Which of the following statements correctly differentiates Alluvial soils from Red and Yellow soils?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) Alluvial: sandy loam to clay; Red/Yellow: sandy loam, less fertile uplands.
• Alluvial soils are fertile, formed by river deposits, and found in plains and deltas.
• Red and Yellow soils are residual soils, formed due to weathering of ancient crystalline rocks, and are less fertile, commonly found in upland regions.
Information Booster:
• Alluvial soil covers about 43% of India’s land area—mainly in the Indo-Gangetic plains.
• Red and Yellow soils are rich in iron oxide, giving them their characteristic color.
• Alluvial soils are ideal for crops like rice, wheat, sugarcane, and pulses.
• Red soils are deficient in nitrogen, phosphate, and lime.
• Regions: Red soil—Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh; Alluvial soil—Punjab, Bihar, West Bengal.
Additional Knowledge:
• The ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) classifies India’s soils into 8 major groups.
• Alluvial soils are renewable annually through river flooding.
• Red soils are formed from igneous and metamorphic rocks.
• Alluvial soils are divided into Bhangar (old) and Khadar (new) types.