Consider the following statements regarding the soils of Sikkim: Statement I: Acidic brown hill soils dominate the mid-hill zones under dense temperate forests. Statement II: High leaching rates due to heavy rainfall result in base-deficient soils rich in organic matter. Which of the following is correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Both statements accurately reflect the pedological conditions in Sikkim where high orographic precipitation causes intense leaching of soluble bases, leaving soils acidic and rich in decomposing organic matter beneath dense canopy forests. These hill soils require careful management through terraced farming to prevent severe erosion and loss of fertility during torrential monsoon downpours. Similar acidic soil profiles are typical across the humid sub-temperate zones of the eastern Himalayan mountain ranges.