Soil Types in Karnataka

Question

1. Red Soil

• Distribution: Found mainly in the eastern and southeastern regions of Karnataka, including parts of Tumkur, Chitradurga, Kolar, and Bengaluru.
• Characteristics:
  • Rich in iron, giving it a reddish color.
  • Poor in nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter.
  • Well-drained and suitable for dry farming.
• Crops Grown: Millets, groundnut, pulses, and cotton.

2. Black Soil (Regur Soil)

• Distribution: Found in northern parts of Karnataka, including areas like Bijapur, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Raichur, Gulbarga, and Dharwad.
• Characteristics:
  • Also known as black cotton soil.
  • High moisture-retaining capacity, rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime.
  • Poor in nitrogen and organic matter.
  • Swells and becomes sticky when wet and cracks when dry.
• Crops Grown: Cotton, groundnut, jowar, and pulses.

3. Laterite Soil

• Distribution: Found in the coastal and Malnad regions, particularly in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and parts of Kodagu and Chikmagalur.
• Characteristics:
  • Red or brown in color, formed under high rainfall conditions.
  • Poor in nutrients, especially nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
  • Rich in iron and aluminum oxides.
  • Requires fertilization for agriculture.
• Crops Grown: Cashew, coconut, areca nut, and tea.

4. Alluvial Soil

• Distribution: Found in river basins and deltas, especially along the banks of the rivers like the Cauvery, Tungabhadra, and Krishna.
• Characteristics:
  • Light-textured and well-drained.
  • Rich in nutrients like potash, but poor in nitrogen and phosphorus.
  • Highly fertile and suitable for agriculture.
• Crops Grown: Rice, sugarcane, tobacco, and vegetables.

5. Mixed Red and Black Soil

• Distribution: Found in transitional areas between red and black soil regions, such as parts of Bellary, Chitradurga, and Tumkur.
• Characteristics:
  • A mixture of red and black soil properties.
  • Moderately fertile, with moderate moisture retention.
• Crops Grown: Groundnut, jowar, pulses, and cotton.

6. Coastal Sand

• Distribution: Found along the coastal regions of Karnataka, including Udupi and Dakshina Kannada.
• Characteristics:
  • Sandy texture and poor in nutrients.
  • Low water retention capacity.
• Crops Grown: Coconut, cashew, and areca nut with additional fertilization.

7. Lateritic Black Soil

• Distribution: Found in parts of the Western Ghats and hilly regions of Karnataka, especially in Chikmagalur and Hassan.
• Characteristics:
  • A combination of laterite and black soil properties.
  • Rich in iron, poor in organic matter and nutrients.
• Crops Grown: Coffee, tea, spices (pepper, cardamom), and areca nut.

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Summary of Major Soil Types in Karnataka:

Soil Type	Distribution	Characteristics	Crops Grown
Red Soil	Eastern and southeastern regions	Rich in iron, well-drained, low in nutrients	Millets, groundnut, pulses, cotton
Black Soil	Northern Karnataka	High moisture retention, rich in lime, sticky when wet	Cotton, groundnut, jowar, pulses
Laterite Soil	Coastal and Malnad regions	Rich in iron, poor in nutrients, acidic in nature	Cashew, coconut, areca nut, tea
Alluvial Soil	River basins (Cauvery, Krishna, Tungabhadra)	Light-textured, highly fertile, rich in potash	Rice, sugarcane, tobacco, vegetables
Mixed Red & Black	Transitional areas (Bellary, Chitradurga)	Moderate fertility, moderate moisture retention	Groundnut, pulses, jowar, cotton
Coastal Sand	Coastal regions (Udupi, Dakshina Kannada)	Sandy, poor in nutrients, low water retention	Coconut, cashew, areca nut
Lateritic Black	Western Ghats and hilly areas	Rich in iron, poor in organic matter	Coffee, tea, spices (pepper, cardamom), areca nut

These soils play a significant role in supporting Karnataka’s diverse agriculture, which includes a wide range of crops from millets and pulses to cash crops like coffee, tea, and cotton.

Answer 1

1. Red Soil

Consider the following statements:

1. Red soil is rich in iron but poor in nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter.
2. This soil type is predominantly found in the northern part of Karnataka.
3. Red soil is well-drained and suitable for crops like millets, groundnut, and pulses.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 2 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: a) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statement 2 is incorrect as red soil is found predominantly in the eastern and southeastern regions of Karnataka, not the northern part.

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2. Black Soil (Regur Soil)

Consider the following statements:

1. Black soil is known for its high moisture-retaining capacity.
2. It is commonly found in the coastal regions of Karnataka.
3. Black soil is ideal for growing cotton and jowar.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 2 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: a) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statement 2 is incorrect as black soil is found in northern Karnataka (not coastal regions), particularly in districts like Bijapur, Belgaum, and Gulbarga.

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3. Laterite Soil

Consider the following statements:

1. Laterite soil is found in Karnataka’s coastal and Malnad regions.
2. This soil type is rich in nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.
3. Laterite soil requires fertilization to support crops like cashew and tea.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: a) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statement 2 is incorrect because laterite soil is poor in nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, and requires fertilization for agriculture.

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4. Alluvial Soil

Consider the following statements:

1. Alluvial soil is highly fertile and found along river basins like the Cauvery, Tungabhadra, and Krishna in Karnataka.
2. It is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus but poor in potash.
3. Alluvial soil is suitable for growing crops like rice, sugarcane, and vegetables.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 2 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: a) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statement 2 is incorrect because alluvial soil is poor in nitrogen and phosphorus, but it is rich in potash.

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5. Coastal Sand

Consider the following statements:

1. Coastal sand is found along the coastal regions of Karnataka, particularly in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada.
2. It has high water retention capacity, making it ideal for water-intensive crops.
3. Coastal sand is generally poor in nutrients and is mostly used for growing coconut and cashew.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 2 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: a) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statement 2 is incorrect because coastal sand has low water retention capacity and is not ideal for water-intensive crops.

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6. Mixed Red and Black Soil

Consider the following statements:

1. Mixed red and black soil has characteristics of both red and black soils and is found in transitional areas like Bellary and Chitradurga.
2. This soil type is highly fertile and suitable for growing a wide variety of crops without the need for fertilization.
3. Crops such as groundnut, jowar, and pulses are commonly grown in this soil type.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: a) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statement 2 is incorrect because mixed red and black soil is moderately fertile and often requires fertilization for higher yields.