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Soil & Biosphere Reserves
Soil
Factors Responsible for Soil Formation
Alluvial Soil
Features
- Covers about 40% area of India
- Most fertile soil of India
Formation
- Formed by river deposited sediments
Distribution
- Found in:
- Northern Plains
- Delta regions of Peninsular rivers
States
- Uttar Pradesh
- Bihar
- West Bengal
- Assam
Composition
- Rich in Potash
- Poor in Phosphorus
Types of Alluvial Soil
Khadar
- New Alluvium
- More fertile
Bhangar
- Old Alluvium
- Less fertile
Red Soil
Features
- Covers about 18% area of India
- Formed by weathering of metamorphic rocks
Colour
- Red due to Iron Oxide
- Turns yellow after hydration
Distribution
- Found in water deficit regions
- Mostly in low rainfall areas
States
- Karnataka
- Tamil Nadu
- Maharashtra
- Piedmont Zone of Western Ghats
Black Soil
Features
- Covers about 15% area of India
- Formed by lava eruption
Distribution
- Found in north-western Peninsular Plateau
- Mainly:
Other Name
Characteristics
- Clayey in nature
- High water holding capacity
- Impermeable soil
Special Feature
- Shows self-ploughing property
- Cracks when dry
- Sticky when wet
Agriculture
- Best suited for cotton cultivation
- Cotton requires 210 frost-free days
Composition
Loamy Soil
- Contains more sand content
Laterite Soil
Features
- Covers about 4.3% area of India
- Formed due to leaching process
Leaching
- Important minerals like Silica are washed away
Distribution
- Found in regions of:
- High temperature
- High rainfall
Other Name
Suitable Crop
- Best for Cashew cultivation
States
- Tamil Nadu
- Andhra Pradesh
- Kerala
Desert Soil
Features
- Found in areas with rainfall below 50 cm
Distribution
- Western Rajasthan
- Gujarat
- Haryana
Montane Soil
Feature
- Contains high amount of Humus
Marshy / Peaty Soil
Features
- Found in coastal areas
- Rich in organic matter / humus
Climate
- Found in areas of:
- High humidity
- High rainfall
Biosphere Reserves
Total Biosphere Reserves in India
UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
- 12 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
- Under Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme, 1971
Important Biosphere Reserves
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
- First Biosphere Reserve of India
- Spread across:
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Karnataka
Great Rann of Kutch
- Largest Biosphere Reserve of India
Other Important Biosphere Reserves
- Sundarban
- Nanda Devi
- Nokrek
- Panchmarhi
- Simlipal
- Great Nicobar
- Agasthyamalai
Achanakmar–Amarkantak
- Located on:
- Chhattisgarh–Madhya Pradesh border
Kangchenjunga Biosphere Reserve
- Highest mixed World Heritage Site
- First mixed World Heritage Site
Panna Biosphere Reserve
- Latest added Biosphere Reserve
Memory Tricks
- Alluvial = Most Fertile
- Black Soil = Cotton Soil = Regur
- Laterite = Leaching Soil
- Nilgiri = 1st Biosphere Reserve
- Great Rann of Kutch = Largest Biosphere Reserve
