Pakistan has a total area of 796,096 square kilometers located in South Asia. The climate varies by region, with cool, dry winters and hot, dry springs. Summer is the rainy season from June to September due to the southwest monsoon. Autumn is from October to November as the monsoon retreats. Soils in Pakistan are derived from alluvium, loess, and sand and are rich in basic elements but poor in nitrogen. Soil types include alluvial flood plains, bar uplands, piedmont plains, desert soils, and soils of the Potwar Plateau and western hills. Common soil compositions are clay, silt, loam, and organic soils.