---
title: "Laterite Soil: Formation, Features, Crops | Model Diplomat"
description: "Laterite soil is an iron-rich, leached soil ideal for crops like cashew and coffee, crucial for UPSC geography studies and understanding tropical agriculture."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/laterite-soil"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Laterite soil is an iron- and aluminium-rich soil formed by intense leaching of silica under high temperature and heavy seasonal rainfall in humid tropical regions.
- How does laterite soil differ from red soil?
- Which crops are grown on laterite soil despite its low fertility?
- Why is laterite soil considered infertile?
- Why is laterite used for building construction?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Laterite soil is an iron- and aluminium-rich soil formed by intense leaching of silica under high temperature and heavy seasonal rainfall in humid tropical regions.

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Francis Buchanan-Hamilton coined the term "laterite" in 1807 after observing brick-like soil being quarried and dried for construction in the Malabar region of present-day Kerala.

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