Indian Soil
Introduction: India is predominantly an agricultural country. For the purpose of discussing the characteristics of Indian soil, we have divided it into two essentially different sets, viz. (1) North Indian soil and (2) South Indian Soil.
North Indian Soil
The Northern India plains are mostly formed of deep alluvial soil. The topsoil varies in texture from sand to clay, the greater part being light loam, porous in texture, easily worked and naturally fertile. The great depth of the alluvium keeps down the soil temperature.
This soil is supposed to be naturally very rich in the plant-nourishing food, and is consequently very good for our rabi and kharif crops. Level plains, moreover, have enabled the easy construction of railways and a network of canals. Wells also can be easily sunk.
However, the most important advantage from the level character of the plains is that they facilitate a more even distribution of rainfall in Northern India, having no barriers to check the flow of the monsoon currents.
Soils of South India
The Southern India peninsular earth surface is made up of hills and river valleys. Hilly tracts are naturally unsuitable for cultivation. Some highlands are very hot.
The river valleys, however, possess important attributes that make them very suitable for agriculture. The black cotton areas are included in them. The soil in the valleys is deeper, cooler and moisture retaining. In the rains, some of these tracts become sticky, in the dry weather hard and crumby, holding the moisture at lower levels.
Millets and pulses are well grown in slopes. Thicker, dark-colored, and more fertile valleys are rich in chemical properties favorable for plant life, and are very suitable for cotton, wheat, linseed and other rabi and kharif crops.
Rest of India
The rest of the Indian soils cannot be grouped under any one head. Lowlands are sufficiently fertile and grow products like rice.
