Previous Year Question
Which of the following statements is correct about laterite soil?
This soil is developed in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall.
It is poor in iron oxide and aluminium.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Only 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Both 1 and 2
Only 1
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is correct. Laterite soil mainly develops under high temperature and heavy rainfall in tropical and subtropical regions. Heavy rainfall causes intense leaching, through which water removes soluble silica, bases and several nutrients from the upper layers of the soil.
After this process, relatively less soluble iron and aluminium compounds become concentrated in the soil. Iron oxides commonly give lateritic soils their red or reddish-brown colour.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Laterite soil is not poor in iron oxide and aluminium; it is generally rich in these compounds. However, it may be deficient in plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphate, calcium and organic matter.
In India, laterite soils occur mainly in parts of the Western Ghats, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Odisha and the North-East. With proper soil conservation and application of fertilizers, crops such as tea, coffee and cashew can be grown in these regions.