The six major agricultural soil groups
- Alluvial soil: Formed by river silt deposition in the Indo-Gangetic and deltaic plains; loamy, rich in potash, ideal for wheat, paddy, sugarcane, and pulses.
- Black soil (Regur): Formed from Deccan basalt lava; high clay content, deep fissures when dry, exceptional water retention, ideal for cotton, soybean, and sorghum.
- Red and yellow soil: Formed from crystalline igneous rocks across southern and eastern plateaus; red due to ferric oxides, porous, suited for groundnut, millets, and pulses.
- Laterite soil: Formed in high-rainfall tropical zones through intense leaching; acidic, rich in iron and aluminium, ideal for tea, coffee, rubber, and cashew.
- Arid and desert soil: Sandy, highly permeable, saline soils in western Rajasthan; suited for drought-hardy bajra, guar, and pulses under canal irrigation.
- Mountain and forest soil: Loamy soils rich in organic humus in Himalayan valleys; support apple, peach, walnut orchards, tea, and terrace maize.
Soil testing and nutrient management
- The Soil Health Card (SHC) program tests 12 critical parameters: primary nutrients (N, P, K), secondary nutrient (S), micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, B), and physical indicators (pH, EC, OC).
- Periodic testing prevents chemical fertilizer over-application, restores soil pH, and identifies micronutrient deficiencies.
Soil conservation and fertility restoration
- Incorporate organic manures (FYM, vermicompost) and green manures (dhaincha, sunn hemp) to enhance soil organic carbon.
- Practice crop rotation with nitrogen-fixing leguminous pulses to sustain soil structure and beneficial microbial populations.
- Access official soil health records and recommendations at soilhealth.dac.gov.in.
Official source
Check the latest rules, benefits and forms here. KisanPe is an independent platform and is not a government website.
Soil Health Card Portal (Govt of India) ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
What are the 6 major types of soil in India?
Alluvial, black (regur), red and yellow, laterite, arid (desert), and mountain soils.
Which soil is most fertile in India?
Alluvial soil is the most widespread and fertile soil, covering the vast Indo-Gangetic plains.
Why is black soil ideal for cotton cultivation?
Black soil has high clay content and high moisture retention capacity, which cotton crops require.
What does a Soil Health Card provide to a farmer?
It provides a report on 12 soil nutrient parameters along with customized fertilizer dosage recommendations.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
More Seeds, Crops & Cultivation guides
Ask Sakhi AI in your language, check live mandi prices or plan a loan with KisanPe tools.