Laterite Soil

1. Laterite soils is found in: [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A.(Pre) 2006]

(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Punjab
(d) Maharashtra

Correct Answer: (d) Maharashtra

Solution:Laterite soil is found in typical monsoon conditions such as high temperature and heavy rainfall with wet and dry periods. The alterations of the wet and dry season lead to the leaching away of siliceous matter and lime of the rocks and a soil rich in oxides of iron and aluminum compounds is left behind. These are leached soils of wet humid tropical regions which are less fertile. They are well developed in parts of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, South Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Jharkhand, Assam and Meghalaya. Laterite soils are widely spread in India and cover an area of 1.80 lakh sq km. Laterite soil is mostly spread in Kerala (Malabar coastal region) followed by Maharashtra. Kerala is not present in the option, so most probable answer would be Maharashtra.

2. Laterite soils are predominant in: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]

(a) Malabar Coastal Region
(b) Coromandel Coastal Region
(c) Bundelkhand
(d) Baghelkhand

Correct Answer: (a) Malabar Coastal Region

Solution:Laterite soil is found in typical monsoon conditions such as high temperature and heavy rainfall with wet and dry periods. The alterations of the wet and dry season lead to the leaching away of siliceous matter and lime of the rocks and a soil rich in oxides of iron and aluminum compounds is left behind. These are leached soils of wet humid tropical regions which are less fertile. They are well developed in parts of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, South Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Jharkhand, Assam and Meghalaya. Laterite soils are widely spread in India and cover an area of 1.80 lakh sq km. Laterite soil is mostly spread in Kerala (Malabar coastal region) followed by Maharashtra.

3. Which one of the following statements is not true for Laterite soil: [U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2001]

(a) They are the soils of the humid tropical regions.
(b) They are highly leached soils
(c) Their fertility is low
(d) They are rich in lime

Correct Answer: (d) They are rich in lime

Solution:Laterite soil is found in typical monsoon conditions such as high temperature and heavy rainfall with wet and dry periods. The alterations of the wet and dry season lead to the leaching away of siliceous matter and lime of the rocks and a soil rich in oxides of iron and aluminum compounds is left behind. These are leached soils of wet humid tropical regions which are less fertile. They are well developed in parts of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, South Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Jharkhand, Assam and Meghalaya. Laterite soils are widely spread in India and cover an area of 1.80 lakh sq km. Laterite soil is mostly spread in Kerala (Malabar coastal region) followed by Maharashtra.

4. Which one of the following soil types of India is rendered infertile by the presence of excess iron? [I.A.S. (Pre) 1994]

(a) Desert sand
(b) Alluvial
(c) Podzolic
(d) Lateritic

Correct Answer: (d) Lateritic

Solution:Among the above soils, only Lateritic soils have oxides. Hence, Laterite soil of India is rendered infertile by the presence pf excess iron.

5. Assertion (A): The percentage of net sown area in the total area of Andhra Pradesh is less as compared to that of West Bengal. [I.A.S. (Pre) 2006]

Reason (R) : The soil of most of Andhra Pradesh is laterite.

(a) Both (A) and (R) are individually true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are individually true, but (R) is not
(c) 'A' is true, but 'R' is false.
(d) 'A' is false, but 'R' is true

Correct Answer: (c) 'A' is true, but 'R' is false.

Solution:The net sown area of West Bengal is approximately 60% while it is 40% in Andhra Pradesh. Thus, statement (a) is correct. The Laterite soil is formed in heavy rainfall areas by leaching. They are well developed in parts of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, South Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Jharkhand, Assam, and Meghalaya. Andhra Pradesh has Red soil and Alluvial soils in most parts of its area. Thus, reason (R) is not correct.

6. Which of the following statements is correct about laterite soil? [U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2023]

(1) This soil is developed in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall.
Ans.
(2) It is poor in iron oxide and aluminum.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Code:

(a) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) Both 1 and 2
(c) Only 1
(d) Only 2

Correct Answer: (c) Only 1

Solution:Laterite has been derived from the Latin word 'Later' which means brick. The laterite soils develop in areas with high temperature and high rainfall. Hence statement (1) is correct. With rain, lime and silica are leached away, and soils rich in iron oxide and aluminum compound are left behind. Hence statement (ii) is incorrect. Thus option (c) is the correct answer.

7. Which of the following statements is true regarding Laterite soil in India? [Jharkhand P.C.S.(Pre) 2021]

1. Laterite soil develops in areas with high tempera ture and heavy rainfall.

2. Laterite soil is rich in humus and found in West Bengal, Assam and Odisha.

(a) Only 2 is true
(b) Both 1 and 2 are true
(c) Both 1 and 2 are false
(d) Only 1 is true

Correct Answer: (d) Only 1 is true

Solution:Laterite soils are typical soils of tropical climate with monsoon like seasonal rainfall. Laterite soil develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall. The fertility of Laterite soil is low... because of lesser contents of Humus, Nitrogen and Phosphorus.

8. Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2013]

1. They are generally red in colour

2. They are rich in nitrogen and potash.

3. They are well-developed in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

4. Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils. Select the correct answer using the codes given below

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2 and 3 only

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 4

Solution:The Laterite soil is red in colour due to the wide diffusion of iron oxides through the materials of the soil. Generally, Laterite soil is deficient in nitrogen, lime, humus, but rich in Iron & Aluminium. Laterite soil is mostly found in South Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka, Kerala, and Meghalaya. Typical Laterite soils generally lack fertility and are of little use for crop production. Topioca and Cashew nuts grow well on these soils.