Soils of India
Last updated: 3 October 2026
Soil is the thin top layer of the Earth’s surface in which plants grow. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has classified the soils of India into eight major types.
Major soil types
| Soil | Where found | Features and crops |
|---|---|---|
| Alluvial | Northern plains (Indo-Gangetic plain), river deltas | The most widespread soil in India. Rich in potash, poor in nitrogen and phosphorus. New alluvium is called khadar and old alluvium bhangar. Good for rice, wheat and sugarcane. |
| Black (Regur) | Deccan plateau: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat | Formed from basalt (Deccan Trap) rocks. Holds moisture well; develops cracks when dry ("self-ploughing"). Best for cotton. |
| Red and Yellow | Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, Chhattisgarh | Red colour comes from iron oxide; looks yellow when hydrated. Poor in nitrogen and humus. |
| Laterite | Western Ghats, Kerala, Karnataka, hills of Odisha | Formed by heavy leaching in high rainfall and heat. Rich in iron and aluminium. Good for tea, coffee and cashew. |
| Arid (Desert) | Rajasthan | Sandy and often saline; low in humus and moisture. |
| Saline and Alkaline | Parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan | Also called reh, kallar or usar. Treated with gypsum. |
| Peaty and Marshy | Kerala, the Sundarbans | Rich in organic matter; heavy and black. |
| Forest and Mountain | Himalayan region | Formed in forest areas; rich in humus. |
Soil conservation
- Methods include contour ploughing, terrace farming, strip cropping, shelter belts and afforestation.
- The Soil Health Card Scheme was launched in 2015 to tell farmers the nutrient status of their soil.
- World Soil Day is observed on 5 December.
- The National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) is in Nagpur.
Quick revision
- Most widespread soil in India: alluvial.
- Black soil = regur = cotton soil; “self-ploughing”.
- Laterite soil: formed by leaching; tea, coffee, cashew.
- Red soil gets its colour from iron oxide.
- Saline soils are treated with gypsum.