Feature Slides

Soil Analytics in India

India Major Soil Map

Types Of Soil in India

Major Soil Groups

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Different types of soil  found in India are

1. Alluvial Soil: Found in  river basins and coastal regions, highly fertile, and suitable for agriculture. It covers around 40% of India's land area.

PH Level: 6.5 to 8.0

2. Black Soil (Regur): Rich in clay, found in Deccan Plateau. Black cotton soil is highly argillaceous, moisture -retentive, and suitable for cotton cultivation.

PH Level: 6.5 to 8.5

3. Red & Yellow Soils: These soils occur in regions with moderate rainfall. Red soil is rich in iron and potash, while yellow soil contains less iron and is more acidic. Found in eastern and southern parts, rich in iron, less fertile.

PH Level: 6.5 to 7.5

4. Laterite Soil: Found in high rainfall areas, rich in iron and aluminum, suitable for crops like tea and coffee.

PH Level: 5.5 to 6.5

5. Desert Soil: Found in arid regions, sandy texture, low organic content, requires irrigation for cultivation.

PH Level: 7.0 to 8.5

6. Mountain Soil: Found in hilly and mountainous regions, varies in composition, supports horticulture.

PH Level: 5.5 to 6.5

7. Peaty and Marshy Soil: High in organic matter, found in areas with heavy rainfall and high humidity.

PH Level: 5.5 to 6.5

8. Saline and Alkaline Soil: Found in arid and semi-arid regions, high salt content, not suitable for most crops without treatment.

 PH Level: 8.5 and above

Code Snippet

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import pandas as pd
data = {
    'State': ['Gujarat', 'Kerala', 'Karnataka', 'Goa', 'Tamil Nadu', 'Maharashtra','Average'],
    '1990': [34.43, 24.77, 33, 30.09, 30.90, 40.6,32.3],
    '2000': [69.03, 26.9, 37.1, 44.43, 36.55, 63.5,46.26],
    '2010': [71.15, 29.3, 38.9, 49.15, 39.1, 73.4,50.19],
    '2020': [75.39, 47.1, 51.3, 54.28, 68.3, 79.73,62.69]
}
df = pd.DataFrame(data)
plt.figure(figsize=(10, 6))
for state in df['State']:
    plt.scatter(df.columns[1:], df.loc[df['State'] == state, df.columns[1:]].values.flatten(), label=state)
plt.xlabel('Year',fontsize=12)
plt.ylabel('Erosion (Tonnes/hectare/year)',fontsize=12)
plt.title('Erosion Data Across *WGR States',fontsize=16)
plt.legend(title='State',fontsize=12)
plt.show() 

The scatter plot displays soil erosion data across various states in the Western Ghats region (WGR) of India, measured in tonnes per hectare per year, over several decades. Here are the observations and conclusions:

1. Overall Trend:

   • There is an increasing trend in soil erosion across most states from 1990 to 2020, indicating worsening soil erosion over time.

2. State-Specific Observations:

   • Gujarat (Blue): Shows an increase from around 35 in 1990 to over 70 by 2020, suggesting a significant rise in soil erosion.
   • Kerala (Orange): Appears to have relatively stable erosion levels, with slight fluctuations around 30-40 tonnes per hectare per year.
   • Karnataka (Green): Shows a significant increase, from around 35 in 1990 to over 70 by 2020, similar to Gujarat.
   • Goa (Red): There is a marked increase in erosion, especially from 2010 onwards, reaching above 60 tonnes per hectare per year.
   • Tamil Nadu (Purple): Has shown variability but has remained relatively lower than other states, with values mostly below 60.
   • Maharashtra (Brown): Displays a significant increase in soil erosion from around 40 in 1990 to over 70 by 2020.

3. Average Trend:

   • The "Average" (Pink) data points show a clear upward trend, indicating that on average, soil erosion has worsened across the Western Ghats region over the observed period.

4. Potential Factors:

   • The increase in soil erosion could be attributed to various factors such as deforestation, changes in land use, increased agricultural activity, and climate change effects like increased rainfall intensity.

5. Implications:

   • The rising trend in soil erosion could lead to soil degradation, loss of fertile land, and negative impacts on agriculture and biodiversity in the region.

Summarized from the blog, India's desertified regions, primarily in the Western Ghats, have a negative impact on plantations and other agricultural operations across the country.

Sahasransu Acharjya August 03, 2024

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