Soils of Punjab:-
Definiton of Soil:
Soil may be defined as a thin layer of earth crust which serves as a natural medium for the Growth of the Plants.Soil is our prime natural and economic resource because we derive everything that we need in our life from it. The word “Soil” originated from the Latin word “Solum” which mean
s ‘Floor’. The soil is a natural body of mineral and organic materials differentiated into horizons which differ among themselves as well as from the underlying material in morphology, physical make-up, chemical composition and biological characteristics.
It refers to the arrangement of soil particles. It is one of the important property of soil, since it influences aeration, permeability and water capacity.
Types of structure:
Platy – Horizontal alignment
Prism like – Columnar type
Block like – Angular or sub- angular types
Spiroidal – Granular and crumb types
The fertile plains of Punjab boast of producing about two-third of the food grains produced annually in India. This is largely owing to the fertile soil of Punjab. Climatic differences result in a variety of soil which ultimately culminates into a wide range of crops and vegetation in Punjab.South-western Punjab is mainly dominated by calcareous soil which includes desert soil and sierozem soil. The pH value in this zone ranges from 7.8 to 8.5 and also have grey and red desert soil, calsisol soil, regosol soil and alluvial soil. The soil of central Punjab ranges from sandy loam to clayey with pH value from 7.8 to 8.5 making alkalinity and salinity problematic for this place. The alluvial soil of this zone can be widely described as arid and brown soil or tropical arid brown soil. The soil in Eastern Punjab is loamy to clayey.The state of Punjab produced 22.61% of the India’s total production of wheat (15.5 metric tones), 10.78 % of rice (9.1 metric tones) and 12.4% of Cotton (1.19 thousand bales) in the year 2000-01. No wonder, Punjab is rightly called India’s bread-basket for its huge production of wheat. The other main vegetables and fruits grown in abundance in the state of Punjab are potatoes, chilies, oranges, pomegranates, apples, peaches, figs, mulberries, apricots, almonds, plums, mangoes, grapes, pears, litchis and lemons. Sugarcane, maize and cotton are grown in abundance in Punjab as well as barley, millet, oil-seeds, carrots, peas, beans, onions, turnips, cucumbers, and melons. Scorching heat during the summer months sometimes destroy the vegetation but with the downpour by south-west monsoon the entire land returns to its lush green color.
There are many different classifications of soils of Punjab by different sources. The layman does not easily understand the soil taxonomy Classification. What fallows is the simple texture based soil classification on the basis of texture, Climate, topography and denudation process. The soils of Punjab have been classified into the following major types:
Flood Plain or Bet Soils :
Flood Plain or Bet Soils are Khadar soils of the periodically flooded or old flood plain areas of various rivers, streams or choes of the state. They are found in the form of elongated belts on the both side of the river channel such as those of Satluj, Ravi, Beas and Ghagghar.
They are pale to yellowish brown in colour. The soils are well drained and very deep and they vary in texture and these have generally a low and irregular organic matter.
Depending upon the source of alluvium, the soils are calcareous or non-calcareous. There is a wide belt of more mature bet soils of old flood plain extending along the west bank of river Satluj from Ropar towm to Fazilka town in the south west.
These soils are called Ustifluvent or Udi or Torripsamments in Taxonomy Classification. These soils are suitable for the cultivation of paddy, wheat, sugarcane and vegetables.
Loamy Soils :-
It is the most important, fertile and productive soil group of the state. It is the predominant soil especially of Nawa Shehar District, larger parts of Nakoder tehsil of Jalandhar district, Phagwara and central parts of Kapurthala district.
In Malwa plain, loamy soils have a large coverage in western Patiala tehsil, Nabha area, Sangrur area, southern Moga district, some patches in Mukatsar area and Bathinda district.
These soils cover nearly 25% area of the state. In Taxonomy classification these are Ustochrepts of Ustic zone of Punjab. The soils become clayey towards northwest in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts.
These are deep and fine grained soils, which have developed under sub- moist and cool to warm temperate climate. The pH value decreasing nears the surface from 8.0 to 7.8 in the B-horizon.
Due to flooding by choes or rivulets and excessive Irrigation the soils become partly salt affected or sodic in western Amritsar district, southwestern Batala tehsil of Gurdaspur district. These soils are intensively cultivated for wheat and paddy crops.
Sandy soils :-
These are arid soils of south-western and south central Punjab covering the districts of Bathinda, Mansa, southern parts of Firozepur and Mukatsar districts, larger parts of Sangrur, south -central parts of Patiala district and some patches of Ludhiana district.
These soils have developed under semi arid & warm to hot climatic conditions with rainfall ranging from 30cm to 50cm.
The soils are yellowish to grey colour, the over all grey colure reflects the deficiency of organic matter and also is poor in nitrogen, phosphorus and potash.
The pH value ranges from 7.8 to 8.5. The soils are sandy loam to silt in mixture. They are dry and are called calciorthids in Taxonomy Classification.
They have low to medium fertility but by artificial irrigation they become much more productive and are capable of producing cotton, citrus, oilseeds, wheat and fodder crops.
Desert Soils:-
These soils belong to the aridic zone spreading over south -western parts of the state in Abohar tehsil and zira area of Firozpur district, Mukatsar district, large parts of Bathinda and Mansa district an some patches in Sangrur and Ludhiana district.
These soils cover more than 11% of the total area of the state. These soils have developed under arid and hot climate and thin cover or bush vegetation.
The Average rainfall is upto 30 cm. This soil is dry and deficient in humus. It is poor in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
The reaction is from normal to alkaline and pH value ranges from 7.5 to 8.5. the fertility with respect to plant nutrient is LMM (low to medium).
In the south -western aridic zone wind action has played a major role in the formation of these soils. These are sand dune studded. The soils are covered by wind blown sand.
The soils are Light in colour from yellow to light brown. These soils are suitable for the cultivation of cotton, moth, citrus, wheat, bajra and other Kharif fodder. The soils suffer from wind erosion especially in the summers.
Kandi Soils:-
These soils are found in the areas of Pathankot tehsil of Gurdaspur, larger parts of Hoshiarpur, Nawashehar and Ropar districts.
These soils have a sandy, sandy loam, silt loam and clay- silt to gravelly texture.
The texture becomes coarser and rougher eastward the Shivaliks hills where gravel, pebbles and conglomerates predominates.
These have been deposited by numerous choes coming from shivaliks hills. The soils are badly eroded and less productive and are suitable from dry farming.
Sierozems:-
These soils cover nearly 25% area of the state. Sierozems are grey soils of semi arid parts of Punjab with an average annual rainfall from 50cm to 70cm, the general air temperature ranges from 24° C to 25° C and have grass and deciduous vegetation.
These soils are found in eastern half of the malwa plain in Ludhiana districts, northern and central parts of Sangrur district, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Rajpura and Patiala district, western parts of Patiala district and some inter dunal areas of Faridkot districts.
In Doaba and Majha region this soils cover is found in the form of a long belt extending from Mukerian in north through Tanda, Jalandharm Adampur, Nakodar blocks in the south.
The soil cover also extends over the westermn parts of Kapurthala districts and Tarn Taran and Patti tehsils of Amritsar districts.
The soils are overall grey colour which indicates its deficiency in organic matter. Nitrogen and Potash are not sufficient. pH value ranges between 7.8 to 8.5.
These soils are known as Camborthids or calciorthids in south-western Punjab and Ustochrepts in central Punjab in Taxonomy Classification of soils of Punjab.
These soils produce highest yield of wheat under irrigation. Paddy cultivation has been introduced in these soils. Excessive irrigation has resulted in some form of salinity.
Grey- Brown Podzolic & Forest Soils:-
These are the Shivalik stony, gravelly and sandy soils of some blocks of Gurdaspur districts and Shivalik hill zone of Hoshiarpur, Nawashehar and Ropar districts. These soils have developed under shrub and deciduous forests, steep slopes and rugged topography, much water erosion and less hot temperature conditions. These soils are reddish brown to olive brown in colour.
Sodic and Saline Soils:-
On account of climate and topography, anthropogenic activities and mismanagement, soils suffer from various kinds and degree of degradation, particularly salinity and sodicity.
Salinity is the presence of high content of soluble salts (more than 0.2 percent) which make it difficult for the plants to absorb water from saline soils. The salt moves up and down in the soil along with soil water.
The pH values are generally 7.3 to 8.5 and the soil is neutral in reaction. Sodic Soils have a higher Percentage of sodium ( more than 15 %) salt and high pH value above 8.5 and strong alkaline reaction.
There are large tracts of slightly to moderately saline/sodic soil in Malwa plain due to aridity and depression like lower position of Fazilka, Jalalabad, Guru Harsahai, Talwandi Bhai in Firozpur district, northern parts of Faridkot and Mukatsar districts, eastern parts of Mansa district, Govindgarh, Khokhar area of Sangrur district and Samana.
All areas of saline/sodic soils lies along or across Bikaner canal, Abohar, Bathinda, Ghagghar and Kotla branches of Sirhind canal and Bhakra canal in these areas.
Saline soils of south-western Punjab are of recent origin resulting from surface flooding and or rise in the ground water.
During summer period of excessive Evaporation, salts accumulate at the surface. Lower terraces, along river Ravi, in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts and along river Satluj in Nakodar and Sultanpur tehsil and south western parts of Kapurthala have uncultivated moderately to severely sodic and saline soils which are water logged pockets. They have aquatic horizon.,
Soils of Punjab
Punjab is a state in northwestern India. It is the second most populous state in India, after Uttar Pradesh. The state has a rich history and culture, and is home to a number of important historical and religious sites.
The soils of Punjab are diverse, and vary depending on the region. The soils of the northern part of the state are generally sandy, while the soils of the southern part are more clayey. The soils of the state are also affected by the Indus River, which flows through the state.
The soils of Punjab are important for a number of reasons. They are used for agriculture, and are also a source of water. The soils of the state are also home to a number of plant and animal species.
The soils of Punjab are facing a number of challenges. These challenges include soil erosion, Soil Pollution, and soil degradation. Soil erosion is a major problem in the state, and is caused by a number of factors, including deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices. Soil pollution is also a problem in the state, and is caused by a number of factors, including industrial pollution, agricultural runoff, and urban waste. Soil degradation is also a problem in the state, and is caused by a number of factors, including deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices.
There are a number of things that can be done to address the challenges facing the soils of Punjab. These include:
- Reforestation: Reforestation can help to prevent soil erosion and improve soil quality.
- Sustainable Agriculture: Sustainable agriculture practices can help to reduce soil erosion and pollution.
- Soil conservation: Soil conservation practices can help to prevent soil erosion and degradation.
- Soil remediation: Soil remediation can help to clean up polluted soils.
- Soil Health management: Soil health management practices can help to improve soil quality and reduce soil degradation.
The soils of Punjab are an important resource, and it is important to protect them. By addressing the challenges facing the soils of Punjab, we can ensure that they are healthy and productive for future generations.
Soil types
The soils of Punjab are classified into four major types: alluvial, sandy, loamy, and clayey. Alluvial soils are the most common type of soil in Punjab, and are found in the northern and eastern parts of the state. Sandy soils are found in the western part of the state, and loamy soils are found in the central part of the state. Clayey soils are found in the southern part of the state.
Soil formation
The soils of Punjab were formed by the deposition of sediments from the Indus River. The sediments were deposited over millions of years, and the soils have developed a complex profile. The topsoil is a dark brown or black color, and is rich in organic matter. The subsoil is a lighter brown color, and is less fertile than the topsoil. The subsoil is also more prone to erosion.
The soils of Punjab are generally fertile, and are suitable for a variety of crops. The soils are rich in nutrients, and are well-drained. The soils are also relatively free of pests and diseases.
Soil erosion
Soil erosion is a major problem in Punjab. The soils are easily eroded by wind and water. The main causes of soil erosion in Punjab are deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices. Deforestation removes trees, which help to protect the soil from erosion. Overgrazing damages the soil, and makes it more susceptible to erosion. Unsustainable agricultural practices, such as the use of heavy machinery, can also damage the soil and lead to erosion.
Soil conservation
Soil conservation is important in Punjab to prevent soil erosion and degradation. Soil conservation practices include:
- Reforestation: Reforestation helps to prevent soil erosion by providing a cover for the soil.
- Sustainable agriculture: Sustainable agriculture practices help to reduce soil erosion and degradation.
- Soil conservation practices: Soil conservation practices, such as terracing and contour farming, help to prevent soil erosion.
Soil pollution
Soil pollution is a problem in Punjab. The main causes of soil pollution in Punjab are industrial pollution, agricultural runoff, and urban waste. Industrial pollution can contaminate the soil with heavy metals, pesticides, and other chemicals. Agricultural runoff can contaminate the soil with Fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals. Urban waste can contaminate the soil with garbage, sewage, and other pollutants.
Soil remediation
Soil remediation is important in Punjab to clean up polluted soils. Soil remediation practices include:
- Excavation: Excavation is the removal of polluted soil and its replacement with clean soil.
- In situ remediation: In situ remediation is the treatment of polluted soil in place.
- Bioremediation: Bioremediation is the use of Microorganisms to clean up polluted soil.
Soil health
Soil health is
Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about soils:
- What are the different Types of Soil?
There are three main types of soil: sand, silt, and clay. Sand is the coarsest type of soil, while clay is the finest. Silt is in between sand and clay in terms of particle size.
- What are the characteristics of each type of soil?
Sand is loose and well-drained, but it doesn’t hold water well. Silt is more fertile than sand, but it can be compacted easily. Clay is very fertile, but it can be heavy and difficult to work with.
- What are the factors that affect soil type?
The type of soil in an area is determined by the parent material, climate, topography, and organisms. Parent material is the material from which the soil is formed. Climate affects the soil by determining the amount of rainfall and temperature. Topography affects the soil by determining the slope of the land. Organisms, such as plants and animals, affect the soil by breaking down organic matter and adding nutrients.
- How does soil affect plant growth?
Soil provides plants with nutrients, water, and air. The type of soil in an area can affect the types of plants that can grow there. For example, sand is not a good soil for growing plants that need a lot of water, such as tomatoes. Clay is not a good soil for growing plants that need a lot of air, such as corn.
- How can soil be improved?
Soil can be improved by adding organic matter, such as compost or manure. Organic matter helps to improve the drainage and fertility of the soil. Soil can also be improved by aerating it, which means adding air to the soil. Aerating the soil helps to improve the growth of plants.
- What are some of the challenges facing soil today?
Some of the challenges facing soil today include soil erosion, soil contamination, and soil degradation. Soil erosion is the removal of soil from the land by wind or water. Soil contamination is the presence of harmful chemicals in the soil. Soil degradation is the loss of soil quality due to human activities, such as agriculture and deforestation.
- What can be done to address the challenges facing soil?
There are a number of things that can be done to address the challenges facing soil. These include:
- Reducing soil erosion by planting trees and using conservation Tillage practices.
- Reducing soil contamination by preventing the release of harmful chemicals into the Environment.
Reducing soil degradation by practicing sustainable agriculture and Forestry.
What is the importance of soil?
Soil is essential for life on Earth. It provides plants with the nutrients they need to grow. Soil also helps to regulate the climate and filter water. Soil is a non-renewable resource, which means that it cannot be replaced once it is lost. It is important to protect soil from erosion, contamination, and degradation.
Sure, here are some MCQs on the following topics:
- Soil is a mixture of mineral particles, organic matter, water, air, and living organisms. It is the loose material that covers the Earth’s surface and supports plant life.
- Soil formation is the process by which soil is created from the weathering of rocks and Minerals. It is a slow process that takes millions of years.
- Soil types are classified according to their texture, structure, and chemistry. There are many different soil types, each with its own unique properties.
- Soil fertility is the ability of soil to support plant growth. It is determined by the soil’s texture, structure, chemistry, and organic matter content.
- Soil conservation is the practice of protecting soil from erosion, degradation, and contamination. It is important to conserve soil because it is a non-renewable resource.
Here are some MCQs on these topics:
Which of the following is not a component of soil?
(A) Mineral particles
(B) Organic matter
(C) Water
(D) Air
(E) Living organismsWhich of the following is the most important factor in soil formation?
(A) Weathering
(B) Erosion
(C) Degradation
(D) Contamination
(E) ConservationWhich of the following is the most common soil type?
(A) Sandy soil
(B) Loamy soil
(C) Clay soil
(D) Silty soil
(E) Peaty soilWhich of the following is the most important factor in soil fertility?
(A) Texture
(B) Structure
(C) Chemistry
(D) Organic matter content
(E) All of the aboveWhich of the following is the most important practice in soil conservation?
(A) Avoiding soil erosion
(B) Maintaining soil structure
(C) Improving soil chemistry
(D) Increasing soil organic matter content
(E) All of the above