Red Soil Color: The Role of Ferric Oxides
The distinctive red color seen in many countryside soils is primarily due to the presence of specific minerals.
Reason for Red Color
- The key factor is the high content of ferric oxides (iron oxides).
- When iron-rich soil is exposed to air and moisture over time, the iron oxidizes, forming compounds like hematite (Fe 2O 3) and other iron oxides.
- These compounds are essentially rust, giving the soil its characteristic reddish or brownish-red appearance.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect
- Abundance of humus: Humus, decomposed organic matter, typically makes soil dark brown or black.
- Presence of magnesium: While magnesium is a nutrient, it does not cause a red coloration in soils.
- Presence of nitrogen: Nitrogen is a crucial nutrient for plant growth but does not affect soil color in this way.
Therefore, the abundance of ferric oxides is the direct cause of the red color in soils.
Similar Questions
- Which of the following statements is correct about black soil?
- In dry areas, water from underground comes up through the soil by capillary action and dries quickly, leaving salts behind. These salts form a hard layer called:
- Which type of soil is mostly found in eastern coast of India?
- Which soil is the largest available and the most intensively cultivated soil in India?
- Which among the following is the process of covering the soil/ground to create more favourable conditions for plant growth, development and efficient crop production?
- In which soil does cotton grow best?
- Black soil is predominantly found in which one of the following states?
- In which soil does cotton grow best?
- Laterite soil develops in the area with:
- Which soil is well known for its capacity to hold moisture?
Important Questions from Soils
Which of the following statements regarding Regur soil is/are correct?
1. It is a light coloured, clayey and fertile soil.
2. It is developed on Deccan basaltic lava under hot and humid conditions.
3. Cotton is extensively cultivated in this soil.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Which one of the following soils is ideal for growing cotton?
Which one of the following is an organic soil?
The term 'Regur' is used to mean;
Which of the following statements about black soil is INCORRECT?
