Climate and Soils of Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh's tropical monsoon climate, seasons, rainfall pattern and agro-climatic zones, plus soils: red-yellow, laterite, black and Kanhar-Matasi-Dorsa-Bhata.
Prerequisites
- Physiographic Divisions of Chhattisgarh: relief controls both rainfall and soil
- Indian Climate: the monsoon mechanism and its Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea branches
- Soils and Natural Vegetation of India: the ICAR soil groups (red-yellow, laterite, black)
The Hook: Why the Same Village Has Four Kinds of Soil
Ask a farmer near Raipur about his land and he will not say “red-yellow soil”. He will say his upper fields are bhata (भाटा), the middle slope matasi (मटासी), the lower fields dorsa (डोरसा) and the low-lying wet patch kanhar (कन्हार). Each gets a different crop. Above it all, the monsoon decides whether the year is good: most of the year’s rain falls between June and September.
What kind of climate does Chhattisgarh have, how is rain spread across the state, and what are its soils?
Why it matters: Prelims asks the local soil names and their features, the most extensive soil type, the climate type and the agro-climatic zones. Mains GS-III links climate and soils to paddy, drought and crop diversification.
Part A: Climate (जलवायु)
Type
Chhattisgarh has a tropical monsoon climate (उष्णकटिबंधीय मानसूनी जलवायु): hot summers, a rainy season dominated by the south-west monsoon, and a mild, dry winter. The Tropic of Cancer crosses only the northern districts, so most of the state lies in the tropical zone.
Seasons
| Season | Months (approx.) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Summer (ग्रीष्म) | March to mid-June | Very hot in the central plain; May is usually the hottest month. Temperatures in plain towns such as Raipur and Bilaspur often cross 45 °C |
| Rainy (वर्षा) | Mid-June to September | South-west monsoon brings most of the year’s rain; mainly from the Bay of Bengal branch, with some contribution from the Arabian Sea branch |
| Retreating monsoon | October to November | Rain tapers off; harvest of kharif paddy |
| Winter (शीत) | December to February | Cool and dry; coldest in the northern hills. Mainpat and the Surguja–Jashpur uplands are the coldest areas and can see frost |
Rainfall (वर्षा)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Average annual rainfall | About 1,200–1,300 mm; the IMD-based long-term average is about 1,278 mm (studies differ slightly by period) |
| Monsoon share | About 85–90% of annual rain falls in June–September |
| Wettest region | Bastar plateau (south), with the Abujhmarh hills among the wettest; Bastar plateau average about 1,490 mm |
| Drier region | The Chhattisgarh plain, especially its western part in the rain shadow of the Maikal range (Kabirdham, Bemetara area); plain average about 1,200 mm |
| Pattern | Rainfall is higher in the south and the north-east and lower in the west-central plain |
Agro-Climatic Zones (कृषि-जलवायु क्षेत्र)
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur divides the state into three agro-climatic zones, matching the three relief units:
| Zone | Area | Rainfall (approx.) | Dominant soils | Typical crops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chhattisgarh Plains | Central districts | About 1,200 mm (lowest of the three) | Kanhar, Dorsa, Matasi, Bhata (red-yellow and black) | Paddy, gram, wheat, linseed, sugarcane, vegetables |
| Northern Hills | Surguja division | Between the other two | Red-yellow, laterite | Paddy, maize, minor millets, niger |
| Bastar Plateau | Bastar division | About 1,490 mm (highest) | Red sandy, laterite | Upland paddy, kodo-kutki, ragi, maize; forest produce |
Analysis: Climate and the Economy (Mains material)
- Monsoon dependence: most farming is rain-fed kharif paddy, so a delayed or weak monsoon causes drought and loss of income, especially in the western plain.
- Rabi gap: with 85–90% of rain in four months and limited irrigation, the rabi season is under-used. Moisture-retentive Kanhar soils allow gram, wheat and linseed on residual moisture.
- Climate change: studies of recent decades report more variable rainfall, heavy-rain spells and dry spells within the monsoon. The state has a State Action Plan on Climate Change. Plan answers around water harvesting, short-duration and drought-tolerant varieties, and crop diversification to millets and pulses.
- Heat: extreme May temperatures in the plain affect health, labour productivity and power demand.
Part B: Soils (मिट्टियाँ)
Soils by the ICAR Classification
| Soil | Where in Chhattisgarh | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Red-yellow soil (लाल-पीली मिट्टी) | Most extensive soil of the state: large parts of the plain and the north (Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, Mahasamund, Korba, Jashpur and others) | Formed on old crystalline and sedimentary rocks; red from iron oxide, yellow where the iron is hydrated; low in nitrogen, phosphorus and humus; sandy to loamy |
| Red sandy soil (लाल रेतीली मिट्टी) | Bastar plateau (Kanker, Kondagaon, Bastar, Dantewada, etc.) | Light, porous, low water-holding; suits millets and upland paddy |
| Laterite soil (लैटेराइट मिट्टी) | Uplands of Surguja, Jashpur (pat region) and parts of Bastar | Formed by heavy leaching under high rain and heat; acidic, poor in nutrients; locally hard |
| Black soil (काली मिट्टी) | Western plain near the Maikal foothills (Kabirdham, Bemetara, parts of Rajnandgaon and Mungeli) | Clayey, moisture-retentive, swells when wet and cracks when dry; good for gram, wheat, soybean, sugarcane |
| Alluvial soil (जलोढ़ मिट्टी) | Narrow strips along major rivers | Fertile but limited in extent |
Local Soil Names of the Chhattisgarh Plain
Farmers in the plain classify soils by their position on the slope. From the highest land to the lowest:
graph TD
A["BHATA (भाटा)
Highest uplands
gravelly, lateritic, poorest"] --> B["MATASI (मटासी)
Upper slopes
yellow sandy loam"]
B --> C["DORSA (डोरसा)
Middle slopes
clay loam, intermediate"]
C --> D["KANHAR (कन्हार)
Lowlands
deep, dark clayey, most fertile"]| Local name | Texture and colour | Water holding | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhata (भाटा) | Gravelly, red, laterite-like; shallow | Very low | Least fertile; grazing, minor millets, plantations |
| Matasi (मटासी) | Yellow, sandy loam with some clay | Low to medium | Upland paddy, pulses, minor millets |
| Dorsa (डोरसा) | Brownish clay loam, between Matasi and Kanhar | Medium | Paddy; rabi crops with irrigation |
| Kanhar (कन्हार) | Deep, dark (bluish-black to brown) clayey; the local black soil | High | Paddy in kharif; gram, wheat, linseed on residual moisture in rabi |
Analysis: Soil Problems (Mains material)
- Low fertility and acidity: red-yellow, red sandy and laterite soils are poor in nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter; lateritic soils are acidic. Soil Health Cards, liming and organic manure help.
- Erosion: on the plateaus and pats, deforestation and mining expose thin soils to monsoon erosion. Watershed development and contour bunding are the remedies.
- Mono-cropping: continuous paddy on the plain reduces soil health; diversification to pulses and oilseeds on Kanhar and Dorsa improves it.
- Mining damage: coal and bauxite mining in the north and iron ore in Bastar degrade land and need reclamation.
Memory Tricks
Don’t Confuse
| This | vs | That |
|---|---|---|
| Kanhar: low-lying, dark clayey, most fertile | Bhata: upland, gravelly, least fertile | |
| Matasi: yellow sandy loam | Dorsa: clay loam, between Matasi and Kanhar | |
| Red-yellow: most extensive, plain and north | Red sandy: Bastar plateau | |
| Laterite: leached uplands (pats, parts of Bastar) | Black: western plain near the Maikal | |
| Wettest: Bastar plateau | Driest: western Chhattisgarh plain |
Common Mistakes
Practice
These are original practice questions written in CGPSC style. They are not previous-year questions.
Level 1: Foundation
- The climate of Chhattisgarh is classified as ________.
- The most extensive soil of Chhattisgarh is ________ soil.
- The local soil with the highest moisture-holding capacity is ________.
Answers
- Tropical monsoon
- Red-yellow
- Kanhar
Level 2: Prelims MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about soils of the Chhattisgarh plain:
- Kanhar is a dark, clayey soil with high moisture retention.
- Bhata is the most fertile soil of the plain.
- Dorsa is intermediate in character between Matasi and Kanhar.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
Q2. Match List-I (Soil) with List-II (Main region):
| List-I | List-II |
|---|---|
| A. Red sandy soil | 1. Western plain near the Maikal range |
| B. Black soil | 2. Bastar plateau |
| C. Laterite soil | 3. Jashpur–Surguja uplands |
| D. Red-yellow soil | 4. Large parts of the central plain and north |
(a) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4 (b) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 (c) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4 (d) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
Answer and explanation
Q3. Which agro-climatic zone of Chhattisgarh receives the highest average annual rainfall?
(a) Chhattisgarh Plains (b) Northern Hills (c) Bastar Plateau (d) All three receive about the same
Answer and explanation
Q4. About what share of Chhattisgarh’s annual rainfall is received during June–September?
(a) 40–50% (b) 55–65% (c) 70–75% (d) 85–90%
Answer and explanation
Q5. Arrange the following local soils from the highest land to the lowest:
- Kanhar 2. Matasi 3. Bhata 4. Dorsa
(a) 3-2-4-1 (b) 2-3-4-1 (c) 3-4-2-1 (d) 1-4-2-3
Answer and explanation
Level 3: Mains Answer Writing
Q1. Describe the local soil types of the Chhattisgarh plain. (60 words)
Q2. “Chhattisgarh’s agriculture is a gamble on the monsoon.” Examine with reference to its climate and soils, and suggest remedies. (150–200 words)
Intro: Chhattisgarh has a tropical monsoon climate with about 1,200–1,300 mm of rain, 85–90% of it in June–September; most farming is rain-fed kharif paddy.
Body:
- Uneven rain: the Bastar plateau gets about 1,500 mm, the western plain much less; the west is drought-prone.
- Erratic monsoon: delayed onset and dry spells hit transplanted paddy; heavy spells cause floods and erosion.
- Soils: red-yellow, red sandy and laterite soils are light and nutrient-poor; only Kanhar and Dorsa hold moisture for a second crop.
- Limited irrigation on the plateaus and uplands.
Remedies: water harvesting and watershed works, farm ponds and check dams; short-duration and drought-tolerant varieties; crop diversification to millets, pulses and oilseeds; rabi crops on Kanhar soils; Soil Health Cards and organic matter; weather-based advisories and crop insurance.
Conclusion: Matching crops to zone, soil and rainfall can turn the “rice bowl” into a more resilient farm economy.
Quick Revision Table
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Climate type | Tropical monsoon |
| Hottest month | May (plain towns often above 45 °C) |
| Coldest area | Mainpat and the northern hills |
| Average annual rainfall | About 1,200–1,300 mm |
| Monsoon share | About 85–90% in June–September |
| Wettest / driest | Bastar plateau / western Chhattisgarh plain |
| Agro-climatic zones | 3: Chhattisgarh Plains, Northern Hills, Bastar Plateau |
| Most extensive soil | Red-yellow |
| Bastar plateau soil | Red sandy |
| Black soil | Western plain (Kabirdham, Bemetara area) |
| Laterite | Surguja–Jashpur uplands, parts of Bastar |
| Local soils (high to low land) | Bhata → Matasi → Dorsa → Kanhar |
| Most fertile local soil | Kanhar (dark, clayey, moisture-retentive) |
Key Takeaways
- Chhattisgarh has a tropical monsoon climate; about 85–90% of its 1,200–1,300 mm of rain falls in June–September.
- Rain is highest on the Bastar plateau and lowest in the western plain (lee of the Maikal range).
- Three agro-climatic zones: Chhattisgarh Plains, Northern Hills, Bastar Plateau.
- Red-yellow soil is the most extensive; red sandy dominates Bastar; black soil lies in the west; laterite on the northern uplands.
- Local names run Bhata → Matasi → Dorsa → Kanhar downslope, from poorest to most fertile.
What’s Next
- Quick Revision: Physical Geography: the whole chapter on one page
- Agriculture and Irrigation: crops, irrigation and farm policy built on these soils and rains
- Forests and Wildlife: vegetation that follows rainfall and soil
- Environment and Ecology: climate change and land degradation in the national context