Soil types of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir has a diverse climate, with cold and dry weather in Ladakh, a humid weather and moist winters in the hilly regions of Jammu and Kashmir, and less moist winters and hot summers in the plains of Jammu. Diversity in climatic conditions of a region has an impact on the types of soil found in that region. Here’s a brief account of the types of soil found in Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh.
The soil type in Jammu and Kashmir is described as alluvial, which is majorly found in Kathua and Jammu. This soil is loamy with little clay content and has lime and magnesium in small quantities. The Kashmir valley, located in the temperate zone, also has alluvial soil that has high quantities of nitrogen and organic matter.
The soil in Leh and Kargil is primarily sandy or sandy loam, and has medium to medium-high levels of organic matter. This soil has less water-holding capacity.
The soils of Jammu and Kashmir can be broadly classified into the following groups:
Brown forest Soil: Mainly found in the Doda, Poonch, Baramulla, and Udhampur districts, this soil has the texture of silt loam to clay; it is moderately alkaline, has a water holding capacity of 40% and a good amount of carbon and nitrogen. Apples, cherries, safflower, and wheat can be cultivated in this type of soil.
Mountain Forest Soil: This soil is found in regions at lower altitudes. It has a sandy loam to loamy texture, has a water holding capacity in the range of 30% to 40%, and is slightly alkaline.
Mountain Meadow Soil: Found in Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam, this soil is alkaline and has high levels of organic carbon. It can hold 50% to 60% water; it is sandy loam to clay loam and fine to course in texture.
Red and Yellow Podzolic Soil: Found in Kathua, Rajouri, Udhampur, and Poonch, this soil is course and has a water-holding capacity of 40%.
Grey-brown Podzolic Soil: This soil is clay to loam in texture and slightly acidic. It is widely found in Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
Lithosol: This type of soil is found on the slopes of forest hills in Jammu, Udhampur, and Poonch. It can hold up to 38% water and 0.2% to 0.6 % organic carbon.
Saline Alkali Soil: It is found in the alluvial belt of Jammu and Kathua and some parts of Ladakh.
Alluvial Soil: This soil type is found on the plains of Kathua, Poonch and Udhampur, Sindh in Ladakh and on the flood plains of rivers such as Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, and Sindh.
The rural folk and farmers in Kashmir recognize the different types of soil by local names.
Clayey soil is called Gurti, has a good water retaining capacity, and is found on the flood plains of Jhelum.
Loamy soil is known as Bahil, is good for agriculture and rich in humus, and is found on the right bank of Jhelum.
Sandy soil is called Sekil and is found in the Sind Valley.
Peaty soil, locally known as Nambal, is the soil found on the banks of River Jhelum and near the Manasbal and Anchar lakes. Mustard, pulses and fodder grow in this t
2. INTRODUCTION
Jammu and Kashmir has a diverse
climate, cold and dry weather in Ladakh,
a humid weather and moist winters in the
hilly regions, less moist winters and hot
summers in the plains of Jammu
Diversity in climatic conditions of a region
has an impact on the types of soil found
in that region By: Dr.Mohammad Subhan
Lone
3. The soil type in Jammu and Kashmir is
described as alluvial, which is majorly
found in Kathua and Jammu.
This soil is loamy with little clay content and
has lime and magnesium in small
quantities.
The Kashmir valley also has alluvial soil
that has high quantities of nitrogen and
organic matter.
The soil in Leh and Kargil is primarily sandy
or sandy loam, and has medium to
medium-high levels of organic matter. This
soil has less water-holding capacity.
4. The soils of Jammu
and Kashmir can be
broadly classified
into the following
groups:
5. Brown forest Soil
Mainly found in the Doda,
Poonch, Baramulla, and
Udhampur districts, this
soil has the texture of silt
loam to clay; it is
moderately alkaline, has a
water holding capacity of
40% and a good amount of
carbon and nitrogen.
Apples, cherries,
sunflower, and wheat can
be cultivated in this type
of soil.
6. Mountain Forest
Soil: This soil is found
in regions at lower
altitudes.
It has a sandy loam to
loamy texture, has a
water holding capacity
in the range of 30% to
40%, and is slightly
alkaline.
7. Mountain Meadow
Soil: Found in
Gulmarg, Sonamarg,
and Pahalgam, this soil
is alkaline and has high
levels of organic
carbon. It can hold 50%
to 60% water; it is
sandy loam to clay
loam and fine to course
in texture.
8. Red and Yellow
Podzolic Soil:
Found in Kathua,
Rajouri,
Udhampur, and
Poonch, this soil is
course and has a
water-holding
capacity of 40%.
10. Lithosol:
This type of soil is
found on the slopes
of forest hills in
Jammu, Udhampur,
and Poonch. It can
hold up to 38%
water and 0.2% to
0.6 % organic
carbon.
11. Saline Alkali Soil: It is
found in the alluvial belt of
Jammu and Kathua and
some parts of Ladakh.
Alluvial Soil: This soil type
is found on the plains of
Kathua, Poonch and
Udhampur, Sindh in Ladakh
and on the flood plains of
rivers such as Chenab,
Jhelum, Ravi, and Sindh.
12. The rural folk and farmers in
Kashmir recognize the different
types of soil by local names.
Clayey soil is called Gurti
Loamy soil is known as Bahil,
Sandy soil is called Sekil
Peaty soil, locally known as
Nambal,
Soil found on the mountain slopes
is called Tand soil,
14. In Kashmiri, the word Karewa means
“elevated tableland.” Godwin-Austin
(1859) coined the phrase,
An unconsolidated to semi-
consolidated sand-clay-conglomerate
succession. These are the flat-topped
mounds that surround the Kashmir Valley
on all sides.
15. They are distinguished by mammal fossils
and, in certain locations, by peat.
these lacustrine deposits have seen and
preserved countless human civilizations and
habitations.
16. Formation of Karewa
Geologists think that the region of
Kashmir valley was formerly filled with
water from the Tethys Sea during the
Pleistocene Period (1 million years
ago).
The Baramulla Gorge developed as a
consequence of endogenetic stresses,
and a lake was drained through it.
17. Formation of Karewa
Sediments continued to flow in from
rivers and deposit in the lake,
eventually resulting in the formation of
a lacustrine plain
Over time, the water drained away,
leaving behind deposits such as
unconsolidated gravel and sludge.
These deposits are referred to as
KAREWA.
18. Significance of Karewas
Sand, silt, clay, shale, mud, lignite, gravel,
and losses sediments make up the Karewa
deposits. As a result, it is extremely
important for agricultural and horticultural
practices in the valley.
Agricultural– On these deposits, the world-
famous kind of saffron, known locally
as zafron, is cultivated. It also supports the
growth of almonds, apples, walnuts
19. Significance of Karewas
Source of Livelihood: The majority of
karewas are held by people who utilize them
for farming and grazing, but others are
owned by the government.
Archaeological– Karewa strata include
fossils and traces of several human
civilizations and habitations, making them of
archaeological interest. They are
distinguished by mammal fossils and, in
certain locations, by peat.
