UPSC Civil Services Model Paper 6

Laterite Soil:
Laterite has been derived from the Latin word later’ which means brick.
The laterite soils develop in areas with high-temperature and high rainfall .
These are the result of intense leaching due to tropical rains.
With rain, lime and silica are leached away , and soils rich in iron oxide and aluminium compounds are left behind.
Humus content of the soil is removed fast by bacteria that thrive well in high temperatures.
These soils are poor in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphate, and calcium, while iron oxide and potash are in excess.
Hence, laterites are not suitable for cultivation.
However, the application of manures and fertilizers are required for making the soils fertile for cultivation.
Red laterite soils in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala are more suitable for tree crops like cashew nuts .
Laterite soils are widely cut as bricks for use in house construction.
These soils have mainly developed in the higher areas of the peninsular plateau.
The laterite soils are commonly found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Odisha and Assam.