Major characteristics of Alluvial Soil are :
(i) Alluvial soil is considered as one of the most fertile soils amongst all soil types Alluvial soil covers the entire northern plains in India.
(ii) Alluvial soil contains sand, silt and clay mainly due to silt deposited by the IndoGangetic-Brahmaputra rivers. According to age, it is classified into Bhangar (old alluvial) and Khadar (new alluvial).
(iii) Alluvial soil contains an ample amount of potash, phosphoric acid and lime. This soil is ideal for the growth of crops like sugarcane, wheat and rice etc.
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Major characteristics of Black soil are:
(i) Black soil is fine textured and clayey in nature. It is suitable for growing cotton.
(ii) Black soil has high amount of lime, iron, magnesium and generally low quantities of Phosphorus, Nitrogen and organic matter.
(iii) It is formed from weathered lava rocks, thus is black in colour.
(iv) It has a high clay content and therefore is highly retentive of water. It is extremely fertile in most of the places where it is found.