Soils and Minerals of Jammu and Kashmir | JKPSC KAS (Jammu and Kashmir): Preparation Course PDF Download

 Page 1


SOILS AND MINERALS OF
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
CHAPTER 7
The region of Jammu and Kashmir has many types of soils.
Generally soils are loamy and have little clay content in them. Soils
are classified on the basis of area and from the agricultural point of
view. In terms of minerals, the state of Jammu and Kashmir is not
well developed. But minerals like coal, gypsum, sapphire, iron ore,
sulphur, gold, mica, etc are found here.
Soils are complex mixtures of minerals, water, air, organic matter and countless
organisms that are the decaying remains of once living things. It is regarded as the
‘skin of Earth’ which plays a very significant role in the growth of plants and the life
on Earth.
Classification of Soils on the Basis of Area
Generally, the soils of Jammu and Kashmir are classified into eight groups These are
given below:
1. Brown Earth or Brown Forest Soils
2. Degraded or Grey Brown Podzolic Soils
3. Red and Yellow Podzolic Soils 4. Hill or Mountain Forest Soils
5. Mountain Meadow Soils 6. Lithosols
7. Saline Alkali Soils 8. Alluvial Soils
Brown Earth or Brown Forest Soils
These soils are mainly found in parts of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Poonch, Rajouri,
Baramulla, and Anantnag districts of the state. The colour of these soils is dark
brown. These soils are of silt loam to clay in texture and fine granular in structure.
These soils contain organic carbon, nitrogen and calcium carbonate contents and
also have some water holding capacity. It is ideally suited for safflower crop. But
crops like, maize, wheat and fruits like cherry, pear and apple are grown in these
soils.
Page 2


SOILS AND MINERALS OF
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
CHAPTER 7
The region of Jammu and Kashmir has many types of soils.
Generally soils are loamy and have little clay content in them. Soils
are classified on the basis of area and from the agricultural point of
view. In terms of minerals, the state of Jammu and Kashmir is not
well developed. But minerals like coal, gypsum, sapphire, iron ore,
sulphur, gold, mica, etc are found here.
Soils are complex mixtures of minerals, water, air, organic matter and countless
organisms that are the decaying remains of once living things. It is regarded as the
‘skin of Earth’ which plays a very significant role in the growth of plants and the life
on Earth.
Classification of Soils on the Basis of Area
Generally, the soils of Jammu and Kashmir are classified into eight groups These are
given below:
1. Brown Earth or Brown Forest Soils
2. Degraded or Grey Brown Podzolic Soils
3. Red and Yellow Podzolic Soils 4. Hill or Mountain Forest Soils
5. Mountain Meadow Soils 6. Lithosols
7. Saline Alkali Soils 8. Alluvial Soils
Brown Earth or Brown Forest Soils
These soils are mainly found in parts of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Poonch, Rajouri,
Baramulla, and Anantnag districts of the state. The colour of these soils is dark
brown. These soils are of silt loam to clay in texture and fine granular in structure.
These soils contain organic carbon, nitrogen and calcium carbonate contents and
also have some water holding capacity. It is ideally suited for safflower crop. But
crops like, maize, wheat and fruits like cherry, pear and apple are grown in these
soils.
Degraded or Grey Brown
Podzolic Soils
These soils are found in parts of
Bhaderwah, Poonch, Gulmarg,
Ramnagar and Pahalgam regions of the
state. These soils are grey to brown in
colour. The texture of these soils are of
loam to clay at surface and clay loam to
clay at sub-surface level. These soils
have fine granular well developed
angular block structure. These are acidic
in reaction.
Red and Yellow Podzolic Soils
These soils are mainly found in parts of
Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch
districts of the state. These soils are red
to yellow in colour. These soils have
coarse texture and its water holding
capacity is of 40%.
Hill or Mountain Forest Soils
These soils are red or yellow in colour.
These soils are sandy loam to loam in
texture along with fine to weakly
granular structure. These soils are
moderately alkaline and calcareous
(calcium carbonate content) in nature.
These soils have some water holding
capacity. Crops like coffee, tea, wheat,
maize, barley, etc are grown in these
soils.
Mountain Meadow Soils
These soils are mainly found in
Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Gurez, Baramulla,
Lolab, Sonamarg and Changthang
regions. The texture of these soils are
sandy loam to clay loam along with fine
to coarse granular structure. These soils
are alkaline in nature and have high
organic carbon.
These have high water holding capacity
(51%-61%) as compared to other soils of
the state.
Lithosols
These soils are mainly found on steep
slopes in the foothills up to 400 m to
600 m height of Jammu, Udhampur,
Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts.
These soils are gravelly loam to gravelly
silty loam in texture.
These soils are slightly alkaline in
nature. The structure of these soils is
coarse to weak granular. The soils have
organic carbon content and low water
holding capacity. Crops like rice,
sugarcane and vegetable are grown in
these soils.
Saline Alkali Soils
These soils are mainly found in alluvial
belt of Jammu (Ranbir Singh Puran,
Bishnah tehsils), Kathua (Ramkot
Challain) and Changthang area of
Ladakh region. Crops like sugarcane,
mustard, rice, maize, redgram, green
gram sunflower, lineseed, etc are grown
in these soils.
Alluvial Soils
These soils are found in plains of
Kathua, Rajouri, Jammu, Poonch,
Udhampur, Valley of Kashmir and Sind
in Ladakh sub-divisions. These soils are
reddish-brown in colour.
These soils are divided into old and new
alluvial soils. Old alluvial soil contains
high amount of calcium carbonate and
are slightly to moderately alkaline. Crops
like wheat, rice, barley, maize, bajra,
jowar, etc can be grown in these soils.
Page 3


SOILS AND MINERALS OF
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
CHAPTER 7
The region of Jammu and Kashmir has many types of soils.
Generally soils are loamy and have little clay content in them. Soils
are classified on the basis of area and from the agricultural point of
view. In terms of minerals, the state of Jammu and Kashmir is not
well developed. But minerals like coal, gypsum, sapphire, iron ore,
sulphur, gold, mica, etc are found here.
Soils are complex mixtures of minerals, water, air, organic matter and countless
organisms that are the decaying remains of once living things. It is regarded as the
‘skin of Earth’ which plays a very significant role in the growth of plants and the life
on Earth.
Classification of Soils on the Basis of Area
Generally, the soils of Jammu and Kashmir are classified into eight groups These are
given below:
1. Brown Earth or Brown Forest Soils
2. Degraded or Grey Brown Podzolic Soils
3. Red and Yellow Podzolic Soils 4. Hill or Mountain Forest Soils
5. Mountain Meadow Soils 6. Lithosols
7. Saline Alkali Soils 8. Alluvial Soils
Brown Earth or Brown Forest Soils
These soils are mainly found in parts of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Poonch, Rajouri,
Baramulla, and Anantnag districts of the state. The colour of these soils is dark
brown. These soils are of silt loam to clay in texture and fine granular in structure.
These soils contain organic carbon, nitrogen and calcium carbonate contents and
also have some water holding capacity. It is ideally suited for safflower crop. But
crops like, maize, wheat and fruits like cherry, pear and apple are grown in these
soils.
Degraded or Grey Brown
Podzolic Soils
These soils are found in parts of
Bhaderwah, Poonch, Gulmarg,
Ramnagar and Pahalgam regions of the
state. These soils are grey to brown in
colour. The texture of these soils are of
loam to clay at surface and clay loam to
clay at sub-surface level. These soils
have fine granular well developed
angular block structure. These are acidic
in reaction.
Red and Yellow Podzolic Soils
These soils are mainly found in parts of
Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch
districts of the state. These soils are red
to yellow in colour. These soils have
coarse texture and its water holding
capacity is of 40%.
Hill or Mountain Forest Soils
These soils are red or yellow in colour.
These soils are sandy loam to loam in
texture along with fine to weakly
granular structure. These soils are
moderately alkaline and calcareous
(calcium carbonate content) in nature.
These soils have some water holding
capacity. Crops like coffee, tea, wheat,
maize, barley, etc are grown in these
soils.
Mountain Meadow Soils
These soils are mainly found in
Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Gurez, Baramulla,
Lolab, Sonamarg and Changthang
regions. The texture of these soils are
sandy loam to clay loam along with fine
to coarse granular structure. These soils
are alkaline in nature and have high
organic carbon.
These have high water holding capacity
(51%-61%) as compared to other soils of
the state.
Lithosols
These soils are mainly found on steep
slopes in the foothills up to 400 m to
600 m height of Jammu, Udhampur,
Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts.
These soils are gravelly loam to gravelly
silty loam in texture.
These soils are slightly alkaline in
nature. The structure of these soils is
coarse to weak granular. The soils have
organic carbon content and low water
holding capacity. Crops like rice,
sugarcane and vegetable are grown in
these soils.
Saline Alkali Soils
These soils are mainly found in alluvial
belt of Jammu (Ranbir Singh Puran,
Bishnah tehsils), Kathua (Ramkot
Challain) and Changthang area of
Ladakh region. Crops like sugarcane,
mustard, rice, maize, redgram, green
gram sunflower, lineseed, etc are grown
in these soils.
Alluvial Soils
These soils are found in plains of
Kathua, Rajouri, Jammu, Poonch,
Udhampur, Valley of Kashmir and Sind
in Ladakh sub-divisions. These soils are
reddish-brown in colour.
These soils are divided into old and new
alluvial soils. Old alluvial soil contains
high amount of calcium carbonate and
are slightly to moderately alkaline. Crops
like wheat, rice, barley, maize, bajra,
jowar, etc can be grown in these soils.
Classification of Soils on
the Basis of Agriculture
The Kashmiri farmers on the basics of
their emperical experience recognize
different Glasses of soils.These are as
follows
Peaty Soils
These soils are found near the banks of
the Jhelum River. In the region of
Wular, Manasbal and Anchar lakes, the
rich peaty soil is found locally known as
Nambal. These soils are darkbrown to
black in colour. These are soils high in
organic matter content. In the years of
normal rainfall and moderate snowfall,
nambal soils give good yields of
rape-seed, mustard, maize, oats, pulses
and fodder.
Mountainous Soils
These soils are found on the slopes of
mountains and reclaimed from the
forests. It is locally known as Tand soil.
The colour of these soils in snowy area
is white and in deserts is palebrown.
These soils are mostly silty and clayey.
These soils are rich in humus. These
soils are slightly acidic and are fertile.
These soils give good yields of maize,
pulses and fodder.
Alkaline Soils
These soils are formed when the land
lose its fertility and develop alkaline
formations due to excessive irrigation.
These soils are also known as
Zabelzamin. These soils have sodium
carbonate content. These soils are
unproductive from the agricultural point
of view unless especially treated with
gypsum, water and manures.
Karewa Soils
These soils are found mainly in Shopian,
Budgam, Kulgam, Qazigund, Tangmarg,
Gulmarg, Baramulla, Lethapora,
Chandhara, Pampore, Bijbehara,
Islamabad (Anantnag), Mattan, Tral and
Ganderbal. The colour of these soils
vary from light and red coloured soils to
darkblack soils. These soils are
composed of silt and are poor in
comparison to valley soils. The finer
variety of Karewa soils are found in the
central parts of the Kashmir valley.
These soils are economically very
important and used for growing
commercial and cash crops like almond,
apples, walnut, peaches, cherry, plum
along with orchards and saffron beds.
The Pampore karewa soil is famous for
its saffron cultivation all over the world.
Clayey Soils
These soils are found in the flood plains
of Jhelum in the Southern parts of
Srinagar city and gets silt deposition
every year. These soils are locally known
asGurti. The texture of these soils is
clayey loam. These soils have high
percentage of clay and silt. It has high
water retaining capacity, thus in
non-rainy seasons it can be used for
cultivation. But during heavy rains, the
soil gets compacted and achieves the
shape of hard cakes due to which the
ploughing becomes difficult.
Loamy Soils
These soils are found on the right bank
of Jhelum above the level of flood plain.
These soils are locally known as Bahil.
These soils are darkbrown to black in
colour.
Page 4


SOILS AND MINERALS OF
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
CHAPTER 7
The region of Jammu and Kashmir has many types of soils.
Generally soils are loamy and have little clay content in them. Soils
are classified on the basis of area and from the agricultural point of
view. In terms of minerals, the state of Jammu and Kashmir is not
well developed. But minerals like coal, gypsum, sapphire, iron ore,
sulphur, gold, mica, etc are found here.
Soils are complex mixtures of minerals, water, air, organic matter and countless
organisms that are the decaying remains of once living things. It is regarded as the
‘skin of Earth’ which plays a very significant role in the growth of plants and the life
on Earth.
Classification of Soils on the Basis of Area
Generally, the soils of Jammu and Kashmir are classified into eight groups These are
given below:
1. Brown Earth or Brown Forest Soils
2. Degraded or Grey Brown Podzolic Soils
3. Red and Yellow Podzolic Soils 4. Hill or Mountain Forest Soils
5. Mountain Meadow Soils 6. Lithosols
7. Saline Alkali Soils 8. Alluvial Soils
Brown Earth or Brown Forest Soils
These soils are mainly found in parts of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Poonch, Rajouri,
Baramulla, and Anantnag districts of the state. The colour of these soils is dark
brown. These soils are of silt loam to clay in texture and fine granular in structure.
These soils contain organic carbon, nitrogen and calcium carbonate contents and
also have some water holding capacity. It is ideally suited for safflower crop. But
crops like, maize, wheat and fruits like cherry, pear and apple are grown in these
soils.
Degraded or Grey Brown
Podzolic Soils
These soils are found in parts of
Bhaderwah, Poonch, Gulmarg,
Ramnagar and Pahalgam regions of the
state. These soils are grey to brown in
colour. The texture of these soils are of
loam to clay at surface and clay loam to
clay at sub-surface level. These soils
have fine granular well developed
angular block structure. These are acidic
in reaction.
Red and Yellow Podzolic Soils
These soils are mainly found in parts of
Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch
districts of the state. These soils are red
to yellow in colour. These soils have
coarse texture and its water holding
capacity is of 40%.
Hill or Mountain Forest Soils
These soils are red or yellow in colour.
These soils are sandy loam to loam in
texture along with fine to weakly
granular structure. These soils are
moderately alkaline and calcareous
(calcium carbonate content) in nature.
These soils have some water holding
capacity. Crops like coffee, tea, wheat,
maize, barley, etc are grown in these
soils.
Mountain Meadow Soils
These soils are mainly found in
Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Gurez, Baramulla,
Lolab, Sonamarg and Changthang
regions. The texture of these soils are
sandy loam to clay loam along with fine
to coarse granular structure. These soils
are alkaline in nature and have high
organic carbon.
These have high water holding capacity
(51%-61%) as compared to other soils of
the state.
Lithosols
These soils are mainly found on steep
slopes in the foothills up to 400 m to
600 m height of Jammu, Udhampur,
Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts.
These soils are gravelly loam to gravelly
silty loam in texture.
These soils are slightly alkaline in
nature. The structure of these soils is
coarse to weak granular. The soils have
organic carbon content and low water
holding capacity. Crops like rice,
sugarcane and vegetable are grown in
these soils.
Saline Alkali Soils
These soils are mainly found in alluvial
belt of Jammu (Ranbir Singh Puran,
Bishnah tehsils), Kathua (Ramkot
Challain) and Changthang area of
Ladakh region. Crops like sugarcane,
mustard, rice, maize, redgram, green
gram sunflower, lineseed, etc are grown
in these soils.
Alluvial Soils
These soils are found in plains of
Kathua, Rajouri, Jammu, Poonch,
Udhampur, Valley of Kashmir and Sind
in Ladakh sub-divisions. These soils are
reddish-brown in colour.
These soils are divided into old and new
alluvial soils. Old alluvial soil contains
high amount of calcium carbonate and
are slightly to moderately alkaline. Crops
like wheat, rice, barley, maize, bajra,
jowar, etc can be grown in these soils.
Classification of Soils on
the Basis of Agriculture
The Kashmiri farmers on the basics of
their emperical experience recognize
different Glasses of soils.These are as
follows
Peaty Soils
These soils are found near the banks of
the Jhelum River. In the region of
Wular, Manasbal and Anchar lakes, the
rich peaty soil is found locally known as
Nambal. These soils are darkbrown to
black in colour. These are soils high in
organic matter content. In the years of
normal rainfall and moderate snowfall,
nambal soils give good yields of
rape-seed, mustard, maize, oats, pulses
and fodder.
Mountainous Soils
These soils are found on the slopes of
mountains and reclaimed from the
forests. It is locally known as Tand soil.
The colour of these soils in snowy area
is white and in deserts is palebrown.
These soils are mostly silty and clayey.
These soils are rich in humus. These
soils are slightly acidic and are fertile.
These soils give good yields of maize,
pulses and fodder.
Alkaline Soils
These soils are formed when the land
lose its fertility and develop alkaline
formations due to excessive irrigation.
These soils are also known as
Zabelzamin. These soils have sodium
carbonate content. These soils are
unproductive from the agricultural point
of view unless especially treated with
gypsum, water and manures.
Karewa Soils
These soils are found mainly in Shopian,
Budgam, Kulgam, Qazigund, Tangmarg,
Gulmarg, Baramulla, Lethapora,
Chandhara, Pampore, Bijbehara,
Islamabad (Anantnag), Mattan, Tral and
Ganderbal. The colour of these soils
vary from light and red coloured soils to
darkblack soils. These soils are
composed of silt and are poor in
comparison to valley soils. The finer
variety of Karewa soils are found in the
central parts of the Kashmir valley.
These soils are economically very
important and used for growing
commercial and cash crops like almond,
apples, walnut, peaches, cherry, plum
along with orchards and saffron beds.
The Pampore karewa soil is famous for
its saffron cultivation all over the world.
Clayey Soils
These soils are found in the flood plains
of Jhelum in the Southern parts of
Srinagar city and gets silt deposition
every year. These soils are locally known
asGurti. The texture of these soils is
clayey loam. These soils have high
percentage of clay and silt. It has high
water retaining capacity, thus in
non-rainy seasons it can be used for
cultivation. But during heavy rains, the
soil gets compacted and achieves the
shape of hard cakes due to which the
ploughing becomes difficult.
Loamy Soils
These soils are found on the right bank
of Jhelum above the level of flood plain.
These soils are locally known as Bahil.
These soils are darkbrown to black in
colour.
It is a combination of loams, silt, clay and sand which has high humus content. Thus
this soil is very fertile and ideal for paddy cultivation. Due to its natural high fertility,
the soil does not require heavy manuring, but if it gets over manured it becomes too
strong in which rice crop shows more vegetative growth.
Sandy Loam Soils
These soils are generally confined to the Sind valley in the North-West of Srinagar.
These soils are locally known as Sekil. The soil has light loam and higher sand
content. With artificial irrigation the soil provides good crops of rice in the summer
season.
Sandy Silt Soils
These soils are mainly found in the low-lying areas near the swamps, but it
sometimes occurs in the hilly areas also. These soils are locally known as Dazanlad.
The soil shows a peculiar characteristic when the irrigation water stands in the fields
it turns red in colour. The soil contains sand and clay and becomes more warm in the
summer season. With controlled irrigation and use of high yielding variety, seeds,
rice can be grown successfully in this soil.
Other Soils
Locally, there are few more soil types like Surhzamin (vegetable soil), Lemb (tracts
served by a spring), Radh (floating garden soil), Kharzamin (Saline soil), Shath
(sandy soil alongside rivers) and Tads (stoney and gravelly soil).
Soil Erosion in Jammu and Kashmir
As per the National Bureau of Soil Sciences and Landuse Planning (NBSS & LUP)
Report, 32% land of the Jammu and Kashmir is affected by various soil
degradational problems, out of which 78% area is under severe erosion. Average soil
loss in the state per year is higher than the national average. The faulty land use,
deforestation, over grazing of pasture lands, over exploitation of natural resources,
construction of infrastructure/development activities has also increased the problems
of soil erosion in the state.
The heavy rains and subsequently similar situations result into large scale soil
erosion in the shape of landslides, landslips and soil loss including loss of life and
property in the entire state. Some places of soil erosion in the state include Glass
Daji, Guespati, Manigah, Mori, Narikoot, Nagsari, Khurkhama, Satkoji, Kharbagh,
etc.
Department of Soil and Water Conservation of Jammu and Kashmir
In order to conserve and manage the soil and water resources of the state, the
Government of Jammu and Kashmir established the Department of Soil and Water
Conservation of Jammu and Kashmir in 1978.
Page 5


SOILS AND MINERALS OF
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
CHAPTER 7
The region of Jammu and Kashmir has many types of soils.
Generally soils are loamy and have little clay content in them. Soils
are classified on the basis of area and from the agricultural point of
view. In terms of minerals, the state of Jammu and Kashmir is not
well developed. But minerals like coal, gypsum, sapphire, iron ore,
sulphur, gold, mica, etc are found here.
Soils are complex mixtures of minerals, water, air, organic matter and countless
organisms that are the decaying remains of once living things. It is regarded as the
‘skin of Earth’ which plays a very significant role in the growth of plants and the life
on Earth.
Classification of Soils on the Basis of Area
Generally, the soils of Jammu and Kashmir are classified into eight groups These are
given below:
1. Brown Earth or Brown Forest Soils
2. Degraded or Grey Brown Podzolic Soils
3. Red and Yellow Podzolic Soils 4. Hill or Mountain Forest Soils
5. Mountain Meadow Soils 6. Lithosols
7. Saline Alkali Soils 8. Alluvial Soils
Brown Earth or Brown Forest Soils
These soils are mainly found in parts of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Poonch, Rajouri,
Baramulla, and Anantnag districts of the state. The colour of these soils is dark
brown. These soils are of silt loam to clay in texture and fine granular in structure.
These soils contain organic carbon, nitrogen and calcium carbonate contents and
also have some water holding capacity. It is ideally suited for safflower crop. But
crops like, maize, wheat and fruits like cherry, pear and apple are grown in these
soils.
Degraded or Grey Brown
Podzolic Soils
These soils are found in parts of
Bhaderwah, Poonch, Gulmarg,
Ramnagar and Pahalgam regions of the
state. These soils are grey to brown in
colour. The texture of these soils are of
loam to clay at surface and clay loam to
clay at sub-surface level. These soils
have fine granular well developed
angular block structure. These are acidic
in reaction.
Red and Yellow Podzolic Soils
These soils are mainly found in parts of
Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch
districts of the state. These soils are red
to yellow in colour. These soils have
coarse texture and its water holding
capacity is of 40%.
Hill or Mountain Forest Soils
These soils are red or yellow in colour.
These soils are sandy loam to loam in
texture along with fine to weakly
granular structure. These soils are
moderately alkaline and calcareous
(calcium carbonate content) in nature.
These soils have some water holding
capacity. Crops like coffee, tea, wheat,
maize, barley, etc are grown in these
soils.
Mountain Meadow Soils
These soils are mainly found in
Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Gurez, Baramulla,
Lolab, Sonamarg and Changthang
regions. The texture of these soils are
sandy loam to clay loam along with fine
to coarse granular structure. These soils
are alkaline in nature and have high
organic carbon.
These have high water holding capacity
(51%-61%) as compared to other soils of
the state.
Lithosols
These soils are mainly found on steep
slopes in the foothills up to 400 m to
600 m height of Jammu, Udhampur,
Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts.
These soils are gravelly loam to gravelly
silty loam in texture.
These soils are slightly alkaline in
nature. The structure of these soils is
coarse to weak granular. The soils have
organic carbon content and low water
holding capacity. Crops like rice,
sugarcane and vegetable are grown in
these soils.
Saline Alkali Soils
These soils are mainly found in alluvial
belt of Jammu (Ranbir Singh Puran,
Bishnah tehsils), Kathua (Ramkot
Challain) and Changthang area of
Ladakh region. Crops like sugarcane,
mustard, rice, maize, redgram, green
gram sunflower, lineseed, etc are grown
in these soils.
Alluvial Soils
These soils are found in plains of
Kathua, Rajouri, Jammu, Poonch,
Udhampur, Valley of Kashmir and Sind
in Ladakh sub-divisions. These soils are
reddish-brown in colour.
These soils are divided into old and new
alluvial soils. Old alluvial soil contains
high amount of calcium carbonate and
are slightly to moderately alkaline. Crops
like wheat, rice, barley, maize, bajra,
jowar, etc can be grown in these soils.
Classification of Soils on
the Basis of Agriculture
The Kashmiri farmers on the basics of
their emperical experience recognize
different Glasses of soils.These are as
follows
Peaty Soils
These soils are found near the banks of
the Jhelum River. In the region of
Wular, Manasbal and Anchar lakes, the
rich peaty soil is found locally known as
Nambal. These soils are darkbrown to
black in colour. These are soils high in
organic matter content. In the years of
normal rainfall and moderate snowfall,
nambal soils give good yields of
rape-seed, mustard, maize, oats, pulses
and fodder.
Mountainous Soils
These soils are found on the slopes of
mountains and reclaimed from the
forests. It is locally known as Tand soil.
The colour of these soils in snowy area
is white and in deserts is palebrown.
These soils are mostly silty and clayey.
These soils are rich in humus. These
soils are slightly acidic and are fertile.
These soils give good yields of maize,
pulses and fodder.
Alkaline Soils
These soils are formed when the land
lose its fertility and develop alkaline
formations due to excessive irrigation.
These soils are also known as
Zabelzamin. These soils have sodium
carbonate content. These soils are
unproductive from the agricultural point
of view unless especially treated with
gypsum, water and manures.
Karewa Soils
These soils are found mainly in Shopian,
Budgam, Kulgam, Qazigund, Tangmarg,
Gulmarg, Baramulla, Lethapora,
Chandhara, Pampore, Bijbehara,
Islamabad (Anantnag), Mattan, Tral and
Ganderbal. The colour of these soils
vary from light and red coloured soils to
darkblack soils. These soils are
composed of silt and are poor in
comparison to valley soils. The finer
variety of Karewa soils are found in the
central parts of the Kashmir valley.
These soils are economically very
important and used for growing
commercial and cash crops like almond,
apples, walnut, peaches, cherry, plum
along with orchards and saffron beds.
The Pampore karewa soil is famous for
its saffron cultivation all over the world.
Clayey Soils
These soils are found in the flood plains
of Jhelum in the Southern parts of
Srinagar city and gets silt deposition
every year. These soils are locally known
asGurti. The texture of these soils is
clayey loam. These soils have high
percentage of clay and silt. It has high
water retaining capacity, thus in
non-rainy seasons it can be used for
cultivation. But during heavy rains, the
soil gets compacted and achieves the
shape of hard cakes due to which the
ploughing becomes difficult.
Loamy Soils
These soils are found on the right bank
of Jhelum above the level of flood plain.
These soils are locally known as Bahil.
These soils are darkbrown to black in
colour.
It is a combination of loams, silt, clay and sand which has high humus content. Thus
this soil is very fertile and ideal for paddy cultivation. Due to its natural high fertility,
the soil does not require heavy manuring, but if it gets over manured it becomes too
strong in which rice crop shows more vegetative growth.
Sandy Loam Soils
These soils are generally confined to the Sind valley in the North-West of Srinagar.
These soils are locally known as Sekil. The soil has light loam and higher sand
content. With artificial irrigation the soil provides good crops of rice in the summer
season.
Sandy Silt Soils
These soils are mainly found in the low-lying areas near the swamps, but it
sometimes occurs in the hilly areas also. These soils are locally known as Dazanlad.
The soil shows a peculiar characteristic when the irrigation water stands in the fields
it turns red in colour. The soil contains sand and clay and becomes more warm in the
summer season. With controlled irrigation and use of high yielding variety, seeds,
rice can be grown successfully in this soil.
Other Soils
Locally, there are few more soil types like Surhzamin (vegetable soil), Lemb (tracts
served by a spring), Radh (floating garden soil), Kharzamin (Saline soil), Shath
(sandy soil alongside rivers) and Tads (stoney and gravelly soil).
Soil Erosion in Jammu and Kashmir
As per the National Bureau of Soil Sciences and Landuse Planning (NBSS & LUP)
Report, 32% land of the Jammu and Kashmir is affected by various soil
degradational problems, out of which 78% area is under severe erosion. Average soil
loss in the state per year is higher than the national average. The faulty land use,
deforestation, over grazing of pasture lands, over exploitation of natural resources,
construction of infrastructure/development activities has also increased the problems
of soil erosion in the state.
The heavy rains and subsequently similar situations result into large scale soil
erosion in the shape of landslides, landslips and soil loss including loss of life and
property in the entire state. Some places of soil erosion in the state include Glass
Daji, Guespati, Manigah, Mori, Narikoot, Nagsari, Khurkhama, Satkoji, Kharbagh,
etc.
Department of Soil and Water Conservation of Jammu and Kashmir
In order to conserve and manage the soil and water resources of the state, the
Government of Jammu and Kashmir established the Department of Soil and Water
Conservation of Jammu and Kashmir in 1978.
The important functions of the department are as follows:
n
Conduct need based research for soil conservation and management.
n
Formulate schemes based on soil conservation and management.
n
Create awareness among people of the state about soil and water conservation with
the help of appropriate communication technology.
n
To monitor, evaluate and coordinate the soil conservation activities of departments
like, Forest, Agriculture, Irrigation, etc.
Minerals of Jammu and Kashmir
The State of Jammu and Kashmir is not well-developed in terms of mineral wealth.
The region of Jammu has much of the states mineral deposits. The mountainous
regions also have varied mineral wealth in the state. In Jammu and Kashmir the first
survey of minerals wealth was done by a renowned geologist, Mr Middlemiss in
1924 in collaboration with the State Government.
In 1956, the intensive mineral survey was done on the basis of systemic
investigation, when the State Government considered the mineral exploitation
important for the development of the state.
Important minerals of Jammu and Kashmir are as follows:
Minerals Location Uses
Coal Metka, Moghla, Baryal/Kotla coal mines of
Rajouri and Udhampur districts.
Kalakot coal field (famous for good quality
coal) in Rajouri.
Used in brick kilns, cement plants,
manufacture of battery covers and
as a fuel.
Gypsum Buniyar (Baramulla district), areas of
Ramban district, Assar (Doda district),
Kathua district
Used in making Plaster of Paris,
cement and gypsum boards
manufacturing, pharmaceutical
industries, etc.
Sapphire Paddar area (Doda district). Used in Jewellery.
Limestone All districts of Kashmir valley, Kathua,
Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, Kargil and Leh
Used in cement manufacturing
Borax Puga valley in Leh district of Ladakh region Used in the manufacture of paper,
ceramics, glass, etc.
Copper Ore Sumbhar (Anantnag), Lashtial (Baramulla),
Ganderbal, Doda district
Used in making cooking utensils.
Iron Ore Sharda (Karnah tehsil in Kupwara district)
Khrewa, Haral (Handwara), Uri tehsil, Garez
(Sopore tehsil) and Lolab valley of Kashmir
Used in the production of iron.
Uranium Ladakh Used as a fuel.
Ochre Uri tehsil in Baramulla district (Kashmir
region)
Used in paints and varnishes, etc.