Types of Soil in India

Soil Type

Characteristics

Predominant States

Crops Grown

Alluvial Soil

Rich in nutrients, fertile, easy to cultivate.

Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat

Rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, pulses

Black Soil (Regur)

Rich in iron, clayey texture, moisture-retentive.

Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu

Cotton, soybeans, groundnuts, cereals, pulses

Red Soil

Rich in iron, well-drained, acidic, low fertility.

Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh

Millets, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, tobacco

Laterite Soil

Rich in iron, acidic, well-drained, poor fertility.

Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam

Cashew nuts, tea, coffee, coconut, rubber

Arid Soil

Sandy, saline, low fertility, lacks organic matter.

Rajasthan, Gujarat, parts of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh

Millets, barley, pulses, oilseeds

Desert Soil

Sandy, low fertility, poor water-holding capacity.

Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat.

Millets, pulses, oilseeds, barley, wheat

Mountain Soil

Rocky, well-drained, acidic, low fertility.

Himalayan region

Apples, oranges, potatoes, temperate vegetables

Peaty and Marshy Soil

High organic content, waterlogged, acidic.

Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, parts of Uttar Pradesh

Rice, jute, vegetables, fruits, spices

Saline and Alkaline Soil

High concentration of salts, poor fertility.

Coastal regions, delta areas, arid and semi-arid regions

Salt-tolerant crops like millets, barley, dates