What is the fertile soil deposited by flowing rivers called?
a) Black soil
b) Red soil
c) Alluvial soil
d) Laterite soil
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Answer: c) Alluvial soil
Explanation
- Alluvial Soil: Alluvial soil is the fine-grained, highly fertile soil deposited by flowing rivers along floodplains, riverbanks, and deltas.
- Prevalence in India: It is the most widespread and important soil category in India, covering about 40% of the country’s total land area, primarily across the Northern Plains and coastal river deltas (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri).
- Two Main Types:
- Khadar: The new, highly fertile alluvial soil deposited by annual floods in lower floodplains.
- Bhangar: The older, coarser alluvial soil found in higher plains above flood levels, often containing calcareous nodules (kankar).
Overview of Other Options
- a) Black Soil (Regur Soil): Formed by the weathering of basaltic lava rocks in the Deccan Plateau; famous for cotton cultivation due to high moisture-retention capacity.
- b) Red Soil: Formed by the weathering of ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks; rich in iron compounds (giving it a reddish color) and common in southern/eastern India.
- d) Laterite Soil: Formed due to intense leaching caused by tropical heavy rainfall and high temperatures; rich in iron oxide and aluminum, but generally low in fertility.
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