Soils in Odisha

Odisha, located on the eastern coast of India, is endowed with a diverse range of soil types, shaped by its varied topography, climate, and geological formations. From the fertile alluvial soils of the coastal plains to the lateritic and red soils of the uplands, Odisha’s soil diversity plays a crucial role in supporting its agrarian economy and rich biodiversity. These soils are not only vital for agricultural productivity but also influence the state’s land use, vegetation, and water management practices. Understanding the characteristics, distribution, and challenges associated with Odisha’s soils is essential for sustainable development and environmental conservation in the region.

Classification of Soils in Odisha

The soils of Odisha can be broadly categorized based on two criteria: formation and relief features.

1. Classification Based on Formation

• Transported Soils: These soils are formed from eroded materials transported by natural agents like water and wind. They are heterogeneous in nature and composition.
• Residual Soils: These soils are formed in situ by the weathering of parent rocks and are typically found in interfluves, mountains, and plateaus of Odisha.

2. Classification Based on Relief Features

On the basis of relief, Odisha’s soils are classified into the following eight major groups:

1. Red Soil
2. Laterite Soil
3. Red and Yellow Soil
4. Coastal Saline and Alluvial Soil
5. Deltaic Alluvial Soil
6. Black Soil
7. Mixed Red and Black Soil
8. Brown Forest Soil

This classification highlights the diversity of soils across Odisha, shaped by its unique geological and geographical attributes.

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Types of Soils in Odisha

1. Red Soil

• Formation: Formed by the decomposition of silicate minerals and iron deposits from the upper Dharwar series during rainfall.
• Characteristics:
  • Texture: Coarse texture with single-grained to weakly granular structure.
  • Porosity & Water Retention: Highly porous with low water-holding capacity.
  • Color: Red due to the presence of iron oxides.
  • Acidity & Nutrients: Moderately acidic, deficient in nitrogen, organic matter, and molybdenum.
  • Difference from Laterite Soil: Contains higher silica content and bases compared to laterite soil.
• Distribution: Covers about 7.14 million hectares (largest area in Odisha) and is found in the districts of Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Keonjhar, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Dhenkanal, and Mayurbhanj.
• Crops Grown: Rice, finger millet, minor millets, potatoes, brinjal, and fruit trees like mango, jackfruit, guava, papaya, and sapota.

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2. Red and Yellow Soil

• Formation: Found in undulating and rolling terrains, with variations in depth, texture, and color.
• Characteristics:
  • Texture & Structure: Soils of uplands have a coarser texture, shallow depth, and are well-drained with red to yellowish-red color. Lowland soils are finer in texture and have pale yellow, greyish, or olive shades.
  • Water Retention: Lowland soils may exhibit mottling (patchy color) due to waterlogging during the monsoon.
  • Acidity: Upland soils are more acidic than lowland soils.
• Distribution: Covers about 5 million hectares (second largest in Odisha) and is found in the districts of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Deogarh, and Sundargarh.
• Crops Grown:
  • Upland Soils: Rice, finger millet, sugarcane, potato, brinjal, and tomato.
  • Lowland Soils: Paddy, pulses, and fruit trees like mango, guava, and banana.

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3. Black Soil

• Formation: Formed by the weathering of basic rocks in low-lying regions, influenced by specific lithology and topography.
• Characteristics:
  • Texture & Structure: Clay texture with an angular blocky structure.
  • Water Retention: Exhibits deep and wide cracks during summer, which allows moisture retention.
  • pH: Ranges from 7.5 to 8.5 (neutral to slightly alkaline).
  • Nutrient Content: Low to moderate in nitrogen and potassium.
  • Color: Black due to the presence of titaniferous magnetite, humins, and bitumins.
• Distribution: Covers about 0.96 million hectares and is sporadically found in the districts of Puri, Ganjam, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Sonepur, Boudh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, and Angul.
• Crops Grown: Rice, jowar, bajra, maize, Bengal gram, sunflower, mustard, and cotton.

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4. Laterite Soil

• Formation: Formed in hot and wet tropical areas with intense leaching, rich in aluminium, manganese, and iron.
• Characteristics:
  • Texture & Structure: Found on high plateaus and hilly areas that receive heavy rainfall, leading to leaching of silica and accumulation of iron and aluminium.
  • Permeability: Highly permeable and porous.
  • Acidity & Nutrient Deficiency: Generally acidic, and deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.
• Distribution: Covers about 0.70 million hectares and is found in high plateaus and hilly areas in the districts of Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Sambalpur.
• Crops Grown: Groundnut, pulses, rice, finger millet, minor millet, sesame, potatoes, and vegetables. Fruit trees like mango, jackfruit, banana, guava, and sapota are also grown.

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5. Deltaic Alluvial Soil

• Formation & Texture:
  • Formed by the deposition of river alluvium.
  • Texture ranges from coarse sand to clay, depending on the geomorphology of the floodplain and the type of alluvium carried by the river.
  • The structure is granular.
• Distribution:
  • Covers 0.67 million hectares of land.
  • Found in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Puri, Gajapati, and Ganjam.
• Soil Divisions (North to South):
  1. North Balasore Region: Sandy or sandy loam soil.
  2. Baitarani and Brahmani Delta: Soil varies from clay loam to stiff clay.
  3. Mahanadi Delta: Soil is stratified into layers of clay and silt sand.
  4. Rushikulya Delta: Sandy soil is predominant.
• Fertility & Composition:
  • Generally fertile but areas with low nitrogen and phosphorus also exist.
  • Fertility decreases if not recharged regularly by flooding.
• Crops Grown:
  Rice, groundnut, mustard, sesame, potato, black gram, and various vegetables.

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6. Coastal Saline and Alluvial Soil

• Formation & Characteristics:
  • Formed due to the incursion of tidal seawater through creeks, resulting in the deposition of highly soluble coastal salts.
  • Contains chlorides and sulfates of sodium, magnesium, and smaller amounts of calcium and potassium.
• Texture & Structure:
  • The texture varies from clay to clay loam, with a columnar structure.
  • The soils near Chilika Lake are affected by saline water flooding during the monsoon.
• Distribution:
  • Covers 0.254 million hectares of land.
  • Found along a narrow strip of the coastal belt (5-25 km inward) in districts like Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Khurda, and Ganjam.
• Fertility & Composition:
  • The salinity of the soil poses challenges for cultivation.
• Crops Grown:
  Rice, mustard, barley, linseed, chilli, sugar beet, tomato, spinach, and cotton.

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7. Brown Forest Soil

• Formation & Location:
  • Found in forest-covered regions of Odisha.
  • Covers 0.17 million hectares of land.
  • Predominantly found in the districts of Phulbani, Kandhamal, Rayagada, and parts of Ganjam and Nayagarh.
• Texture & Structure:
  • Texture is light, with a color ranging from brown to grey-brown.
  • The soil is acidic in nature.
• Fertility & Composition:
  • Contains medium to high organic matter and high nitrogen content.
  • Levels of phosphorus and potash are moderate.
• Crops Grown:
  Maize, tapioca, wheat, mustard, and horticultural crops like jackfruit, mango, guava, and citrus fruits.

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8. Mixed Red and Black Soil

• Formation & Characteristics:
  • Formed by the intermixing of red and black soils.
  • Red soil is found in higher regions, while black soil is found in lower regions.
  • The presence of red and black soil together leads to the formation of a catenary sequence.
• Texture & Structure:
  • Texture ranges from light to medium.
  • Red soil is rich in iron, while black soil is rich in calcium.
• Distribution:
  • Covers 0.16 million hectares of land.
  • Found in the western districts of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, and Balangir.
• Crops Grown:
  Rice, sugarcane, maize, ragi, groundnut, sesame, and all types of vegetable crops.

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Summary of Soils in Odisha

Type of Soil	Coverage Area (in Million Hectares)	Location/Region	Key Crops Grown
Red Soil	7.14 (Largest)	Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Keonjhar, etc.	Rice, finger millet, mango, guava, jackfruit, sapota
Red and Yellow Soil	5 (Second largest)	Sambalpur, Bargarh, Deogarh, Sundargarh	Rice, pulses, sugarcane, brinjal, mango, guava, banana
Black Soil	0.96	Puri, Ganjam, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nuapada, etc.	Rice, jowar, bajra, maize, Bengal gram, sunflower, cotton
Laterite Soil	0.70	Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, etc.	Groundnut, pulses, sesame, mango, banana, guava, sapota

Type of Soil	Coverage Area (in Million Hectares)	Location/Region	Key Crops Grown
Deltaic Alluvial Soil	0.67	Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, etc.	Rice, groundnut, mustard, potato, vegetables
Coastal Saline and Alluvial Soil	0.254	Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Ganjam	Rice, mustard, barley, tomato, cotton
Brown Forest Soil	0.17	Phulbani, Kandhamal, Rayagada, parts of Ganjam, Nayagarh	Maize, wheat, mustard, horticultural crops
Mixed Red and Black Soil	0.16	Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, Balangir	Rice, sugarcane, maize, ragi, groundnut, sesame

Problems and Management of Soils in Odisha

Problems of Soils in Odisha

Odisha’s diverse soil types support a wide range of crops, but several issues affect soil health, fertility, and agricultural productivity. The key problems are:

1. Soil Erosion

• Cause: Heavy monsoonal rains, deforestation, shifting cultivation (slash and burn or “Podu” cultivation), and improper agricultural practices.
• Effect: Loss of topsoil, reduction in soil fertility, and increased siltation in rivers and reservoirs, leading to waterlogging.
• Areas Affected: Hilly regions of Koraput, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, and Rayagada.

2. Salinity and Waterlogging

• Cause: Coastal flooding, intrusion of seawater, and poor drainage in low-lying areas.
• Effect: Coastal saline soils become unfit for cultivation, while waterlogged areas reduce soil aeration, leading to root rot.
• Areas Affected: Balasore, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, and Puri districts along the coastal belt.

3. Soil Acidity

• Cause: Leaching of bases (like calcium, magnesium) due to heavy rainfall, use of ammonium-based fertilizers, and decomposition of organic matter.
• Effect: Reduced microbial activity, poor availability of nutrients (like phosphorus), and toxicity of aluminum and manganese.
• Areas Affected: Widespread in the red, laterite, and forest soils of Odisha, especially in Kandhamal, Rayagada, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar.

4. Low Fertility and Nutrient Deficiency

• Cause: Over-cultivation, soil erosion, and absence of organic manure. Soils are deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus, and micronutrients like molybdenum and boron.
• Effect: Poor crop productivity and increased dependence on chemical fertilizers.
• Areas Affected: Red soil regions (Koraput, Ganjam, Keonjhar) and areas where intensive farming is practiced.

5. Compaction and Hardpan Formation

• Cause: Continuous plowing at the same depth, heavy use of tractors, and over-irrigation.
• Effect: Reduced water infiltration, increased surface runoff, and limited root penetration.
• Areas Affected: Lowland paddy fields of Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, and Balasore.

6. Soil Pollution

• Cause: Excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, industrial effluents, and waste disposal.
• Effect: Decline in soil health, contamination of groundwater, and loss of beneficial soil organisms.
• Areas Affected: Industrial areas of Angul, Talcher, Paradeep, and Jharsuguda.

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Management of Soils in Odisha

To overcome the above challenges, sustainable soil management practices are essential. The following measures can improve soil health and boost agricultural productivity in Odisha:

1. Soil Erosion Control

• Afforestation and Reforestation: Planting trees and grass in hilly and degraded areas.
• Contour Ploughing: Plowing along the natural contours of the land to reduce water runoff.
• Terracing and Bunding: Building terraces and earthen embankments to reduce the velocity of water flow and prevent soil erosion.
• Check Dams and Gully Plugging: Construction of check dams and plugging of gullies to arrest soil erosion in hilly regions.
• Agroforestry: Integrating crops with trees and shrubs to reduce soil erosion and increase soil fertility.

2. Salinity and Waterlogging Management

• Drainage System: Construction of proper drainage channels to remove excess water.
• Salt-tolerant Crops: Cultivation of salt-tolerant crops like barley, mustard, and rice varieties like CSR-30.
• Leaching of Salts: Application of water to leach out excess salts from the root zone.
• Bio-drainage: Planting deep-rooted plants like Eucalyptus to reduce waterlogging through water uptake.

3. Management of Soil Acidity

• Liming: Application of lime (calcium carbonate) to neutralize acidic soils.
• Use of Dolomite: Use of dolomite (calcium-magnesium carbonate) to correct magnesium deficiency.
• Green Manuring: Incorporation of nitrogen-fixing plants like Sesbania and sunhemp to improve soil fertility and pH balance.
• Balanced Fertilizer Use: Avoiding overuse of ammonium-based fertilizers that increase soil acidity.

4. Improvement of Soil Fertility

• Organic Manuring: Application of farmyard manure (FYM), compost, and vermicompost to improve soil organic matter.
• Crop Rotation: Rotating leguminous crops (like pulses) with cereals to maintain soil fertility.
• Use of Bio-fertilizers: Use of Rhizobium, Azotobacter, and Azospirillum to increase nitrogen content.
• Micronutrient Management: Application of micronutrients like zinc, boron, and molybdenum to address specific deficiencies.

5. Prevention of Hardpan Formation

• Deep Ploughing: Occasional deep plowing using subsoilers to break compacted soil layers.
• Zero Tillage: Avoiding unnecessary plowing to preserve soil structure and prevent compaction.
• Use of Organic Matter: Addition of organic matter (like FYM and compost) to improve soil structure and porosity.

6. Management of Soil Pollution

• Reduce Use of Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides: Promote the use of bio-fertilizers and natural pest control.
• Phytoremediation: Use of specific plants like sunflower, mustard, and vetiver grass to extract contaminants from the soil.
• Recycling of Organic Waste: Proper disposal and conversion of organic waste into compost.
• Regulation of Industrial Effluents: Treatment of industrial effluents before releasing them into the environment.

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Government Initiatives for Soil Management in Odisha

1. Soil Health Card Scheme:
   • Provides farmers with information on soil fertility and nutrient content.
   • Suggests corrective measures for balanced fertilization.
2. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA):
   • Focuses on soil health management through organic farming, agroforestry, and watershed development.
3. Odisha Watershed Development Mission (OWDM):
   • Implements watershed development programs to reduce soil erosion and ensure sustainable land use.
4. Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP):
   • Focuses on sustainable development of rain-fed areas, soil conservation, and enhancing productivity.
5. Reclamation of Saline and Alkali Soils:
   • Provides financial assistance to farmers for reclaiming degraded soils through the application of lime, gypsum, and soil amendments.

Conclusion

Odisha’s diverse soil types, ranging from red and laterite soils to black, alluvial, and saline soils, play a crucial role in supporting the state’s rich agricultural landscape. Each type of soil has distinct characteristics, fertility levels, and crop suitability, which significantly influence regional farming practices. However, issues like soil erosion, acidity, salinity, and nutrient depletion pose challenges to sustainable agriculture. To address these challenges, a combination of scientific soil management practices, use of organic amendments, crop rotation, and government interventions like the Soil Health Card Scheme is essential. Ensuring the health and productivity of Odisha’s soils is vital not only for enhancing agricultural output but also for promoting environmental sustainability and food security for the state’s growing population. Sustainable soil management will pave the way for a resilient and prosperous agricultural economy in Odisha.