Red Ferruginous Soils of Midnapur Uplands of West Bengal

Abstract

The soils of Midnapore uplands developed on pleistocens alluvial are generally coloured in different shades of red, brown, yellow etc. Reconnaissance study and morphological, chemical and minerological, study indicated that these soils are made up of one or more number of type horizons. The horizons included red loamy soils, soils dominantly made up of ferric oxide nodules, firm indurated laterite and soft plinthites. The generalised sequance in a profile is red loamy soil-nodule dominant brown soil-firm laterite-yellow and white variegated soil from top downward. The horizons have variable characteristics but all of them are low in organic matter, total nitrogen and reserve fertility. It has been found that profile with about 1 metre of red loamy soil on the top is the best rooting medium for the forest growth.