30-12-2017, 04:24 PM
*North-east monsoon is commonly known as the ‘October Heat’.
*Due to local variation of heat and moisture, tropical cyclones originate in Bay of Bengal.
*Strong winds, torrential rainfall and high waves along the coast are associated with the passage of tropical cyclone.
*Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh experience heavy rainfall, high waves and strong winds from these cyclones which are often very destructive to life and property.
*Tropical cyclones that originate over Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, have very high velocity and heavy rainfall and they hit the Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa coast.
*The deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded in Bay of Bengal
Ans : Great Bhola Cyclone (1970)
SOILS OF INDIA
Alluvial soil
*The most extensive soil type of India - Alluvial Soil, It covers nearly 40% of the total area.
*The alluvial soil is formed from the sediments deposited by the rivers.
*Alluvial soils are rich in potash and poor in nitrogen and organic matter
*They occur in the Sutlej-Ganga-Brahmaputra plain, valleys of Narmada and Tapti and in the Eastern and Western coastal plains.
*These soils may be divided into the Khadar soil (newer alluvium) and Bhangar soil (older alluvium).
*It is suitable for the growth of a large variety of Kharif and Rabi crops such as cereals, rice, wheat and sugarcane.
*In the lower Ganga-Brahmaputra valley the soil is useful for jute cultivation.
Red Soil
*It occupys the second largest in area of about 18.5 per cent of the total area.
*It is derived from the weathering of crystalline and ancient metamorphic rocks.
*The redness of this soil is due to the high concentration of iron oxides.
*Wheat, rice, millets, sugar cane and pulses are grown in red soil if fertilizers and irrigation are used.
*It occurs extensively in the Malwa Plateau and Chota Nagpur plateau, as also in large parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.
Black Soil
*Black soil or Regur soil is of volcanic origin.
*Black soil is found largely in the Deccan Plateau
*The soil which is known as ‘Chernozem’ Black soil
*It is formed by the disintegration of basalt.
*It is well suited for the cultivation of cotton so it is also known as cotton soil.
*It is usually fertile.
*Cotton, jowar, wheat, linseed, sugarcane, tobacco, grain, fruit and vegetables are grown as rainfed crops in these regions.
Laterite soil
*It is formed due to weathering of laterite rocks.
*They develop in the -tropical regions so the heavy rainfall promotes leaching and all the soluble materials are removed.
*The high concentration of iron oxides makes the soil red in colour.
*Cashew and tapiocca grow well on it.
*It is suitable for building purposes.
*It occurs in parts of Kerala, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal and the summits of the Western and Eastern Ghats and Malwa Plateau.
Desert Soils
*Desert soils are sandy to gravel with high salt and low humus content.
*Desert soils are made fertile by adding gypsum.
*They are found in arid and semi arid regions ie. Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Rann of Kuchch and other rain shadow regions.
*They support very few crops like Barley,Jowar, Bajra etc.
Mountain Soil
*It is found mainly on the slopes of the middle and lower Himalayas.
*Orchards, fodder, legumes, tea and coffee, are the Major crops.
Forest soil
*Forest soil is suitable for the plantation of tea, coffee, spices and tropical fruits in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and north eastern states of India
*Temperate fruits, maize etc. are also cultivated in the forest soils of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Saline and Alkaline soil
*The saline soils are characterised by the presence of sodium chloride and sodium sulphate.
*These soils are known by different names in different parts of India.
*These soils are found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra.
Peaty and Marshy soil
*Peaty soils originate in the areas of heavy rainfall where adequate drainage is not available.
*These are generally submerged during rainy season and utilised for rice cultivation.
*These soils are mainly occur in parts of Kerala and in the Sunderban delta.
*In Kottayam and Alappuzha these soil are known as ‘Kari Soil’.
*They also found in the deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri and the Rann of Kuchch.
