Soil of Bihar

• Soil is one of the most important resource of a nation.
• It is the gift of nature holding immense value. The most common use of the word’soil’ is in the sense of a medium in which plants grow, although it has a different connotation at different time and place, and for persons engaged in different professions.
• Almost all the economic activities are directly or indirectly dependent on soil. Thus, soil is the backbone of agricultural and industrial development.
• Soil has a number of characteristics, which may be regarded as the aggregate of the physical, chemical and biological properties.
• The Bihar plain consists of a thick alluvial mantle of drift origin overlying in most parts. Alluvial soil spread accounts for 96% area of Bihar. The soil is mainly young loam, rejuvenated every year by constant deposition of silt, clay and sand brought by different streams.

Major Types of Soil in Bihar

1. Soil of North Bihar Plain

Piedmont Swamp Soil

• Piedmont swamp soil is formed in the north-western part of West Champaran. It is a region of Bhabar plains. Rocks and pebble are pre- dominant in the soil.
• Due to excessive rain and moisture, marshy land has developed at some places.
• Due to the pre-dominance of forests, the soil is brownish and acidic in nature.
• It is rich in organic matter. This soil is suitable for rice cultivation.

Teral Soil

• This soil is found in the northern part of Bihar to the south of Someshwar range and extends as a narrow strip from West Champaran to Kishanganj and Araria Its highest concentration is found in Araria.
• The lowland terai soil is more fertile than upland terai. The soil is brown to yellow in colour. It has abundant moisture and is a fertile soil. This soil is suitable for rice and sugarcane cultivation.

Khadar Soll

• Khadar is a newer alluvium and is deposited by the rivers every year. It is more fertile than bhangar.
• It is sandy in the upper reaches and silty in the lower reaches. Because of better drainage except in river beds, newer alluvial soil contains a low percentage of humus and nitrogen and little lime being more sandy or silty, it is highly friable and is rich for bhadai, rabi, zaid and sugarcane.

Bhangar Soil

• The bhangar is an older alluvium and covers upland tracts beyond flood limits.
• It is under the process of denudation. The formation off kankar or nodular lime concretions is also noticeable.
• An impervious, clay layer is found in the sub-soll. The bhangar soil range from balua or sandy to clayey loam but are often heavier with highday factor in depressions.
• It is rich in lime content than the khadar. It is more suitable for rice cultivation, because this of soil holds water in good quantity.

2. Soil of South Bihar Plain

Old Alluvial Soil

• This type of soil is found in those parts of south Bihar, where the flood water never reaches. It is spread over Rohtas to Gaya, Aurangabad, Patna, Jehanabad, Munger and Bhagalpur.
• This is a heavy clay soil and hence, it is also known as Karail-Kewal soil in different regions. The soil is alkaline in nature. The soil is brown to yellow in colour.
• The Kewal soil is highly balanced with alkalinity and acidic nature, high water absorption capacity and is highly fertile in nature.
• This soil is suitable for both rice and rabi crops, such as wheat, linseed, pulses and gram.

Tal Soil

• This soil is situated in the backwaters of the Ganga and extends from Buxar to Banka.
• Due to accumulation of water for a considerable period of time, it becomes unsuitable for the growth of kharif crops. The soil is suitable for rabi crops, such as wheat, gram, peas, lentils, etc.

Balthar Soil

• This soil is red and yellow in colour. It has developed in the transitional zone between the Chhota Nagpur plateau and South Ganga plain.
• It is found in a narrow belt extending from Kaimur plateau to Rajmahal hills.
• It is less fertile and has less water absorption capacity. Due to the presence of iron, the soil is red in colour. It is suitable for the cultivation of maize, jowar-bajra, gram, etc.

3. Southern Plateau Soil.

Red and Yellow Soll

• These soils are formed from the disintegration of igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are less fertile and thus, suitable for coarse crops and pulses.
• It is found in Banka, Gaya, Aurangabad, Jamui and Munger.

Red Sandy Soil

• It is found in the plateau regions of Kaimur and Rohtas districts.
• Due to the high percentage of sand, it is less fertile and can only sustain crops like bajra, jowar, etc.

Fertile Land

• The topography of Bihar can be easily described as a fertile alluvial plain occupying the Gangetic Valley.
• The plain extends from the foothills of the Himalayas in the north to a few miles south of the river the Ganga as it flows through the state from west to east.
• Rich farmland and lush orchards extend throughout the state. Following are the major crops: paddy, wheat, lentils, sugarcane, jute (hemp, related to the marijuana plant, but a source of tough fibers and “gunny bags”).
• Also, sugar cane grows wild in the marshes of West Champaran. The principal fruits are; mangoes, banana, jack fruit and litchi. This is one of the very few areas outside China which produces litchi.