These soils are developed under arid and semi-arid conditions and occupy about 1, 42,000 sq. km. of area in Rajasthan, Saurashtra, Kachchh, Haryana and south Punjab. The soil is sand] gravelly with low organic matter, low nitrogen H varying percentage of calcium carbonate. Hecht I cal composition reveals nitrogen 0.03-0.13%, H ash 0.03-0.07%, phosphorus 0.03-0.13% and 0.02-2.0%. The mechanical composition exhale that, on the average, sand content varies from al) 46% in the eastern part (Kekri) to 95% (Pushkar) I the west.
These soils contain high percentage I soluble salts but low moisture content. These may be reclaimed with the proper development I irrigation facilities. The Ganganagar district benefits by Indira Gandhi Canal have become a leading dicer of cereals and cotton. Elsewhere they growl very few crops, especially millets, jowar-bajraai coarse grains.
(a) Regosolic Desert Soils-these soils about 1 lakh sq. km of area. Their colour ranges fro I yellow brown to light yellow brown. R.S. Guptaai I Krishnaswami (1958) have made a detailed studyi I these soils and have concluded that much of the sail I is not locally derived.
(b) Lithosolic Desert Soils-these soils occupy about 49,000 sq. km. of area in south-wisteria Rajasthan (from Pokharan to Jaisalmer). Here sandstones are exposed to the surface covered thin layers of gravel and sand. Wherever the thickness of layer reaches 10-15 cm xerophytes vegetation is seen.