| Soil Name | Distribution | Characteristics [Reason] |
| Tundra Soils (1) | Polar Margins in Tundra region. [Soil Texture ® Sandy clay, along with humus & Peat]. | Little Profile differentiation. [Soil moisture remain Frozen for a greater part of year.] Chemical and organic changes are slow [ Low Temperature condition] Soil reaction is acidic [Slow Decomposition of organic matter ] Soil Structure – Angular blocky. Fertility Status – Low [Inherent Climatic and Parental Limitation.] |
| Pod Soils (2) | North America & Eurasia. [ Humid mid- latitude haring forest vegetation & temperate region having moderate to low rainfall in coniferous vegetation]. | Well developed A&B horizon of soil [ Elutriation and Illuviation ]. Pronounced Leaching. [ Snowmelt due to water release, high acidity]. Soil Reaction is acidic [ Slow Decomposition of organic matter]. Fertility Status – Low. Productivity – Low [May be by addition of lime & fertilizers. ] |
| Grey brown Podzolic Soil (3) | Mid Latitude ® Korea , Manchuria, Japan, W. Europe, NE United States. [Deciduous western margin of the continents]. | Less leached [ Compared to pod sols] Less Acidity [ Compared to Pod sols] More humus content [Compared to pod sols]. Dark brown B horizon [ Contains Minerals & organic colloids.] Fertility – Average. Productivity – High [ Lime & Fertilizer responsive.] Bacterial action – relatively rapid, faster organic matter decomposition. |
| Prairie Earths (4) | ‘Parkland’ areas of temp. grassland. ‘Moister Margin of Chernozem Soils’ [Mid latitude , Temperate humid climate.] | There is no clear differentiation about soli profile. Calcium layer absent. [ High rainfall & leaching (Moderate)] Leaching is moderate. Structure – Granular & Nutty Neutral, Fertility & Productivity is very high. High humus content. |
| Red & Yellow Forest Soil (5) | S.E USA, S.E china, S. Japan, S.E Brazil [ High temp & abundant rainfall.] | Distinct Horizon Development, A1 Reddish/ Yellow, A2 – Light colored, B Horizon [ Dark color ] Pronounced Leaching [ High rainfall] Little humus [warmer region enhances pronounced bacterial activity] Productivity – Fertilizer responsive crop yield high. Pathogenic Process – podzolization and laterization. |
| Red Tropic Soil (6) | Asia, Africa, Australia and central and South America. [ Hot wet equatorial regions ] | Deeply weathered but lock in distinct horizon Highly Leached Less humus content [Moist condition enhances bacterial activity ] Low fertility Productive if used scientifically Permanent residual of Fe, A1, Mn & in the top layer. |
| Laterite Soil (7) | Brazil, W. Indies , Tropical Africa, south India. [ Alternate wet and dry & hot humid climatic conditions ] | Red tropical Soil type Leached of alkalis and silica Accumulation of Sesquioxides in top layer Soil reaction is acidic Poor base saturation Fertility – Poor |
| Chernozem ( Black Earth Soil). (8) | Ukraine, Canadian prairies, Dakota to Texas in the South USA, Murray darling Basin of Australia. [ Temp. grassland, low& light precipitation ] | A horizon – Thick & black [ Accumulation of humus derived from decomposed roots & grass] B horizon – Brownish / yellowish, c-horizon – Ca & Salt accumulation in summer. Texture- clayey . Soil reaction is basic. Most Fertile Soils. |
| Chestnut – Brown soils (9) | Arid margin of chernozem belt. | Less humus content compare to chernozem. Formation of CaCo3 in B Horizon. Lighter color than chernozem. Prismatic and cloddy structure. Less fertile than Black- earth soil. Productive if hood, if proper irrigation is available. |
| Sierozem (10) | Mid- latitude continental deserts of Nevada and Gobi | This soils having poor Horizonization. Low humus content & near absence of humus Excessive CaCo3 content. Productive if irrigated. |
| Red Desert Soils (11) | Great Desert of Australia and Africa. | Poor horizon development. Min. humus content. Coarse Soil Texture. Productive if abundant irrigation is available & Salt removed. |
| (B) Intra zonal Solis | ||
| Hydromorphic Soils (12) | Areas of impaired drainage within zonal soil belt. | Deep layer of Peat and undecomposed organic matter became of diminished bacterial action. Gleization in sub – surface became of reduction of Fe. Three types – (1) Boy & peat soil, (2) Meadow, (3) Plano sol. |
| Halomorphic Soils (13) | Occurs in interior basins in arid and semi and regions. | High soil content and degraded alkali. Light color. |
| Catamorphic sols (14) | Rendzina and terra rossa soil & has high calcium content. | Three types in Russia – Solonetz, Solonchak & Sloth. |
| (C) Azonal Soils | ||
| Litho sols (15) | Found on Mountain Slopes | Stony & thin Coarse TextureLittle organic MatterNo agriculture value. |
| Regosols (16) | Found on glaciers | Rich fertile & friable Structure. |
| Alluvial Soils (17) | Ex-situ Soil | Poor horizon developmentYoung soil, it is level beddedHigh fertile because mineral matter is mixed thoroughly mixed. |
Zonal Classification Of Soils
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