Name the main types of soil …

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) classified soils in 1953 as follows:

• Alluvial soils: The most fertile soil is the alluvial soil. Alluvial soil has been deposited by flowing rivers. It generally consists of minute particles of soil of various kinds mixed with salts and other minerals, and contains animal and vegetable matters in a state of complete decay.
• Black soils: Black soil is rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium but has poor nitrogen content. Crops like cotton, tobacco, chilly, oil seeds, jowar, ragi and maize grow well in it
• Red soils: Red soil are usually found in warm, temperate climate zones like India. These are derived from crystalline rock. These are usually poor growing soils with low nutrients and humus. These soils are very difficult for cultivation due to their low water holding capacity.
• Laterite soils: Laterite soil is formed due to intense leaching by rain water. Laterite soil is a rock type soil rich in iron and aluminium, and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas.
• Mountain soils: Mountain soils are formed due to the accumulation of organic matter which is derived from the forest growth.
• Desert soils: Most desert soils are called Aridisols (dry soil). These are porous sandy soils with low nitrogenous matter and humus.