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 concentration (statement 1 correct). They are rich in iron and aluminium oxides but are actually deficient in nitrogen and potash (statement 2 incorrect). Laterite soils are well-developed in tropical regions like Western Ghats, Nilgiris, and parts of Odisha and Jharkhand, not in Rajasthan and UP which have desert and alluvial soils (statement 3 incorrect). Tapioca and cashew nuts do grow well on laterite soils due to their ability to tolerate acidic and nutrient-poor conditions (statement 4 correct). > Laterite = Red colour, NOT rich in N&K, found in WESTERN GHATS (not Rajasthan/UP), good for cashew/tapioca. Answer: (c).
Question details
Year
2014
Paper
GS Paper 1
Question
Q62
Subject
Geography
Sub-topic
Soil Types and Distribution
Type
Statement-based
Difficulty
Medium
Nature
Static
Source hint
NCERT Geography - Soils of India
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