Indian Soil is one of the most varied components in Indian geography. The inhabitants of India count on the Indian soil greatly for their survival. The history of Indian soils goes back to the prehistoric times, when there was no sign of life and the land comprised of only soil and water.
Indian Soil has descended from parent rock material, through the process of break-up, or wear and tear. Various powers of nature, like alteration of temperature, running water and wind add to the development of soil. Chemical and organic alterations take place within the soil layer are likewise is essential. The soil may be economised by superior agricultural practices, afforestation and reducing persistence of grazing.
Indian soils are normally divided into four broad groups. These Indian soil types comprise alluvial soil, regur soil, red soil and leterite soil. Cotton grows very well in drier parts of "black cotton soil" of the Deccan Plateau. Usually, the major producers are Gujarat and Maharashtra. Cotton also grows well in the Indian soil of the states like Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. Wheat grows well on the loamy soils of Northern plains covering Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, in that order. It also grows well in the black soils of Madhya Pradesh. Wheat also thrives in the soils of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Rice is the basic food crop of India and there are several types of Indian soil that suits the cultivation of rice. Rice is grown in many regions across India. India alone has about 45 million hectares of area that produces on an average 93 million metric tons of rice since 2001. Rice cultivation has been carried into all regions having the necessary warmth and abundant moisture favorable to its growth, mainly subtropical rather than hot or cold.
In India, rice is grown in different types of soils. Rice is grown in such varied soil conditions that it is difficult to point out the Indian soil on which it cannot be grown. The Indian soil having good water retention capacity and good amount of clay and organic matter are considered ideal for rice cultivation. Indian soils having a pH range between 5.5 and 6.5 are also best for rice cultivation. Over the years sugar has turned into a substantial ingredient of regular food intake. India boasts the largest surface area under sugarcane and its production is also the highest in the world. Amongst the Indian soils, sugarcane grows best in a well-drained productive soil, and abundance of manure, fertilizers with hot, and humid climate and rainfall of approximately 100 cm. Similarly, different crops grow at its best in different soils.
Soil erosion in India affects farming in detrimental ways. Physical damage to the Indian soils are the most visible form of soil loss, and most likely to be checked. Gravity pulls constantly at soil, pushing it down hill, causing soil slips, earth clips, cracks, creep and slumps. Ironically, the most damaging of rainfall is the impact with which water droplets hit the soil. From there on, the flow of water causes sheet-wash, rilling, surface gullying, tunneling and in rivers it scours banks. During the dry climates, wind blowing is the main cause of erosion.
Soil Conservation is a set of methods and procedures, which are adopted for prevention of Indian soil being eroded from the earth`s surface or becoming chemically distorted by overuse or salinization or acidification. The main methodology of soil conservation in India are improvement of the choice of vegetative cover, soil erosion prevention, salinity management, to augment the health of beneficial soil organisms and stopping of soil contamination. Soil conservation is of severe importance for a country like India, which mainly has an agricultural economy. A large part of India`s population depends on the soil for their livelihood and thus soil erosion and the measures of soil conservation taken up by the Indian government to prevent soil erosion.
Indian soil with its variety and diversity is best known for producing some of the unique species of plants all across the country under various climatic influences.
