What is Khadar? – Overview, Characteristics, Importance

The lower regions, also known as Nali or Naili, are known as Khadir or Khadar. Khadar soil is mainly found in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. When wet, it becomes sticky and retains moisture. The Khadar regions are prone to flooding. Parts of the old riverbed are often accessible to agriculture when the river’s flow changes.

Khadir or Khadar is the lower region, also known as Nali or Naili. The Khadar areas are prone to flooding and often have some parts of the old riverbed made available for farming as the river’s flow changes. It is sticky and retains moisture when wet. The Khadir Formation consists of fresh alluvial soil with a relatively higher content of new river alluvium, which is replenished with each flood cycle and is fertile. To the north of Haryana, which is a vast expanse of lush grassland between the Ghaggar River and the southern limit of the Saraswati Canal Depression, Khadir is also known as Nali. According to the Khadar map, these areas are flooded during rains.

Khadar Soil

Khadar  

Khadar is the name used in Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, and Sindhi to distinguish the two types of river deltas and alluvial soils in the Indo-Gangetic plains of northern India and Pakistan. The Doab regions are known for the Bangur and Kadir regions.

The new alluvial soil discovered in the floodplains of the Ganges in northern India is called ‘Khadar’. The fertility of khadar is higher than that of bhangar because the soil is replenished every year by fresh alluvium.

1. The floodplains along these coasts are made up of recently deposited alluvium.  
2. It has a lighter color, a smoother texture, and is more porous.  
3. Near the riverbed, this type of landscape has been discovered. 
4. Almost every year, a new layer of alluvium is deposited due to the flooding of rivers. Accordingly, these are the most fertile soils of the Ganges.  
5. The Khadar-rich floodplains of Punjab are known locally as “Betlands” or “Bets”.  The rivers of the Punjab-Haryana plain have a vast Khadar flood basin surrounded by cliffs known locally as Dhayas.  
6. These landscapes reach heights of up to several meters.

Characteristics of Khadar Soil 

1. It belongs to the new category of alluvial soils or new soils. 
2. It contains fine soil particles. 
3. It has a pale color. 
4. This soil is fertile. 
5. It is found along riverbanks, floodplains, and plains. 
6. Found at the bottom of a valley that floods every year.

Significance of Khadar

1. These soils have a medium to fine texture, and low organic content and are very productive when irrigated and fertilized. 
2. Khadar’s soil facilitates the growth of crops such as sugar cane, wheat, rice, and oilseeds. 
3. They have a uniform surface. 
4. They have a large reserve of groundwater in the Ganges basin, which is sufficient for irrigation.

Khadar and Bhangar 

In the Indo-Gangetic regions of northern India and Pakistan, Khadar basha and Bangur are words used in Hindi, Punjabi, Sindhi, and Urdu to understand the two types of river deltas and alluvial soils. In the Doab region, the Bangur and Kadir regions are commonly found. Some villagers may have both Khadar and Bangar areas below their annual limit.

Khadar and Bhangar are Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, and Sindhi in the Indian Ganges Plains of northern India and Pakistan, and are the terms used to distinguish between the two river plains and offshore soil. The Banga and Kadir areas are commonly found in the Doab region. In some villages, both Kadar and Bangor areas may be within income limits. Bangor soils are below high tide levels and therefore low in fertility, and Kadar soils are below high tide levels and therefore high in fertility. Bangers are full of Kankar (lime nodules), but Kadar soil is fine silt and clay. It is fertile land because it contains alluvial soil deposited by rivers.

Difference Between Khadar and Bangur

Khadar	Bangur
In the lower regions of the valley, the Khadar soil exists and the bottom of the valley is flooded every year.	Bhangar soil present in the upper reaches, which is around 30 m far above that of the level of flood.
The texture of khadar is smoother.	The texture of this soil is coarser.
Khadar soil is much more fertile as they occur in low-lying areas which are flooded.	They are located in the upper reaches and hence are less fertile.
They are lowlands that are formed of old alluvium.	They are highlands formed of old alluvium.
This type of soil is suitable for intensive farming.	This type of soil is unsuitable for cultivation.

Conclusion

Khadar soil is much richer than bangar soil as it is replenished over the years with new layers of dirt during storms and khadar soils also contain lower levels of kankar nodules of concentration and also higher concentrations of smaller practices.

Related Links

1. Soil Formation
2. Types of soil
3. Soil Conservation Methods
4. What is soil erosion?

FAQs on Khadar Soil

What is khadar soil?

Alluvial soil Khadar, Bhangar and Bhabar Terai are alluvial soil types. The alluvial soil of India is mainly in the Ganges Plain of India.

What is difference between Khadar and Bangar?

The soil which is found in the lower regions of the valley is known as khadar soil and Bangar soil is the alluvial soil that is found in higher ranges.

What is the new soil in Khadar?

The new alluvial soil is discovered in the floodplains of the Ganges in north India is called Khadar.

Is Khadar’s soil fertile?

Soil in Bhangar is less fertile because it is above flood water level while soil in Khadar is more fertile because it is below flood water level. Bhanger is filled with kankars (lime nodules) while khadar soil is made up of fine silt and clay. This is a fertile land because it contains a lot of alluvium deposited by the river.

What is Bangar soil?

Bangar soil refers to the less fertile soil and is the old alluvial soil. Bangar soil are less prone to floods and are more sandy in texture.