Types of soil in maharashtra and its characteristics?

Answer 1

Various types of soils are found in the state. These are black soils, laterite and lateritic soils, coastal alluvial soils, saline -alkali soils, mixed red and black soiI, fed 1oam and red and yellow soils. 1. Black soils

These soils occur extensively in the state. They are found in semi-arid, dry sub-humid and moist subhumid regions at elevation of 300 to 900 metre above mean sea level with hot summer and mild winter.

The dark colour is due to the formation of clay-organic matter complex. Soil characteristics of favourable surface structure, higher water retention capacity (due to smectite clay minerals) and high cation exchange capacity make these soils potentially productive. However, fine texture and tilth, high bulk density, shrinkage cracks, separating soils into polyhedrons and saturated low hydraulic conductivity in the sub-soils are responsible for restricted drainage and pose problems to their management for high productivity. The soils show a great variability in their depth as well as characteristics and, therefore, are generally grouped as shallow, medium and deep black soils.

a. Shallow black soils

Its depth arise from 0.0 to 22.5 cm of the soil. They are mixed with disintegrated murum (coarse partly disintegrated - parent material) and form 20-22 per cent of the black soils. These soils have coarse texture and are characterized by low fertility. These are found on piedmont (a plateau between the coastal plain and the foot of a mountain range) and erosion surfaces are classified as Ustorthents.

b. Medium black soils

Soil depth is about 22.5 to 90 cm. Medium black soils occupy the largest area of the state (about 65 percent). These are mostly found to occur on piedmont plain. These soils are base saturated with calcium as the predominant exchangeable cation. They have high lime reserve (1 to 5 per cent) and alkaline reaction (PH 7. to 9 ). Characteristics of Vertisols are classified as vertic subgroups of Inceptisols.

c. Deep black soils

These soils are found in vast stretches in river valleys of Godavari, Krishna, Bhima and the Puma and also in the piedmont plains. These soils are more fertile than medium black soils. The structure is grannular in surface layer and becomes cloddy with angular shining wedge shaped surface at lower depth. The clay content ranges from 40 to 60 per cent but may be as high as 70 percent. The Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) is higher than 60 meq/l00 gm soils. These soils are classified as Vertisols.

2. Laterite and lateritic soils

These soils are practically devoid of calcium carbonate, acidic in reaction (PH 5.0 to 6.5) and sandy clay loam to clayey in texture. The sesquioxides constitute more than 95 per cent of the total chemical constituents. Kaolinite is the dominant clay mineral which is sometimes associated with illite. These are normally classified as Haplustalfs, Plinthustalfs and Ustochrepts.

3. Coastal alluvial soils

These soils are derived from trap and are clay loam in texture, greyish black in colour and alkaline in reaction (PH 7.5 to 8.0). The lime content ranges from to 5.0 per cent. These are mostly Haplaquents, Haplaquepts and Halaquepts.

4. Saline - alkali soils

These soils are clay loam to clayey in texture and grey to black in colour. Soils contain 0.5 to 5.0 percent lime and pH ranges from 8.5 to 9.5. The electrical conductivity of saturation extract of saline soils is more than 4 mmhos/cm at 25°C, ESP (exchangeable sodium percentage) is less than 15 and pH is less than 8.5. In case of sodic soil, the electrical conductivity of saturation extract is less than 4m mho/cm ESP (exchangeable sodium percentage) more than 15 and pH of saturation extract more than 8.5. These are normally Halaquept and Salorthids.

5. Mixed red and black soils, red loam and red and yellow soils

Nearly 70 percent of the area in Bhandara district is under these soils. Their physico-chemical properties are more or less similar to medium deep black soils. 1n addition, very shallow and coarse textured gravely red soils occur in this area. Such soils contain very high percentage of free lime, stones and gravel. The colour of these soils is generally red or yellowish red due to the presence of iron oxides.. These are mostly Plinthustalfs, Haplustalfs and Ustorthents.

Answer 2

Maharashtra has various types of soil, including black soil (regur), red soil, alluvial soil, and laterite soil. Black soil is known for its high fertility and moisture retention capacity, suitable for cotton and oilseed cultivation. Red soil is less fertile and found in hilly regions, suitable for groundnut and millet cultivation. Alluvial soil is found in river basins and coastal areas, rich in nutrients for growing crops like rice and sugarcane. Laterite soil is found in the Konkan region, poor in fertility but suitable for plantation crops like cashew and coconut.