Which of the following soil types in India is formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods, and is characterized by the leaching of silica?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Laterite soils develop in regions experiencing high temperatures and heavy seasonal rainfall that cause intensive leaching, washing away soluble nutrients and leaving behind iron and aluminum oxides. Black soils, also known as regur, develop from basaltic parent rock and have high moisture-retention capacity without intense leaching. Alluvial soils are transported and deposited by river systems across floodplains. Laterite soils are acidic and poor in nitrogen, making them suitable for crops like cashew and tea with fertilizer support.