- Fact: They are the largest soil group covering about 46 percent of the total area.
- Formation in India
- Alluvial soils are formed mainly due to silt deposited by Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra rivers.
- In coastal regions, some alluvial deposits are formed due to wave action.
- They are immature and have weak profiles due to their recent origin.
- Characteristics
- They vary from loamy to sandy loam in drier regions and clayey loam towards the delta.
- The soil is porous because of its loamy nature and it supports agriculture.
- Chemical Composition
- Nitrogen is generally low.
- Potash, phosphoric acid, and alkalies are adequate
- Iron oxide and lime vary within a wide range.
- Crops: Rice, wheat, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, jute, maize, oilseeds, vegetables, and fruits.