Soils , Types Of Soils ,Soil Erosion (2019)

         Soils ,  Types Of  Soils , Soil Erosion   

         In this Article,  I have dealt with Environmental studies in the classical sense. I have tried to bring it out as both, an area of study and as an approach to study. Under the former, the child learns about the environment. As an approach to study, the learning takes place through it. The entire objective has been to systematize the child's process of interaction with the environment so as to make knowledge effective and meaningful. As a suggestion to Parent, I would recommend that they make the child experience the world around him through his senses. For example, the child could be encouraged to use his hands, eyes, ears and nose to observe and feel objects around him. Through simple activities, the child could be made to develop the skill of observation, reporting, collecting information and see relationships. As another example, the child could be made to visit the immediate neighborhood and visit institutions to gain Knowledge. In today's age, the harm to the environment is an inconvenient truth. This  can be tackled by the children of this generation who will be the future guardians of a healthy, pollution free earth.

•  Soils 
•  Formation
• Do You Know ?
• Soil Erosion 
• (Soils) Types Of  Soils

           Soils  

         Soil, the Biologically active, porous medium that has developed in the uppermost layer of Earth's crust. Soil is one of the principal substrata of life on Earth, serving as a reservoir of water and nutrients, as a  medium for the filtration and breakdown of injurious wastes, and as a participant in the cycling of carbon and other elements through the global ecosystem. It has evolved through weathering processes driven by biological, climatic, geologic, and topographic influences.

   Since the rise of agriculture and forestry in the 8th millennium BCE, there has also arisen by necessity a practical awareness of soils and their management In the 18th and 19th centuries the Industrial Revolution brought increasing pressure on soil to produce raw materials demanded by commerce, while the development of quantitative science offered new opportunities for improved soil management. The study of soil as a separate scientific discipline began about the same time with systematic investigations of substances that enhance plant growth. This initial inquiry has expanded to an understanding of soil as complex, dynamic, biogeochemical systems that are vital to the life cycles of terrestrial vegetation and soil - inhabiting organisms - and by extension to the human race........

       Soil is also commonly referred to as earth or dirt; some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from soil by restricting the former term specifically to displaced soil.

          The pedosphere interfaces with the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and the biosphere. The term Neolith, used commonly to refer to the soil, translates to ground stone in the seances fundamental stone, from the ancient Greek 'GROUND, EARTH' Soil consists of a solid phase of minerals and organic matter (the soil matrix), as well as a porous phase that holds gases (the soil atmosphere) and water ( the soil solution). Accordingly, soil scientists can envisage soils as a three - state system of soil, liquids, and gases. 

Humus : Organic substances in the soil. Residues of plants. litter, roots etc. get decomposed and mixed in the soil. Such decayed organic material increases the fertility of soils.

       Soil is a product of several factors: the influence of climate, relief (elevation, orientation, and slope of terrain), organisms, and the soil's parent materials (original minerals ) interacting over time. It continually undergoes development by way of numerous physical, chemical and biological processes, which include weathering with associated erosion. Given its complexity and strong internal connectedness, soil ecologists regard soil as an ecosystem.

          Most soils have a dry bulk density (density of soil taking into account voids when dry) between 1.1 and 1.6 g/cm3 , while the soil particle density is much higher, in the range of 2.6 to 2.7 g/cm3. Little of the soil of planet Earth is older than the Pleistocene and none is older than the Cenozoic, although fossilized soils are preserved from as far back as the Archean. Soil science has two basic branches of study: edaphology and pedology. Edaphology studies the influence of soil on living things. Pedology focuses on the formation, description (morphology), and classification of soils in their natural environment.  In engineering terms, soil is included in the broader concept of regolith , which also includes other loose material that lies above the bedrock, as can be found on the Moon and on other celestial objects. There are four different types of soils. They are laterite Soil, Sandy desert Soil, black cotton Soil and alluvial Soil. The formation of laterite  Soil takes place due to the washing of silica, salt, organic matter and ' accumulation of sesquioxides.  Sandy desert Soil, on the other hand, is formed due to the action of winds. Mechanical Weathering of igneous rocks leads to the formation of black cotton Soil. Last but not the least is the rich alluvial Soil that is Obtained through the depositing Process of rivers.

Irrigation : Making water available for the crops, besides the rains, is called irrigation, Water is essential for the crops. At times, it becomes difficult to depend on rains for the crops. Under such situation, the water from canals, lakes, wells, reservoirs is supplied to the crops. This is called irrigation.

  Soil Erosion 

oil erosion means wearing away of the land's precious topsoil. Soil erosion can be due to natural agents, like air, water or fire. The cause can also be man-made, as When there is excessive cultivation of land by farmers. The effects of Soil erosion are dangerous and life-threatening. On the one hand it can result in floods Which may kill a lot of  people, and on the other hand it can lead to barren lands. To avoid disasters like floods and droughts, we must make an attempt to prevent Soil erosion. We can do this by building dams at appropriate places and by practices contour farming. However, there are many prevention and remediation. Practices that can curtail or limit erosion of vulnerable Soils.

         Soil is used for farming and agriculture. It is also used in constructions. Bricks and clay tiles are made from soil. Post, urns, clay stoves, etc., are made from soil.

      Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil; it is a form of soil degradation. This nature process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice, (glaciers), snow, air (wind), plants, animals, and humans. In accordance with these  against, erosion is sometimes divided into water erosion, glacial erosion, snow erosion, wind (aeolian) erosion, zoogenic, erosion and anthropogenic erosion  such as tillage erosion. Soil erosion may be a slow process that continues relatively unnoticed  or it may occur at an alarming rate causing a serious loss of topsoil. The loss of soil from farmland may be reflected in reduced crop production potential, lower surface water quality and damaged drainage networks. Soil erosion could also cause sinkholes.

        Human activities have increased by 10-50 times the rate at which erosion is occurring globally, Excessive (or accelerated erosion causes both " on - site" and off-site" problems. On - site impacts include decreases in agricultural productivity and (on natural landscapes) ecological collapse, both because of loss of the nutrient -rich upper soil layers. In some cases, the eventual end result is desertification. Off - Site effects include sedimentation of waterways and eutrophication of water bodies, as well as sediment - related damage to roads and houses. Water and wind erosion are the two primary causes of land degradation; combined, they are responsible so about 84% of the global extent of degraded land, making excessive erosion one of the most significant environmental problems worldwide.  Intensive agriculture, deforestation, roads, anthropogenic climate change and urban sprawl are amongst the most significant human activities in regard ton their effect on stimulating erosion. However, there are many prevention and remediation practices that can curtail or limit erosion of vulnerable soils.

Contour Trench: In order to reduce the erosion of soil, trenches are dug out in the direction perpendicular to the slope of the land and trees are plated along such trenches. While digging out such trenches care needs to be taken to maintain the kevel.

Soil Erosion

Causes : Natural (Air, Water, Fire) Man-made (Excessive Cultivation)

Effects : Floods , Barren lands. 

Prevention : Dams , Contour farming .

                                                 (Soils)   Types Of  Soils

1.   Laterite Soil                   2. Sandy desert Soil

3.    Black Cotton Soil          4. Alluvial Soil 

 1. Laterite Soil :  Laterite is both a soil and a rock type rich in iron and

aluminum and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration, because of high iron oxide content. They develop by intensive and prolonged weathering of the underlying parent rock, usually when there are conditions of high temperatures and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. Tropical weathering (laterization) is a prolonged process of chemical weathering which produces a wide variety  in the thickness, grade, chemistry and ore mineralogy of the resulting soils. The majority of the land area containing laterites is between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

aluminum and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration, because of high iron oxide content. They develop by intensive and prolonged weathering of the underlying parent rock, usually when there are conditions of high temperatures and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. Tropical weathering (laterization) is a prolonged process of chemical weathering which produces a wide variety  in the thickness, grade, chemistry and ore mineralogy of the resulting soils. The majority of the land area containing laterites is between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. 

          Laterite has commonly been referred to as a soil type as well as being a rock type. This and further variation in the modes of conceptualizing about laterite (e.g. also as a complete weathering profile or theory about weathering) has led ton calls for the term to be abandoned altogether. At least a few researchers specializing in regolith development have considered that hopeless confusion has evolved around the name. Material that looks highly similar to the Indian laterite occurs abundantly worldwide.  

Land use : Land as a natural resource is used for different purposes. The analysis of the purposes for which the land from a region is used s the subject matter of land use studies. Forest, agriculture and settlements etc. are the purposes for which the land is used. Land use in a region gives rise to particular patterns.

              Historically, laterite was cut into brick - like shapes and used in monument - building. After 1000 CE, construction at Angkor Wat and other southeast Asian sites changed to rectangular temple enclosures made of laterite, brick, and stone. Since the mid - 1970s, some trial sections of Bituminous - surfaced, low - volume roads have used laterite in place of stone as a base course. Thick laterite layers are porous and slightly permeable, so the layers can function as aquifers in rural areas. Locally available laterites have been used in an acid solution, followed by precipitation to remove phosphorus and heavy metals at sewage - treatment facilities. Laterites are a source of aluminum ore; the ore exists largely in clay minerals and the hydroxides, gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore, which resembles the composition of bauxite. In Northern Ireland they once provided a major source of iron and aluminum ores. Laterite ores also were the early major source of nickel.

Leaching :It is a type of chemical weathering. This process is dominant in the areas of high rainfall and humid climate. The salts and other soluble minerals as washed out of the rock water in a dissolved from by the percolating.

2. Sandy Desert Soil : Desert Soils..... The main features of desert soil that affect water and nutrient availability include texture, content of organic matter, PH, and orientation within the landscape. Desert soils show typically little development from parent material and some authors even state that typical developed soils do not exist in deserts. Most desert soils are classified as Arid sols and are differentiated into soils with a clay (Argillic) horizon (Arid sols) and soils without such horizons (Orchids). Other soils, less common in deserts, are millimoles, soils with dark A horizons , and Vertosols, cracking clay soils. Accumulated subsurface horizons with either clays or calcium carbonate (calcic horizons) have clear implication as impediments to water infiltration.

       

          Most desert soils tend to be slightly to highly basic. Such reactivity can negatively affect phosphorous and micronutrient availability as these are generally not in solution at pH > 7.0. Organic matter helps to increase infiltration and via decomposition adds to nutrient availability. It is often distributed unevenly in desert soils (See below). Soils in deserts have important effects on water inputs as they act as short - term water stores and modify water availability by a number of regulation processes. These regulation processes include direct infiltration and often more importantly runoff and horizontal redistribution of water. Redistribution by runoff tends to be of crucial importance in deserts and contributes to spatially very patchy distribution of water. Relatively impermeable surfaces (e.g. biotic or physical crust in clay - rich soils) create runoff areas that result in catchments that are water rich. Such water redistribution enables patchy plant production even in extreme arid zones, where plant growth would not be possible since evenly distributed sparse rainfalls would not exceed the threshold needed for plant life. Because of sparse plant growth, soil - created redistribution of water is more important than precipitation interception through plant surfaces. However, locally such interception combined with stem flow can create water - rich spots under shrub or tree canopies. In contrast,  smaller precipitation events can be locally intercepted and lost by evaporation. This is the reason that soils in the understory of desert shrubs or trees can be either water or dryer than the surrounding soil.

       Soil texture is of large importance as it affects both infiltration and the movement of wetting fronts. Fine - textured soils that are high in clay and silt fraction tend to impede infiltration, in which wetting fronts move only very slowly, and surface evaporation after rainfalls can be very high. More - coarse - textured soil rich in sand fractions, as for instance sandy loams, is characterized by high infiltration rates and rapid percolation. For this reason, coarse - textured soils are often better for plant growth. As this is in contrast to soils, in mesic areas  where fine - textured soils are commonly considered to be superior for plant production, this is called the 'inverse texture effect'.

Parent rock: The major rock type in a region. Soil forming processes start with the weathering of rock in the region. As a result of weathering, the rock is reduced to a powdery substance. The parent rock is the largest constituent of any soil by weight.

        Clearly, the orientation and dynamics of soil surfaces within the landscape plays a large role in arid ecosystems. Exposed southern (or northern, depending on the hemisphere) slopes receive high solar radiation and therefore due to higher evapotranspiration, tend to be drier than opposite slopes (Figure 9). These inclination differences are observable on large - scale landscape level or small - scale microtopography level. An example is the sun - exposed sides of shrub hummocks that are often only raised by a few centimeters, but can ne bioclimatic ally and ecologically very different from the less - exposed side. Slope exposition also plays a role when rainfall directions due to prevailing winds are constant. Rain - exposed slopes can receive up to 80% more water than other slopes.

3. Black Cotton Soil: Black Cotton Soil is a cohesive soil. It is Considered a difficult or problematic soil for civil engineers. It possesses the characteristics of swelling during rainy and shrinking during summer. In both situations, it poses difficulties.

         Swelling caused in Black Cotton Soil during the rainy season, the structure has uplift pressure and generates have in the foundation plinth beams, ground floors of the buildings and canals, roads surfaces etc and on shrinkage in the summer season, cracks created in walls, slabs, plinth protection, floors, etc.       

 In rainy season Black cotton soil swell due to a higher percentage of clay. It swells during the rainy season and cracks in summer due to shrinkage. The cracks generally in the range of 100 mm to 150 mm wide and 0.5m to 2m deep.

 4. Alluvial Soil :  Alluvial soil is found in the valleys of the Terai region and in the middle hill valleys around Kathmandu and Pokhara. The valleys lie between the Siwalik and Mahabharat hills which widen out in places to from flat fertile valleys called Dun valleys. New alluvial soil with more sand and silt than clay is being deposited in the flood plain areas along the river courses. Alluvial soil is also found in the higher areas above the flood plain covering a greater part of the Terrain. The nutrient content of new alluvial soil is fair to medium depending on how long it has been cultivated. Conversely, the nutrient content of old alluvial soils is very low. 

Alluvial Soils : The morphological, Physical, Chemical, and mineralogical properties of alluvial soils depend greatly on the characteristics of the alluvial parent material in which the soil formed, especially when the soils are young. As alluvial soils develop with time, the other soil-forming factors influence the resulting soil properties.

Recent Alluvial Soils are often highly stratified, containing layers of alluvium that were deposited successively and / or in fining - upward sequences (Figures 2b). Soils on active floodplains receive deposits of new alluvium with each flooding episode. The amount of alluvium deposit during each event will vary. Small amounts of material deposited on the soil can be barely perception and incorporated into the underlying surface horizon rapidly, the rate of which depends on the climate and biota. Larger amounts of now alluvium can completely bury underlying soils. Because of periodic disturbance by flooding, soils on recent floodplains often develop only A or O horizons, resulting from the near - surface deposition and decomposition of plant material. Subsequent deposition of new alluvium and reintegration of landform stability and soil formation results in soils containing one or more buried A or O horizons. Recent alluvial soils typically can have somewhat elevated concentrations of organic carbon at depth. New alluvium is often derived from the eroded A or O horizons of upland and / or upstream soils. In addition, Soils with buried A or O horizons clearly demonstrate an irregular decrease in organic carbon with increasing depth (Figure 3).

        Climate and associated biota further influence the properties of recent alluvial soils. These soils in humid climates generally support dense vegetation, thus developing A and /or O horizons more rapidly than in arid, semiarid, or sub humid climates. Highly soluble minerals such as gypsum and salts, if present in the parent alluvium, will be rapidly dissolved and leached in humid climates, whereas these constituents are often retained in arid climates.

Older Alluvial Soils : In general, older alluvial soils develop when they are no longer subject to periodic flooding events. Surfaces are more stable and thus able to support a stable vegetation cover. Organic carbon in the subsoil is eventually decomposed and the soil develops a regular distribution of organic carbon with increasing depth ( Figure 3).     

      Climate, which influences vegetation and associated biota, further modifies the properties of alluvial soils. In cold climates with permafrost, cryoturbation can disrupt stratification of alluvial layers ; in warmer climates, the available precipitation influences the resulting soil properties; in humid climates, alluvial soils are commonly leached. Depending on the mineralogical composition and texture of the parent material,  B horizons develop in the subsoil and accumulate constituents such as silicate clay, free iron oxides, and metal humus complexes. In sub humid, semiarid, and arid climates, alluvial soils are incompletely leached. Depending on alluvium composition and texture, B horizons can accumulate carbonates (nearly ubiquitous), gypsum, soluble salts, etc. with or without silicate clay.

       Old alluvial soils have often been subject to changes in climate during their development. This is particularly the case in areas that have existed as alluvial Valleys or basins for hundreds of thousands to millions of years, such as the valleys and basins of the Basin and Range Physiographic province of western North America. Very old alluvial soils can show the imprinting of several climate regimes, e.g. well developed, clay - rich B horizons that have been engulfed by calcium carbonate accumulation such that clay skins are no longer visible in the field.

Soil degradation : Lowering of the soil quality. This occurs die to the reduction of humus content of the soils, The mixing of unnecessary chemical substances in the soil particularly as a result of excessive use of chemical fertilizers leads to degradation of soil. Use of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, weedicide etc. causes the degradation of soils.

Soil Erosion : Removal of the top layers of the soil due to the work of the running water and the wind is called soil erosion. Top layers of soil contain high proportion of humus. The removal of top layer also causes loss of human that leads to lowering of fertility of soils.

                                                          Formation

1.     Due to the Washing of silica, salt, organic matter and accumulation of sesquioxides.
2.     Due to the action of winds.
3.     Mechanical Weathering of igneous rocks
4.     The depositing process of rivers.

Soils : The parent rock, the climate of the region, the biotic material, the slope of the land and time are factors that influence soil formation.

Factors Necessary For Soil Formation : Parent rock: Remember that the parent rock in a region is an important factor in soil formation DEPENDING ON THE HARDNESS OF THE ROCK AND THE CLIMATE OF THE REGION, the rock gets weathered. The rock turns into powdery material which further turns into earthy material. For example, the basalt rock of the Deccan Plateau in Maharashtra turns into black soil after weathering . This soil is also referred to as 'regur' soil. Rocks like granite or gneiss in South India give rise to red soil. 

Regional climate: This is also an important factor influencing soil formation. Weathering of the rock is the first step in the process of soil formation. The process of weathering depends on the climate of the region. The climate decides the intensity of weathering That is why one and the same type of rock gives rise to different types of soli when the rock is exposed to different climates In the dry climate of Deccan Plateau, weathering of basalt leads to the formation of black soil whereas in the humid climate of the Western Sahyadri's the leaching of the same basalt rock leads to the formation of lateritic soil.

Biotic material : The weathering of rocks turns them into powdery material but this powdery material is not soil. To turn such powdery material into soil.  it is necessary that biotic material gets mixed into it. The biotic material comes from the decomposition of the remains of the plants and animals in that region. The vegetal litters, roots of plants, remains of animals, etc. get decomposed due to water. Microorganisms, and certain other organisms help decompose the dead remains of organic materials. The biotic material thus produced gets mixed into the soils and is called ' humus' . If the proportion of humus in the soil is greater,  the soils, become fertile. The process of decomposition by living organisms takes place continuously. Now-a-days production of vermicomposting is undertaken on a large scale. Try to understand the process of producing vermicomposting or compost. Production of compost needs sufficient period of time and elements like organic waste, water, heat etc.

Time : Soil formation is a natural and slow process. It needs a very long period of time, To form a 2.5 cm thick layer of top soil, it takes thousands of years. From this you may understand that soils are invaluable. In the region of high rainfall and higher temperatures, the process of soil formation is faster. Comparatively, in regions of low temperatures and low rainfall soil formation takes more time. Humans use the soil gifted by nature as a resource. It is mainly used for agricultural purpose, For getting higher production, different types of chemical fertilizers, insecticides are used profusely. However, this leads to the degradation of soils.

Always Remember - 

Earth Doesn't Mean Soil : Soil contains the powdered form of weathered rock, partially or completely decomposed organic material and innumerable microorganisms. Interactions between biotic and abiotic components in the soil go on continuously. Plants get nutrients required for their growth from the soils, Soils, is a complete ecosystem. Earth is also a substance . The potter uses it as raw material . A farmer uses soil as an ecosystem.  An important component of the living world on the earth is 'plants'. For the production and growth of plants, soil is indispensable. They provide support to plants. VRGETATION IS ABUNDANT IN THE REGIONS THAT HAVE FERTILE SOILS, e.g., the equatorial regions. However, in the areas where the soils are not fertile, vegetation is scanty, e.g., in deserts. And where there is a shortage of soil, vegetation is not seen, e.g. in the polar areas. Though favorable climate, availability of abundant water and sunlight are necessary for the growth of a plant, these alone are not sufficient. Fertile soils favor plant growth.

        When man realized that sowing of seeds in the soil leads to the growth of plants and yields crops, he started using soil as a resource. Gradually, he realized that the fertile soils along the river beds give higher yields. Hence he settled in the valleys and started living there in groups. This led to the rise of ancient river valley civilizations., e.g., the Indus civilization. For the growing population, man started producing greater amount of food crops. He realized that crop production and prosperity in agriculture mainly depends on the fertility of soil and the optimum availability of water. Hence, there emerged competition among people to discover fertile lands and settle there, Later, for getting richer harvests made efforts to increase the fertility of soils. In the process, use of different fertilizers became a practice, which led to record agricultural productions.

       Food crops, fruits and flowers are produced according to the type of soils. Food crops like jowar and bajra are produced in the recur soils of Maharashtra Plateau while soils in Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka region produce rice. In Madhya Pradesh, potato is cultivated in regions where the soils are well drained. The local agricultural produce determines the staple diet of the  people. The regions where soils are not arable need to fulfil their food requirements through import. For example, countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, etc. Fulfil their requirements by importing food from China, India and the USA. The regions where soils are fertile can be self-reliant as far as the food production is concerned. Hence, human settlements get concentrated in such areas. Agro-based industries flourish in these areas at a later date. For example, sugar factories develop in the sugarcane producing areas; fruit processing industries develop in the areas of fruit production, etc. These regions later show the signs of development. You have studied the major soil types of Maharashtra. On the basis of the soil's colour, texture, formation process, thickness of layers, etc. We can divide the State's soils into 5 major types.

Coarse Soil : This soil type is a result of weathering and low rainfall. This soil can be found in the hilltops of the western part of the plateau, e.g., Ajanta, Balaghat and Mahadeo hills, The proportion of humus is negligible in this soil. 

Regur or Black Soil : It is found in areas of medium rainfall in the valleys and alluvial plains of rivers basins. Two types of this soil are found. Dark black soil is found in the western part of Deccan Plateau while medium black soil is found in the eastern part (Vidarbha). Though it is black in colour, proportion of organic components is less in the soil.

Laterite Soil : This type of soil is found in the coastal belt of Konkan to the west of the Sahyadris and in the east of Vidarbha. In areas of very heavy rainfall, the eroded rocks get washed away in a large quantity. As a result, the parent rock lies bare open. The iron in the rock reacts with the oxygen in the air and causes chemical reactions. This gives the reddish - orange colour to the soil which is thus formed. 

Alluvial Soil of the Coastal Strip : Majority of the rivers flowing in the Maharashtra region are short and flow with great speed. Therefore, the alluvium brought by them gets deposited at the mouth of the rivers. This soil is found at the mouth of the rivers in the western coastal strip, e.g., the areas around Panvel - Uran coast, Dharamtar creek, etc.

Yellow Brown Soil : These soils are found in areas of extreme rainfall. They are not very fertile. Therefore, they are not very useful used for agriculture. They are mainly found in Chandrapur, eastern part of Bhandara and parts of Sahyadri mountains.

Soil Erosion and Degradation : A layer of soil (top layer of soil) gets removed due to wind or water. This means that the soil gets eroded. Running water, climate and diversity in physiography are reasons of soil erosion. The soil quality may get lowered due to certain reasons. This is called degradation of soil. To obtain a higher agricultural yield, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, weedicides, etc. are used. The excessive spaying of chemicals and use of chemical fertilizers leads to soil degradation. Excessive irrigation draws the salts from the soil upwards and makes the soil saline and then unproductive. Due to excessive use of chemicals their residues remain in the soils for many years. They becomes a threat to the existence of microorganisms in the soils. It leads to lowering of the humus content in the soil and the plants do not get micronutrient's. If the pH of the soil thus gets disturbed it is a sign of soil degradation.

Do You Know ?

       Certain soils are best suited for certain crops. Hence, the crop production of that crop becomes the specialty of that area. Such crops are given the status of Geographic Indication (GI). For example, Haapus mango of Sindhudurg, custard apple from Beed district, the orange of Nagpur, etc.  

Soil Conservation : Considering the importance of soils, it is necessary to conserve it. It is necessary to protect the fertile soils of farmlands from getting washed out due to rains. Soil conservation includes the words like construction of embankments and, planting tress on them, construction of gulley plugs against the steep slopes etc. Such works are taken up by the Department of Soil Conservation.

        Planting trees can also control the velocity of the wind. This helps reducing the erosion of soil by wind. The plant roots hold the soil and this also reduces the erosion of soil. Under soil conservation, the continuous contour trenches (CCTs) are constructed along the slopes. Construction of such trenches at different heights checks the velocity of water running along the slopes and hence reduces soil erosion. The water arrested in these trenches percolates into the ground. The watershed (catchment areas) development program under which constructing embankments along slopes in rural areas, introducing CCTs along steep slopes etc. are undertaken. This led to the success of the scheme 'Arrest water, let it percolated'. This has resulted in raising the ground - water levels and reducing the erosion of soil. Recently, the Government has launched the scheme called Jalayukt Shivar. Under this scheme, works like construction of farm bunds, arresting waters of small streams, connecting the streams etc. are being carried out on a large scale. It is advisable to reduce the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. If organic manures, vermicomposting, compost are use regularly, it helps maintain the pH  balance, increase the proportion of humus, and retain the fertility of soil. Keeping the farmland fallow for some period and cultivating different crops alternatively is important to help retain the fertility of Soils.

    I hope that the children for whom this post is written will find it useful and interesting. Suggestions and comments for the improvement of the post would be most welcome.