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Indian Geography MCQs – 5 (Soils of India)

Soils of India MCQs with answers and explanations for preparation of UPSC, State PSCs and other Examinations

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1. Which among the following soil is transported and deposited by rivers ?

(a) Alluvial soil

(b) Black soil

(c) Red soil

(d) None of the above

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer: (a) Alluvial soil

Alluvial soil is transported and deposited by rivers.
It occupies about 40% of area in India.
It is mainly found in northern plains, river valleys, deltas and estuaries(For example Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra plain, Narmada-Tapi plain etc.)
It is Rich in Potash however, deficient in Phosphorus.
It is good for the cultivation of Wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, pulses, oilseed etc.

2. Which among the following is not a type of Alluvial soil deposited by rivers ?

(a) Bangar

(b) Khadar

(c) Terai

(d) None of the above

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer: (c) Terai

Types of alluvial soils:
- Bangar – Old alluvium, Deposited far from the flood plains of the rivers
- Khadar – New alluvium, Occupies the flood plains of the rivers

3. Karewas are ?

(a) Hill range of Himalayas

(b) Lacustrine deposits found in Kashmir valley

(c) A tribe of Ladakh region

(d) None of the above

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer: (b) Lacustrine deposits found in Kashmir valley

In Kashmiri, the word Karewa means “an elevated tableland”.
Karewas are the thick glacial deposits found in Kashmir valley(Kashmir valley lies between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal ranges of the Kashmir Himalayas).
Karewas are lacustrine deposits (Lacustrine – Associated with lakes).
They are very useful for the cultivation of Zafran (a local variety of Saffron in Kashmir valley).

4. Which among the following soil is also called ‘Regur’ soil ?

(a) Alluvial soil

(b) Black soil

(c) Red soil

(d) None of the above

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer: (b) Black soil

Black soil is also known as Regur Soil.
It occupies about 15% of area in India.
It is mostly found in the Deccan plateau – In parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Tamil Nadu.
It is rich in many minerals like Iron, lime, calcium, potassium, aluminum, and magnesium and deficient in Nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter.
It is the best soil for the cultivation of cotton.

5. Which among the following soil has the highest water retaining capacity ?

(a) Alluvial soil

(b) Black soil

(c) Red soil

(d) None of the above

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer: (b) Black soil

Black soil is also known as Regur Soil.
It has the highest water retaining capacity among all types of soils available in India.
It swells and becomes sticky when wet.
It shrinks and develops wide cracks when dried.

6. Red soil is mainly found in the areas of ?

(a) Low rainfall

(b) High rainfall

(c) Snowfall

(d) High temperature and High rainfall

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer: (a) Low rainfall

Red soil is mainly found in the areas of low-rainfall.
It occupies about 18.5% of area in India
Its color is red due to the presence of Ferric oxide
It is deficient in lime, phosphate, manganese, nitrogen, humus, and potash.

7. Laterite soil is mainly found in the areas of ?

(a) Low rainfall

(b) High rainfall

(c) Snowfall

(d) High temperature and High rainfall

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer: (d) High temperature and High rainfall

Laterite soil is mainly found in the areas of high temperature and high rainfall.
It occupies about 3.7% of area in India.
It is mainly formed as a result of high leaching.
Leaching occurs when excess water removes water-soluble nutrients out of the soil.
It is deficient in Lime and silica(as they are leached away from the soil).

8. Consider the following sentences regarding Peaty/Marshy soil ?

It is found in the areas of heavy rainfall with water tables.
Growth of vegetation is very low
Contains large quantity of humus

Select the correct statement:

(a) 1 Only

(b) 1 & 2 Only

(c) All of the above

(d) None of the above

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer: (c) All of the above

Peaty/Marshy soil is mainly found in the areas of heavy rainfall and high humidity where water tables are generally high.
It is found in Kerala backwaters and parts of northeastern India.
Growth of vegetation in this type of soil is very low.
It contains a large quantity of dead organic matter/humus.
It is suitable for cultivation of rice and aquatic crops.

9. Which of the following soils generally has an immature soil profile ?

(a) Alluvial soil

(b) Black soil

(c) Red soil

(d) Mountain soil

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer: (d) Mountain soil

Mountain soil generally has an immature soil profile.
It is mainly found in hilly and mountainous regions.
The texture of the soil depends on the mountain environment where they are found.
It is suitable for horticulture, tea, and crops like apples, potatoes etc.

10. Contour bunding is a practice for ?

(a) Soil conservation

(b) Electricity generation

(c) Mining technique

(d) None of the above

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer: (a) Soil conservation

Contour bunding is a practice for soil conservation.
It is a sustainable land management practice for sloping and hilly areas that involves the placement of lines of stones along the natural rises of a landscape.
This technique helps to capture and hold rainfall for a longer period of time before it can become runoff.
This practice inhibits wind erosion by keeping the soil moist and heavy.

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