alluvial Soils
- MOST WIDESPREAD (~40% AREA)
- DEPOSITIONAL SOILS (RIVERINE)
- RICH IN POTASH, POOR IN PHOSPHORUS
MICRO-REALM 03
Khadar vs Bangar
- KHADAR: NEW ALLUVIUM, FINE, FERTILE
- BANGAR: OLD ALLUVIUM, HIGHER TERRACES
- BANGAR CONTAINS KANKAR (CALCAREOUS NODULES)
MICRO-REALM 04
Black Soils (Regur)
- DECCAN TRAP REGION (BASALT ORIGIN)
- HIGH CLAY CONTENT (SWELLS/SHRINKS)
- 'SELF-PLOUGHING' CAPACITY, IDEAL FOR COTTON
MICRO-REALM 05
Red & Yellow Soils
- CRYSTALLINE IGNEOUS ROCKS (LOW RAINFALL)
- RED D/T IRON DIFFUSION
- TURNS YELLOW WHEN HYDRATED
MICRO-REALM 06
Laterite Soils
- INTENSE LEACHING (HIGH TEMP & RAIN)
- POOR IN HUMUS, RICH IN IRON/ALUMINUM
- USED FOR BRICK MAKING, SUITS CASHEW/TAPIOCA
MICRO-REALM 07
Arid Soils
- SANDY TEXTURE, RED TO BROWN COLOR
- HIGH SALT CONTENT, LOW MOISTURE/HUMUS
- KANKAR LAYER AT BOTTOM RESTRICTS WATER
MICRO-REALM 08
Forest/Mountain Soils
- HIMALAYAN & MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENTS
- HETEROGENEOUS, LOAMY IN VALLEYS
- ACIDIC WITH LOW HUMUS ON UPPER SLOPES
MICRO-REALM 09
Saline Soils (Usar)
- HIGH NA, K, MG PROPORTIONS
- INFERTILE DUE TO SALT CRUSTS
- CAUSED BY OVER-IRRIGATION/CAPILLARY ACTION
MICRO-REALM 10
Peaty Soils
- HEAVY RAINFALL & HIGH HUMIDITY ZONES
- RICH IN UNDECOMPOSED ORGANIC MATTER
- HEAVY, BLACK, AND HIGHLY ACIDIC
MICRO-REALM 11
Zonal Distribution
- MACRO-SPATIAL MAPPING
- NORTH: ALLUVIAL/FOREST
- CENTRAL: BLACK; EAST/SOUTH: RED/LATERITE
MICRO-REALM 12
Agronomic Value
- ALLUVIAL: WHEAT, RICE, SUGARCANE
- BLACK: COTTON, SOYBEAN, TOBACCO
- LATERITE: TEA, COFFEE, CASHEW, RUBBER