Laterite Soils of India
Question
Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct?
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- 1.
They are generally red in colour
- 2.
They are rich in nitrogen and potash
- 3.
They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP
- 4.
Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils
Options
1, 2 and 3
2, 3 and 4
1 and 4
2 and 3 only
Explanation
Laterite soils are indeed red in colour due to iron oxide content (Statement 1 is correct). These soils are found primarily in high rainfall areas like Western Ghats, Deccan plateau, and northeastern regions—not well-developed in Rajasthan and UP which are drier regions (Statement 3 is incorrect). Laterite soils are typically poor in nitrogen and potash because these nutrients are leached away due to high rainfall; they are NOT rich in these nutrients (Statement 2 is incorrect). Tapioca and cashew nuts do grow well on laterite soils as these crops tolerate acidic and lateritic soil conditions (Statement 4 is correct). Statements 1 and 4 are correct. > KEY POINT: Laterite = Red + Poor in nutrients + High rainfall areas + Suitable for cashew/tapioca. Answer: (c).
Question details
Year
2013
Paper
GS Paper 1
Question
Q62
Subject
Geography
Sub-topic
Soil Types and Properties
Type
Statement-based
Difficulty
Medium
Nature
Static
Source hint
NCERT Geography - Soils of India
See all questions on Soil Types and Properties
Browse every tagged question across all years