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Glossary Terms
| Term (EN) | Definition | Exam Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Pedogenesis | Soil formation process from parent material through climate, organisms, topography, and time | Foundational concept for Sec 2 |
| Aridisols | ICAR/USDA soil order characteristic of arid zones; very low organic matter; dominant in Thar Desert | Desert soil classification |
| Vertisols | Shrink-swell clay soils (black/regur); expand when wet, crack when dry; Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar | PYQ soil of Hadoti region |
| Regur / Black Cotton Soil | Basalt-derived black soil; high moisture retention; self-mulching; suited for cotton and soybean | Regional name vs. technical name |
| Laterite Soil | Formed by intense leaching in high-rainfall areas; rich in iron/aluminium; Udaipur-Sirohi hills | Less fertile; acid soil |
| Alluvial Soil | Deposited by rivers (new = Khadar; old = Bangar); most fertile; Chambal, Banas, Ganganagar | Most productive farming zone |
| Wind Erosion | Removal of topsoil by wind; 60–100 t/ha/yr in active Thar; shelter belts reduce by 40–60% | Desert soil conservation |
| Secondary Salinization | Salt accumulation from over-irrigation raising water table; ~1.54 lakh ha in IGNP area | IGNP impact; soil-water nexus |
| Soil Health Card | Government card for farmers showing 12 soil nutrient parameters; launched Feb 2015 at Suratgarh | Launched FROM Rajasthan |
| CAZRI | Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur (ICAR); research on arid zone soils, dryland farming | Institution for Thar soil research |
| Contour Bunding | Earthen bunds along contour lines to slow runoff and reduce water erosion on slopes | SE Rajasthan conservation technique |
| Check Dam | Small dam across a stream/gully to slow water and recharge groundwater; reduce gully erosion | Aravalli foothills conservation |
| Aeolian Deposit | Material transported and deposited by wind; sand dunes are primary aeolian deposits in Thar | Thar Desert soil genesis |
| IGNP Secondary Salinization | Rising water table from canal seepage causing salt accumulation; 1.54 lakh ha affected | PYQ potential linkage |
| Soil Testing Laboratory | Government labs (27 in Rajasthan, serving all 50 districts) that test soil samples for nutrient status | Policy implementation detail |
| Khadar | New alluvial soil deposited by rivers during floods; lighter in texture, more fertile; found in active flood plains of Chambal and Banas | Alluvial soil sub-type; contrasted with Bangar |
| Bangar | Old alluvial soil; higher elevation terrace beyond flood reach; more coarse, less fertile than Khadar; common in eastern Rajasthan uplands | Alluvial soil sub-type; PYQ distinction |
| Soil pH | Measure of soil acidity/alkalinity on 0–14 scale; neutral at 7; Rajasthan's desert soils are alkaline (pH 8–9); affects nutrient availability | Soil chemistry basics; reclamation context |
| Sheet Erosion | Uniform removal of thin soil layers across a slope by rainfall runoff; early stage of erosion; common on gentle slopes of eastern Rajasthan | Erosion type classification |
| Gully Erosion | Advanced erosion forming deep channels (gullies) in soil; Chambal ravines are India's largest gully-eroded landscape (~3,600 km²) | Chambal ravines → specific Rajasthan context |
| Soil Horizon | Distinct horizontal layers (O, A, B, C) in a soil profile; each with different colour, texture, and composition; reflects pedogenesis stages | Soil profile basics; pedogenesis understanding |
| Laterisation | Leaching of silica from soil under intense rainfall leaving iron/aluminium oxides; produces laterite; occurs in Udaipur-Sirohi humid zones | Explains laterite formation in hilly Rajasthan |
Topic 86 of 138 | Paper II, Unit 3 — Earth Science / Geography & Geology | Generated: 2026-04-06