question_answer

How laterite soils are formed? Give any one negative and one positive aspect of the soil.

Answer:

                The laterite soils develop in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall this is the result of intense leaching due to heavy rains. (i) Positive Aspect: After adopting appropriate soil conservation techniques particularly in the hilly areas of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, this soil is very useful for growing tea and coffee. (ii) Negative Aspect: Humus content of the soil is low because most of the micro-organisms, particularly the decomposers like bacteria, get destroyed due to high temperature.