Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct?They are generally r

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UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2013 UPSC Prelims Geography paper.

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Question

Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct?They are generally red in colour.They are rich in nitrogen and potash.They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP.Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils.Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: C — 1 and 4Step-by-step Solution:Statement 1 — Laterite soils are generally red in colour: This is correct. Laterite soils develop a characteristic reddish colour due to the high concentration of iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) — a result of intense leaching in humid tropical conditions. The word 'laterite' comes from the Latin 'later' (brick) because these soils harden on exposure to air and were historically used as building material (especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu). The red/brick-red colour is diagnostic of laterite soils. ✓Statement 2 — Rich in nitrogen and potash: This is incorrect. Laterite soils are actually poor in nitrogen, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, and organic matter. They form in areas of high temperature and heavy rainfall where intense leaching removes soluble nutrients. What remains after leaching are the insoluble sesquioxides of iron and aluminium — giving the soil its characteristic red colour and relatively infertile nature. They require significant fertiliser inputs for productive agriculture. ✗Statement 3 — Well-developed in Rajasthan and UP: This is incorrect. Laterite soils develop in humid tropical and subtropical areas with heavy rainfall and high temperatures — conditions not found in most of Rajasthan (arid/semi-arid) or UP (Indo-Gangetic plain with alluvial soils). Laterite soils in India are found in: Western Ghats slopes (Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra); Eastern Ghats (Odisha, AP); Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris, Palani hills); Northeast India; parts of Jharkhand. ✗Statement 4 — Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well: This is correct. Red laterite soils in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala support tree crops like cashew nut and root crops like tapioca (cassava). These crops can tolerate the low fertility and acidic nature of laterite soils better than cereals. India is a major cashew nut producer — concentrated in states with laterite soils (Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu). ✓Key Concept: Laterite soils: formed by laterisation (intense leaching in wet tropical climate); acidic (pH 5-6); rich in iron and aluminium oxides; poor in nitrogen, phosphate, calcium, potassium; used as building material (hardened laterite blocks); found in Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, NE India, parts of Deccan; crops: cashew, coconut, tapioca, tea, coffee, rubber (tree crops tolerant of acidity and low fertility); not suitable for most food grain crops without heavy fertilisation. Compare: Alluvial soils (Gangetic plains — most fertile); Black soils (regur — Deccan trap — best for cotton); Red and Yellow soils (iron-rich, less fertile than alluvial); Laterite soils (leached, low fertility); Desert soils (arid, saline); Mountain soils (immature, thin).

Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct?They are generally red in colour.They are rich in nitrogen and potash.They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP.Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils.Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct?They are generally red in colour.They are rich in nitrogen and potash.They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP.Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils.Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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More Questions from Soils of India – Types, Distribution & Degradation

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