Which soil type, characterized by a high proportion of calcium carbonate nodules (kankar) and varying textures from sandy loam to clay loam, covers the major fertile expanse of central Punjab?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The fertile expanse of central Punjab is dominated by deep alluvial soils deposited by the Indus river system, frequently containing calcium carbonate nodules known locally as kankar. Black cotton soils develop primarily over basaltic Deccan trap rocks found in states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Laterite soils form in regions with high temperature and heavy alternating rainfall, typical of peninsular hill tracts. Red and yellow soils develop on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall, mostly across the eastern plateau region of India. Alluvial soils support the intensive cereal production that underpins the rural economy of Punjab.