Question 1

Question 2(b)Mention any two advantages of alluvial soil.

Accepted Answer

Two advantages of alluvial soil are-It is light and porous. So, it is easily tillable.It is suitable for the growth of a large variety of rabi and kharif crops.

Question 2

Question 2(c)Give a geographical reason for each of the following:(i) Different regions in India have different kinds of soil for agriculture.(ii) Alluvial soils vary in texture.(iii) Nearly all types of crops grow well in riverine soils.

Accepted Answer

(i) Different regions in India have different kinds of soil for agriculture because India is a vast region with varied natural environment. Several physiographic regions and different types of climate lead to the formation of different types of soil in different regions.(ii) Alluvial soils vary in texture as in the upper reaches of the river valleys, the soil is dry, coarse, porous and sandy. Soil particles are large and non-uniform but as we move further down a river valley, the soil particles become smaller and more uniform. They are more compact and more moist.(iii) Nearly all types of crops grow well in riverine soils because alluvial soil is a mixture of sand, clay and silt. It is rich in mineral and easily tillable. Its composition makes it suitable for the growth of a variety of crops.

Question 3

Question 2(d)(i) Why is soil a valuable resource for India?(ii) Why is black soil considered a productive soil?

Accepted Answer

(i) Soil is a valuable resource for India because agriculture is the main occupation in India. Soil supports agriculture and it is the source of nutrients for many forms of life.(ii) Black soil is considered a productive soil because it has high moisture retention capacity and more clay content which responds well to irrigation. It is suitable for the cultivation of cotton, jowar, wheat, linseed, gram, citrus fruits and vegetables, tobacco and sugarcane.

Question 4

Question 3(a)Give two characteristic features of the soil found most suitable for growing cotton and sugarcane in Maharashtra.

Accepted Answer

Black soil is suitable for growing cotton and sugarcane in Maharashtra. Its characteristics are-It is black in colour.It has high quantities of lime, iron, magnesium and generally poor percentage of phosphorus, nitrogen and organic matter.

Question 5

Question 3(b)Name one soil of volcanic origin commonly found in India. Name one crop widely grown on this soil.

Accepted Answer

One soil of volcanic origin commonly found in India is black soil. Cotton is widely grown on this soil.

Question 6

Question 3(c)Give a geographical reason for each of the following:(i) Deltaic alluvium is more fertile than the coastal alluvium.(ii) Black soil is largely found in the Deccan Trap region.(iii) Black soil is often referred to as Cotton soil or Regur soil.

Accepted Answer

(i) Deltaic alluvium is more fertile than coastal alluvium as new layers are deposited year after year during monsoonal floods. Also, deltaic alluvium is composed of fine silt and clay whereas coastal alluvium is full of lime nodules.(ii) Black soil is found in the Deccan trap region because this region is formed due to the deposition of lava produced by the volcanic eruption. When lava rocks breaks down into finer particles due to weathering, it results in the formation of the black soil.(iii) Black soil is often referred to as Cotton soil or Regur soil because it is black in colour and is suitable for cotton cultivation.

Question 7

Question 3(d)Pawan and Akash have been friends since childhood. Both of them are farmers in a village near Prayagraj. They often compare their inputs so as to increase their yields. Pawan, whose farm is along the Ganges, gets better yields with lower inputs of fertilizer and irrigation than Akash whose fields are twenty kilometres away. Identify their soils. [Hint: Sub-categories of a major soil type.] Which one of them is superior to the other? Why?

Accepted Answer

Pawan's farm is likely to have Khadar soil as his farm is located along the Ganges, while Akash's farm is likely to have Bhangar soil as his farm lies 20 km away from Ganges.Khadar and Bhangar soils are sub-categories of Alluvial soil. Khadar is younger alluvium as flood waters deposit new layers every year.It is formed of fine silt and clay. The bhangar or the older alluvium is composed of lime nodules or kanker and has a clayey composition. Khadar soil is superior to Bhangar as it is more fertile.Also, Pawan's farm is located close to Ganges so it needs lower input of irrigation than Akash's farm, as being in close proximity to the river naturally replenishes moisture in the area.

Question 8

Question 4(a)(i) Name the process by which Laterite soil is formed.(ii) Mention one disadvantage of Laterite soil.

Accepted Answer

(i) Laterite soil is formed as a result of atmospheric weathering of rocks under the conditions of high rainfall and temperature with alternate wet and dry periods. It is the residual soil formed by leaching due to tropical rains.(ii) One disadvantage of Laterite soil is that it does not retain moisture and hence, is infertile.

Question 9

Question 4(b)What are the characteristics of the soil of their farms?

Accepted Answer

The characteristics of Khadar and Bhangar soils are:Khadar SoilKhadar is younger alluvium as flood waters deposit new layers every year.It is formed of fine silt and clay.Khadar is light in colour.Khadar is very fertile and ideal for intensive cultivation.Bhangar SoilBhangar is above the flood levels of rivers and presents a terrace like structure.Bhangar is full of kankars (lime nodules).Bhangar is not very fertile but crops can be grown on it by using manure.

Question 10

Question 4(c)Give a geographical reason for each of the following:(i) Laterite soil is useful for construction purpose.(ii) Soils of the Western Ghats are affected by wind erosion.(iii) The foothills of the Himalayas are prone to excessive soil erosion.

Accepted Answer

(i) Laterite soils are used as a building material because they become hard like iron when exposed to air. So, they are used as a building material. Laterite soils are red in color due to the presence of iron oxide. These soils are generally coarse in texture and friable and porous in nature.(ii) Soils of the Western Ghats are affected by wind erosion because a large chunk of Western zone is arid or semi-arid and wind erosion is a result of extreme form of soil degradation due to aridity.(iii) The foothills of the Himalayas are prone to excessive soil erosion because the vegetation over there is very less. There are not many plant or tree roots to hold the soil in place, which makes the foothills of the Himalayas prone to excessive soil erosion.

Question 11

Question 4(d)(i) Which soil is suitable for growing coffee in Karnataka?(ii) Mention two main characteristics of this soil.

Accepted Answer

(i) Laterite soil is suitable for growing coffee in Karnataka.(ii) Two main characteristics of this soil are-It is red in colour due to the presence of iron oxide.It is of a coarse texture, soft and friable.

Question 12

Question 5(a)Name two States in India where Regur soil is found.

Accepted Answer

Regur soil is found in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Question 13

Question 5(b)Give two points of difference between Regur and Alluvial soil.

Accepted Answer

Regur soilAlluvial soilIt is formed by the weathering of lava rocks.It is formed by deposition of sediments by rivers.It is of black colour.Its colour varies from light grey to deep black.

Question 14

Question 5(c)Give a geographical reason for each of the following:(i) Jowar is grown in Maharashtra.(ii) Bajra is grown in Rajasthan.(iii) Sugarcane is grown in Uttar Pradesh.

Accepted Answer

(i) Jowar is grown in Maharashtra because of the black regur soil which is rich in lime, potash-magnesium, carbonates, allumina and calcium.(ii) Bajra is grown in Rajasthan because of the sandy soil found in this region. It is rich in soluble salts.(iii) Sugarcane is grown in Uttar Pradesh because the climatic conditions and presence of alluvial soil support the cultivation of sugarcane.

Question 15

Question 5(d)(i) Besides cotton, name the crops which grow well in Regur soil.(ii) In what way does Regur soil help agriculture?

Accepted Answer

(i) Besides cotton, jowar, wheat, linseed, gram, citrus fruits and vegetables, tobacco and sugarcane grow well in Regur soil.(ii) Regur soil helps agriculture as it is very fertile. In any season, it has moisture stored in its subsoil. This allows dry farming as well. In dry season, it forms big cracks which help in air circulation, and causes a kind of self ploughing.

Question 16

Question 6(a)Name two states where red soil is found. Mention two important crops grown in this soil.

Accepted Answer

Two states where red soil is found are Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Two important crops grown in this soil are rice and tobacco.

Question 17

Question 6(b)You have two sacks of red coloured soil. How would you identify red soil?

Accepted Answer

I will identify Red soil by its texture. Red soil is porous, loose and aerated.

Question 18

Question 6(c)Give a geographical reason for each of the following:(i)	You have gone to Rishikesh and notice that the soil is dry, coarse, porous and sandy.(ii) The soil in your ancestral village at the outskirts of Agra has fine, smooth and moist particles.(iii) You have gone to Jhansi for an excursion and notice the colour of the soil is a shade of red.

Accepted Answer

(i) The soil found in Rishikesh is alluvial soil, which is formed by the deposition of materials carried by rivers. Since Rishikesh lies in the upper course of the river Ganga, the alluvial soil here is dry, coarse, porous, and sandy. This is because, in the upper reaches, the river deposits heavier particles like sand and gravel, while finer materials like clay and silt are carried further downstream.(ii) Agra is located in the Indo-Gangetic plains. The presence of fine, smooth, and moist particles in the soil near Agra suggests that it is Khadar alluvial soil, formed by deposition of fine silt and clay by the Yamuna River, making it highly fertile and moisture-retentive.(iii) Scattered patches of red soil are found in Jhansi. Red soil gets its red colour from the presence of high iron oxide content. It is commonly found in the plateau regions of India.

Question 19

Question 6(d)(i) How is red soil formed?(ii) How is this soil suitable for dry farming?

Accepted Answer

(i) Red soil develops on old crystalline rocks. Under prolonged weathering by rainfall, ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks of the peninsular plateau break up to form this soil.(ii) This soil suitable for dry farming as it is formed in areas with poor rainfall.

Question 20

Question 7(a)What is soil erosion? Name the areas of soil erosion in India-(i) for wind erosion(ii) for running water erosion

Accepted Answer

The removal of the top soil cover by water, wind and human activities is called soil erosion.(i) Wind erosion affects the dry areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana(ii) Running water erosion affects the badlands of Chambal and Yamuna river, the piedmont zone of western Himalayas, the Chotanagpur plateau, the Tapi-Sabarmati valley and the regur soil area of Maharashtra.

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