Forest cover of India is 78.92 million hectare i.e 24.01%.
Mangroves. (tropical and sub-tropical regions)
Bordering sheltered sea coasts.
Occurs all along the Indian coastline in the sheltered estuaries, tidal creeks, back waters, salt marshes and mudflats.
Dominated by salt tolerant halophytic plants of diverse structure and are invaluable marine nurseries for a large variety of fish and other marine fauna.
Have a dense network of areal roots which help to aerate the root system and anchor the trees.
Indian council of agricultural research (ICAR) has classified the Indian soil in 10 types on the basis of their nature and character as per the United state department of agriculture (USDA).
Soil: different layers of particles of different sizes called horizons; each layer is different from the other in thickness, texture, color and chemical composition. On the basis of genesis, color, composition and location soil is classified into eight categories –
Alluvial soil.
Its content is almost 40%.
Is the most important soil.
It is found in the northern plains, river valleys and the plains of Gujarat.
New alluvial is known as the Khadar.
It is sandy and light colored.
Old alluvial is known as the Bhangar.
It is clayey dark colored and contains lime concentrations.
Contains conglomerate deposits in piedmont areas.
Suitable for rice, wheat, sugarcane, oil seeds and jute cultivation.
Black soil.
Is found at the deccan plateau and its periphery.
Formed from the deccan basalt trap rocks and occurs in areas under monsoon climate mostly of semi-arid and sub-humid types.
It is of dark grey to black color, have high swelling and shrinkage, plasticity, deep cracks during summer and poor status of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus.
Rich in lime, iron, magnesia and alumina.
Impeded drainage and low permeability are the major problems.
Red and yellow soil.
Derived from granite, gneiss and other metamorphic rocks.
Formed under well drained conditions.
High textured and contain low soluble salts.
Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, well drained with moderate permeability.
Poor in nitrogen, phosphorus, lime, humus etc.
Laterite soil.
Peculiar where there is high temp and heavy rainfall with alternating wet and dry periods.
During rainfall silica is leached downwards and Fe & Al oxide remains in the top layers.
In hilly areas they are more acidic.
Is less fertile and poor in humus, nitrogen, phosphate and calcium.
Desert soil.
Derived from alluvium.
Its color changes from pale brown to brown to yellow brown.
Its texture changes from fine sandy to loamy fine sandy.
It is structure less.
Has low clay content and presence of alkaline earth carbonates.
By increasing the water holding capacity, the productivity of the soil can be increased which involves addition of organic matter and clay.
Swampy / Peaty soil.
Originates in areas of heavy rainfall but inadequate drainage facility.
Usually found at foothills i.e J&K, UK, UP, Bihar and West Bengal.
Saline soil.
Formed due to the accumulation of soluble salts which consists of chlorides and sulphates of calcium and magnesium.
Forest soil.
Formed in forest areas where sufficient rainfall is available.
The soil varies in structure and texture depending on the mountain environment where these are formed.