Navsari Agricultural University
Soils types of India
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Soil is defined as the thin layer of earth’s crust made up of disintegrated and decomposed rocks, complex mineral compound, organic matter, water/air and living organism like bacteria, fungi, insects and worms and serves as the natural medium of growth of plants.

Characteristics of soil

1. It provides nutrients, moisture, anchorage (support) and provides air to root system.
2. There are different soil groups found in varied regions of India. Each group differs from other in physical and chemical properties.
3. The variation in behaviors is mainly due to the nature of the parent material from which the soils are formed.
4. Parent materials are Igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks.
5. Physical properties like structure, texture, colour, water holding capacity, depth etc. are to be noted.
6. Chemical properties like the presence of various plant elements, pH, Ec, CEC, acidic or alkaline, etc are considered.


Rock Cycle


Soil formation

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