Soil Type as One of the Major Contributing Factors for Top Ten Agri-Producing States of India

Abstract

A heterogeneous mixture of small rock particles/debris and organic materials/humus is called soil. It is usually produced over the surface of the earth and helps in the sustenance of autotrophic life in plant. India is an agriculture based country in which West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka are considered as the top ten stated for their higher agricultural productivity. For higher agricultural productivity, knowledge of soil type, composition, texture, fertility, etc. is highly essential. However, no review article is presently summarising whether the soil type contributes as one of the major factors for the above top ten ranked agri-producing states of India. Here we review and found that the soil type could be one of the major reasons why the above states topped the list in agricultural attributes to India. As per India classification, both urvara (fertile) and usara (sterile) soils are found in the country. Majority of Indian soils harboring the agriculture of the above states are alluvial soil (43%), red soil (18.5%), black/regur soil (15%) and the rest are arid/desert soil, laterite soil, saline soil, peaty/marshy soil, forest soil and sub-mountain soil that harbors the agriculture in India in general and in the above states in particular. Therefore, the soil type present in the above states is one of the most contributing factors for the higher agriculture productivity in India.