KERALA PSC / KERALA GEOGRAPHY / SOILS OF KERALA / NOTES / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY

 

KERALA PSC / KERALA GEOGRAPHY / SOILS OF KERALA  / NOTES / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY

KERALA PSC / KERALA GEOGRAPHY / SOILS OF KERALA  / NOTES / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY

·      Red soil: The red colour is due to the presence of Iron Oxide. It is located in southern parts of Thiruvananthapuram. The soil is almost homogeneous. The acidity of the soil ranges from 4.8 to 5.9. the gravel content is comparatively less. The red soil is low in essential nutrients and organic matter.

·      Laterite Soil: Majority of area comprises this type of soil. Heavy rainfall and high temperature are conductive for laterisation. Laterites are poor in Nitrogen and Phosphorus. The Water Holding Capacity of the soil is very low. Seen in Kozhikode and Kannur districts.

·      Coastal alluvial soil: Seen in the coastal tracts along the west. They have been developed from recent marine deposits. Permeability of the soil is more. The soil has low organic matter. Water Holding Capacity is less.

·      Riverine alluvial soil: Seen along the banks of rivers. Shows wide variation in physico-chemical properties depending on the nature of alluvium and the characteristic of the catchment area through which the river flows. The soil has moderate Organic Matter, Nitrogen and Pottasium. Seen in Kollam and Alappuzha districts.

·      Greyish Onattukara soil: It is the sandy soil confined to the Onattukara region. They occur as marine deposits and extends to the interior up to the laterite soil. The soil is extremely deficient in plant nutrients.

·      Brown hydromorphic soil: Localized in river valleys. Mostly confined to the valley bottoms of undulating topography in the mid lands and low lying areas of coastal strips. Exhibits wide variation in physico-chemical and morphological properties. The major problem of the soil is the drainage. The soil is moderately supplied with organic matter, Nitrogen and Pottasium. It is deficient in lime.

·      Hydromorphic saline soil: Found in the coastal tracts of Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kannur districts. During rainy season the fields are flooded leaving the area almost free of salt. Maximum accumulation of salts occur during summer.

·      Acidic saline soil: Seen in Kuttanad region covering about 875 sq.km. The serious problems faced by the soil is hydrology, flood, acidity and salinity. Typical water logged soils:

Ø Kayal Soil: It comprises reclaimed areas of Kottayam and Alappuzha districts, slightly acidic. Medium in organic matter content. Poor in available nutrients but rich in Calcium.

Ø Karappadam: Distributed over a large area of upper Kuttanad. River borne alluvial soil 1-2 m below the sea level. Generally clay loam in texture, high acidity, fair amount of organic matter, poor in available nutrients particularly Phosphorous. The soil is deficient in lime.

Ø Kari soil: The soil is acidic due to the presence of different forms of Sulphar. Kari soil resemble Peat soil.

·      Black soil: Seen in Chittur area of Palakkad district. The soil is low in organic matter, calcareous, moderately alkaline, high in clay content. Medium in Phosphorous and Pottasium content and low in Nitrogen.

·      Forest Soil: A product of weathering of crystalline rocks under forest cover. Rich in organic carbon. The soil is acidic. Rich in Nitrogen and poor in Phosphorous.

KERALA PSC / KERALA GEOGRAPHY / SOILS OF KERALA  / NOTES / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY