Laterite and Lateritic Soils, Forest Soils

Laterite and Lateritic Soils These soils possess a compact to vesicular mass in the sub-soil, composed mainly of hydrated oxides of iron and aluminium. Laterisation is said to be due to loss of silica from the soil profile in humid regions where the process of leaching is widespread. It is the in situ decay and decomposition of basalts and other aluminous rocks tmder warm, humid and monsoonic conditions which is thought to be responsible for forming
laterites of India. Lateritic soils are deficient in nitrogen.

They are chiefly found on the summits of hills of the Deccan, in Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Assam and the Malabars. They cover about 1.26 lakh sq km of land surface. Generally of low fertility, m<1ooring and other activities render them suitable for growing crops such as ragi, rice and sugarcane.

Forest Soils Such soils are mostly found in forests and mountains and they occur along the slopes or in depres­sions and valleys in forested regions. Their mode of formation and character is controlled by geology, topog­raphy, climate, vegetation of the mountain ranges and other factors. Such soils have a high content of organic matter and nitrogen and generally show a great range in their chemical and mechanical composition. Forest soils are deficient in potash, phosphorus and lime. Fertilisation of these soils is a must for good yields.

Such soils are found in the Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, the Nilambur teak forests of Malabar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Manipur, etc. Tea, coffee, tropical fruits and spices are obtained from plantations on these soils espe­cially in south India. Wheat, maize, barley are cultivated in some states.