Soils of Haryana | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

An Overview of Haryana Soil

• The soil in Haryana consists mainly of alluvium.
• The state is located in the valleys of the Ganges and Indus rivers.
• Haryana is situated on the watershed between the two river basins and is a large plain with moist land.
• The alluvium in the region, except for the floodplains of the Yamuna and Ghaggar rivers, is mainly old and contains sand, clay, silt, and hard calcareous concentrations called "Kankars."
• In the Khaddar, the alluvium deposits are recent and consist of coarse sand and silt deposited by the rivers and mountain streams of the Indo-Gangetic watershed.
• In the southwest part of the region, there are sand dunes formed by wind-blown sand.
  Nitrogen: 89.27% 7.98% 2.75%
  Phosphorus: 88.28% 9.45% 2.26%
  Potash: 10.61% 48.55% 40.84%
  Sulphur: 8.32% Deficient.
  Micronutrients:- Zinc: 19.70% deficient.
  Iron: 28.20% deficient.
  Manganese: 8.90% deficient.
• Sand dunes in the region can reach significant heights and cover extensive areas.
• The presence of sand covering the alluvium makes the region barren and desert-like.
• The only cultivable parts in this area are the Tals, where the soil is not covered by sand due to certain factors.

Analysis of Soil District Wise

• Soil is the most important natural resource of Haryana.
• The state has a variety of soils due to differences in physiography and climate.
• Different parts of the state have different soil fertility levels, with some districts falling under medium fertility, others under low to medium fertility, and some under low or poor fertility.
• The soil of the Haryana Sub-Region has been classified into major types based on their characteristics.
• These soil types include:
  Typic Ustochrepts: Soil of old alluvial plains
  Typic Ustipsamments: Soil of Aravali plains
  Typic Ustifluvents: Soil of recent alluvial plains and flood plains
  Typic Torripsamments: Soil of Aeofluvial plains
  Rocky Outcrops: Aravali rocky hills
• Details about the characteristics of soil in different districts are provided below:

Soil in Panipat District of Haryana

The soils in the area are adequately drained, with texture ranging from sandy loam to clay loam and silty clay loam in the plains, and loam to clay loam, silty, and loose clay loam in relic channels, depressions, and basins.

Soil in Sonipat District of Haryana

• The district is made up of several types of plains: recent flood plains, young meander plains, old meander plains, and old alluvial plains.
• The recent flood plains are located along the Yamuna River and have features that suggest they were formed by the river.
• The surface soils in these areas are loamy sand to sandy loam, while the sub-surface soils are sandy loam to clay loam.

Soil in Rohtak District of Haryana

• The major land form in the district is the old alluvial plain.
• The soil texture ranges from loamy sand to sandy loam on the surface, and sandy loam to clay loam in the sub-surface.
• The old meander plains are almost flat and have soils with a texture of loamy sand to silty clay loam.
• The oldest land form in the district is the old alluvial plain, which covers a significant portion of the district.
• The soils in this land form are predominantly sand to loamy sand/sandy loam on the surface, and silt loam/silty clay loam in the sub-surface.

Soil in Jhajjar District of Haryana

Most of the district is made up of ancient alluvial plains, and there are also some areas in the district with soil from the Aravali plains.

Soil in Rewari District of Haryana

The soil types in the district belong to the Entisols and Inceptisols categories, and the texture of the surface soil ranges from sand to fine loamy sand.

Soil in Gurgaon District of Haryana

• The district has different types of landforms like sand dunes, sandy plains, alluvial plains, salt-affected areas, low lands, lakes, hills, and pediments.
• The soil texture varies depending on the type of landform. In sand dunes and sandy plains, the soil is mostly sand to loamy sand. In alluvial plains, the soil ranges from sandy loam to clay loam/silty clay loam. 
• In salt-affected areas, the soil is calcareous, and its texture varies from loamy sand to loam. In low lands, the soil is silty loam to loam, while in hills, it is calcareous, loamy sand to loam.

Soil in Mewat District of Haryana

• Sandy loam to loam soils are typically found in the area.
• In low-lying areas, the soils can be clayey and saline.
• The upper hills of the area are mostly devoid of vegetation.

Soil in Faridabad and Palwal District of Haryana

• The district includes recent flood plains of the Yamuna river, low-lying plains, depressions, sand dunes, and hills.
• The soil texture is sand to loamy sand in recent Yamuna flood plains, sandy loam in plains, sandy loam to clay loam in alluvial plains, and sandy loam to loam on the surface and clay loam/silty clay in the sub-surface of low lying plains and depressions.

Agriculture in Haryana based on Soil Types

• Agriculture is the main land use in Haryana Sub-Region.
• The two main crop seasons are Kharif and Rabi.
• Most of the area is used for agriculture during both seasons due to good irrigation facilities, with kharif crops including rice, jowar, bajra, gaur, maize, cotton, sugarcane, groundnut, and pulses, while Rabi crops include wheat, barley, gram, rapeseed/mustard, and pulses.
• In some areas with irrigation facilities, a third crop may also be raised between mid-May and July.
• The northern part of the region is well-suited for agriculture due to alluvial soils, good quality of ground water, network of irrigation, and better natural drainage.
• The southern part of the sub-region, which includes Gurgaon and Rewari, has less cultivated land during the Kharif season due to poor rainfall, inadequate irrigation facilities, poor ground water quality, and a desert terrain.