- Areas in the Indo-Gangetic Plain were formed by the periodic deposition of silt brought down by the rivers.
- Almost a quarter of the Indian soil is alluvial soil, which is very fertile.
- Alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and are conducive for the cultivation of a variety of crops, especially cereals, and pulses.
- Besides these, commercial crops like cotton, sugarcane, and jute are also grown.
- Alluvial soils are found in the Plains of Punjab, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, and the coastal strips of South India.
- In the upper and the middle Ganga plains, two different types of alluvial soils have developed namely, khadar and bhangar.
- Khadar is a newer alluvium developed behind the leaves of the numerous streams flowing in this section of the Ganga Plain.
- It is sandier and is susceptible to the annual floods, which enriches it by depositing fine silts.
- Bhangar represents a system of older alluvium developed on the upper reaches of the streams where floods generally do not reach.
- They are dry soils.

- Black soil is also known as regur.
- Black soils of Tamil Nadu have developed largely on the ferruginous rocks.
- These were formed by the deposition of lava ejected by the volcanoes several million years ago.
- These soils contain clay by minerals that are black in colour.
- They swell when damped and shrink when dried.
- The land develops wide cracks during the dry season where loosened soil particles get accumulated.
- Because of this character of slow absorption and slow loss of moisture, black soils retain the moisture for a very long time, helping the crops, especially the rain-fed ones, to sustain even during the dry season.
- It is rich in minerals but poor in organic matter and retains moisture for longer period than the other soils.
- Black soil is suitable for growing cotton.
- It is found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, west Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

- This soil is formed through the weathering of ancient metamorphic and crystalline rocks.
- It is red in colour because of high iron content.
- Usually, the surface layer is red and the lower horizon yellow.
- The texture ranges from sandy to clayey with loamy being a common texture.
- Usually, red soil occurs in uplands and black soils in lowlands.
- It is good for the cultivation of pulses, coarse grains, chilies, wheat, millet, cotton, groundnuts, and potato.
- It is found in Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and north-eastern hill states.

- Formed by the weathering of laterite rock, this is the typical soil of the tropical regions with heavy seasonal rainfall, which promotes leaching of the soil.
- With the rain, the lime and silica are leached away and soil rich in iron oxide and aluminum compounds are left behind.
- The humus content of this soil is removed fast by the bacteria that thrive well in a high temperature.
- The low levels of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphate, and calcium, and high levels of iron oxide and potash make it unsuitable for crop growth, but with the use of manure and fertilizers this soil can be made useful for crops.
- Cotton, rice, wheat, pulses, tea, coffee, cashew nuts, and tapioca are grown on this soil.
- The major application of laterite soil is for cutting bricks, for use in the construction of houses.
- lt is found in the areas occupied by the Deccan, Andhra Pradesh, Eastern Ghats, Mysore, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Orissa, and Meghalaya.

- Found in the dry tracts of the north, especially in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan.
- Rajasthan has the largest inland saline wetland in India.
- This type of soil is harmful to the crops.
- It is also known as Usar soil.
- This soil contains large proportions of sodium, potassium, and magnesium, and thus, is poor and infertile.
- It acquires more salts because of the dry climate and poor drainage.
- Its structure ranges from sandy to loamy.

- Found in Kerala, the coastal tracts of Orissa, the Sunderbans, some parts of Bengal, north Bihar and south-east Tamil Nadu, this soil is found in the areas of heavy rainfall and high humidity, where there is good growth of vegetation.
- A large amount of dead organic matter accumulates in these areas and this gives rich humus and organic content to the soil.
- These soils are normally heavy and black in colour and used for the cultivation of light and less soil exhaustive crops.

- It is also known as Arid Soil, as it is found in the arid regions that receive a poor water supply, such as western Rajasthan.
- The soil colour ranges from red to brown, and its texture is generally sandy and alkaline.
- In many areas, the salt content is so high that common salt can be obtained by simply evaporating the saline water.
- These soils are poor and contain less humus and organic matter.
- They are generally used in the cultivation of coarse grains like jowar, bajra, ragi, and oil seeds.

- The hilly areas of Assam, Uttar Pradesh, the sub-Himalayan tract, and Coorg in Karnataka have this type of soil.
- It is formed by the deposition of organic matter derived from the forests.
- This soil varies in structure and texture, depending on the mountain environment where it is formed.
- The soil found in the lower valley is fertile and is used for the cultivation of rice and wheat.