Describe alluvial soil under the following heads
(a) Formation
(b) Distribution
© Classification
(d) Nutrients
or
Trace the features of alluvial soil with reference to its formation, area, classification and containing minerals.
Alluvial soil can be described as follows
(a) Formation Alluvial soil is made-up of silt, sand and clay. It is deposited by three important Himalayan river-systems the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. It is bigger and coarser in the upper reaches of the river and becomes finer as the river flows down.
(b) Distribution/Area This ‘soil is prevalent in the river valleys of the Northern plains (Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra), strips in Gujarat and Rajasthan, as well as in the Eastern coastal plains in the deltas of rivers of the Peninsular plateau (Mahanadi, Krishna, Kaveri).
© Classification According to their age, alluvial soils can be classified as (Bangar) old alluvial and Khadar (new alluvial). Khadar has higher concentration of kankar and contains more fine particles than Bangar.
(d) Nutrients/Minerals This soil is rich in nutrients like potash, phosphoric acid and lime, which is suitable for growing paddy, wheat, sugarcane and other cereal and pulse crops.