Context
World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.
About the day
- It is an international day to celebrate soil.
- The day was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002.
- In December 2013, the UN General Assembly designated 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day.
- The day aims to spread awareness about the need of a healthy ecosystems.
Important facts on soil
- Soil salinization takes up to 1.5 million ha of farmland per year from production
- The annual loss in agricultural productivity caused by salinization is estimated to be of US$ 31 million
- It is estimated that there are more than 833 million hectares of salt-affected soils around the globe (8.7% of the planet).
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Categories of soil in India
On the basis of genesis, colour, composition and location, there are following major soil types in India:
- Alluvial Soil: Rich in humus and very fertile, they are formed by the deposition of sediments by rivers.
- Black Soil: Dark-grey in colour due to clay-humus complex, this soil is found in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, South Orissa, South and Coastal Andhra Pradesh, North Karnataka and parts of Tamil Nadu.
- Red Soil: The presence of ferric oxides makes the colour of soil red. They are mainly found in the Peninsula from Tamil Nadu in the south to Bundelkhand in the north and Raj Mahal in the east to Kathiawad in the west.
- Laterite Soil: They are formed due to the process of laterisation. i.e., leaching of all cations leaving Fe and Al oxides.
- Desert Soil: This type of soil is found in desert regions of Rajasthan (Thar desert), parts of Haryana and Punjab of India. More sand is found and sand dunes are common.
- Saline Soil: Saline soils contain a larger proportion of sodium, potassium and magnesium. Thus, they are infertile, and do not support any vegetative growth.
- Peaty Soil: Peaty soil is found in the areas of heavy rainfall and high humidity, where there is a good growth of vegetation.
- Forest Soil: They are formed in the forest areas where sufficient rainfall is available.
