Which of the following statements regarding soil is/are correct? 1. Alluvial soils are rich in nitrogen content. 2. Black soils are rich in iron and lime but deficient in nitrogen. 3. Laterite soils are rich in iron and aluminium but deficient in nitrogen and potassium. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

The correct answer is C, 2 and 3 only. Statement 1 is wrong: alluvial soils, the most widespread soils of India, are generally rich in potash and lime but poor in nitrogen and phosphorus, which is why farmers on the northern plains add nitrogen fertiliser. Statement 2 is right: black or regur soils, formed from Deccan basalt, are rich in iron, lime, calcium, magnesium and potash but poor in nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter; they hold moisture well and suit cotton. Statement 3 is right: laterite soils form under heavy rain and high temperature, when silica and bases are washed out, leaving the soil rich in oxides of iron and aluminium but poor in nitrogen, potash, phosphorus and lime. Option A is wrong because it treats statement 1 as correct and leaves out statement 3. Option B is wrong because it leaves out the correct statement 2. Option D is wrong because statement 1 is false. Exam tip: most Indian soils lack nitrogen; alluvial = potash-rich, black = lime and iron-rich, laterite = iron and aluminium-rich.