Red soil – Essay
The red type of soil is formed in areas which are warm with moist climates and wide ranges of temperatures. This type of soil supports plants that shed their leaves seasonally especially during autumn.
The red soils can be obtained from rocks that are crystalline in nature. The nutrients content of the red soils are usually low with very little humus and thus does not support cultivation owing to its low water retention capacity.
Red soils cover at least ten percent of India’s soils coming third as the largest soil group of the country.
Formation of red soil
Red soil is formed through the gradual wearing off of the metamorphic rocks. This type of soil is also formed from gneiss and granitic rocks. The red soil exhibits many characteristics key among them;
- Red soils are usually found in areas that receive a low annual rainfall.
- Red soils have less retention capacity of water owing to its porous nature.
- The soil lacks key minerals such as potash and lime.
- The soil lacks
- The soil has a low amount of humus hence not fertile for agricultural activities.
- The soil contains clay, sand as well as loam components.
Red soil is favorable for dry farming, and it supports a range of crops among them cotton, millet, wheat, potatoes as well as pulses.
Red Soil Colour
The Red color in the Red Soils is due to the high iron content in the constitution of this soil. The Red Soil is formed mainly by the climatic and weather changes eroding the Crystalline and Metamorphic rocks. So this soil is generally found in the hilly and mountainous regions. That’s another reason for the red color being the high atmospheric temperature in the low-rainfall regions. This burns the soil contents turning them into brownish red in appearance.
Red Soil Characteristics
Red Soil is generally of multiple types like Loamy, Sandy, Gravelly, etc. Generally, most varieties are not considered the best for agriculture because they don’t have a very high water retention capacity, because of their origin from crystalline rocks. Red Soil lacks certain vital nutrients for crop growth like nitrogen and phosphorus. But with modern family techniques and fertilizers, crops like Sugarcane and Cotton are grown in certain Red Soil areas.
Red Soil Distribution
Red Soil is found in many parts of the Indian subcontinent including the Deccan Plateau, the states of Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Maharashtra, Goa, Eastern Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, and Mizoram.
Conclusion
Red soils found in moist areas supports the growth of some crops which can be used for subsistent or for commercial use. These crops include potatoes and cotton. It is a common soil type found in many states of India. Though traditionally considered poor in agriculture value, with modern techniques and fertilizers, can be used for specific types of crops.
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