OBJECTIVE FORESTRY

Detailed explanation-1: -Desert soil is mostly sandy soil (90–95%) found in low-rainfall regions. It has a low content of nitrogen and organic matter with very high calcium carbonate and phosphate, thus making it infertile. The amount of calcium is 10 times higher in the lower layer than in the topsoil.

Detailed explanation-2: -Deserts soils are usually light coloured with minimal humus content due to which the plant productivity is low. Also the water retaining capacity is very less. However they are rich in minerals-calcium carbonate (caliche), gypsum, and/or salts.

Detailed explanation-3: -Low desert soils usually have a high clay content, low organic material content (less than 1%) and a high pH, meaning the soil is very alkaline (salty). The high clay content helps the soil to retain water and nutrients.

Detailed explanation-4: -Desert soil is also as called Sierozem soil. In India, Desert soil occupies roughly 1.5 lakh sq-km of land, spread over ancient basaltic rock. Desert soil is rich in soluble salts but contains varying percentages of calcium carbonate. The soil is very poor in nitrogen and humus.

Detailed explanation-5: -Desert soil is present in semi-arid and arid climates with limited rainfall. The sand present in the desert regions is partially blown from the Indus Valley and partly naturally occurring. The soil comprises 5-10% clay and 90-95 percent sand. The arid soil has a high phosphate level but a low nitrogen concentration.