RAS question
Arid (desert) soils found in Rajasthan are characterised by which of the following features?
Correct answer: (A) High salt content (saline), sandy texture, and low humus.
Arid desert soils in Rajasthan are generally sandy and saline, with high salt content and low humus and moisture.
Explanation
In NCERT's account, arid soils range from red to brown and are generally sandy in texture and saline in nature. Some areas have very high salt content because dry climate and high temperature speed up evaporation. The same setting leaves the soil short of humus and moisture, which is why option A captures the core profile. These soils occur in western Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat and Haryana, and phosphate may be present in high quantities. NCERT also explains the cultivability point: after proper irrigation, these soils become cultivable, as seen in western Rajasthan. The Indira Gandhi Canal example fits that irrigation logic.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) High humus content and a clay-rich texture are wrong because NCERT describes arid soils as sandy and says the dry, hot climate leaves them lacking humus and moisture.
- (C) Richness in nitrogen and phosphorus is wrong because phosphate may be present in high quantities, not nitrogen, and the asked-for arid-soil profile is defined by salinity, sandiness and low humus.
- (D) An acidic nature with high moisture retention is wrong because NCERT describes arid soils as saline in nature and short of moisture due to faster evaporation.
Concept
This tests Indian soil classification, especially the link between climate, texture, salinity and humus in arid regions. It recurs in RAS because Rajasthan's western arid zone turns a national soil-taxonomy fact into a state-specific geography question.