Question

Which of the following soil is suitable for the cultivation of tea
A. Red soil
B. Black soil
C. Alluvial soil
D. Laterite soil

Answer 1

Hint: For the cultivation of tea light friable loam is required with coarse particles with subsoil which is porous in nature. It requires soil that is a rock type, rich in iron and aluminum. It is generally grown in tropical areas.

Complete answer:
Black soil is sandy in nature, it is rich in calcium, potassium. It has a low content of nitrogen. Black soil is dark with a clay-like consistency. It is considered ideal for cotton and oilseeds. It is mostly found in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and in some places in South India.
Red Soil: Due to the presence of iron oxide gives the soil red color. It is not considered fertile. It is found in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Jharkhand, and Nagaland. It is ideal for tobacco, Millets, oilseeds, rice, and wheat.
Alluvial soil: Consistency of alluvial soil is loamy and turns clayey towards lower and middle Ganga plain and Brahmaputra valley. The Colour of alluvial soil is a dark shade of grey. The soil texture is loam to clay. Prominent crops grown in alluvial soil are rice, wheat, jute, sugarcane.
Laterite soil: It is formed by the condition of high temperature and high rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. It is found in the area of Kerala, Bihar, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa. It is not considered highly fertile but intensive care crops like coconut, tea, and coffee can be grown.
So, the correct answer is Option D.

Note: Ideal soil for the cultivation of tea is Laterite soil which is mostly found in the region of Kerala, Assam, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and in few parts of Orissa. It is not considered to be highly fertile soil but it requires proper care. Good yields can be achieved by proper care.