Major soil types and regional distribution
- Alluvial soils: Found across the Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra plains and coastal deltas; loamy, fertile, and rich in potash, ideal for wheat, paddy, sugarcane, and pulses.
- Black soils (Regur): Predominant in the Deccan plateau (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh); clay-rich, expands when wet, shrinks with deep fissures when dry, ideal for cotton and soybean.
- Red and yellow soils: Widespread across southern and eastern states; derived from crystalline rocks, porous, rich in iron, well-suited for groundnut, millets, and pulses with irrigation.
- Laterite soils: Formed under high tropical rainfall and leaching in Western Ghats and parts of Odisha and Assam; acidic, ideal for plantation crops like tea, coffee, rubber, and cashew.
- Arid and desert soils: Present in western Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat; sandy, saline, low moisture retention, suited for bajra, guar, and drought-hardy pulses.
- Mountain and forest soils: Rich in organic humus in Himalayan valleys; support apple, pear, peach orchards, spices, and terraced maize.
Soil testing and nutrient parameters
- The Soil Health Card (SHC) program tests 12 key parameters: primary nutrients (N, P, K), secondary nutrient (S), micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, B), and physical markers (pH, EC, OC).
- Regular soil testing prevents unnecessary over-application of synthetic chemical fertilizers and corrects soil acidity or alkalinity.
Soil health conservation practices
- Add organic amendments such as farmyard manure, vermicompost, and green manures (dhaincha, sunn hemp) to enhance soil organic carbon.
- Adopt conservation tillage, crop rotation with legumes, and mulching to control soil erosion and conserve moisture.
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 main soil types in India?
The six major types are alluvial, black, red and yellow, laterite, arid, and mountain soils.
Which soil is best suited for cotton cultivation?
Black soil (regur soil) is best for cotton because of its high clay content and moisture retention.
How often should farm soil be tested?
Soil should be tested once every two to three years, ideally before sowing major kharif or rabi crops.
What does the Soil Health Card measure?
It evaluates 12 parameters including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, micronutrients, pH, electrical conductivity, and organic carbon.
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.