The characteristics are:
1. Alluvial soils are deposited by river.
2. These soils are limited to river basins and plains.
3. These are very fertile soils.
4. These consist of fine-grained clay and sand.
5. These soils are rich in potash but poor in phosphorus.
6. These are generally deep soils.
A fairly large area of arable land in the irrigated zones of India is becoming saline because of overirrigation. The salt lodged in the lower profiles of the soil comes up to the surface and destroys its fertility.