dhanbad district has infertile laterite soil, having a general tendency towards continuous deterioration. the soil can be classified in two broad categories – red sandy soil and red and yellow soil. there are patches of alluvium along the river banks. limited water resources constitute a major constraint for cultivation. paddy is the main crop. the soils for rice cultivation fall into three categories – "baad", "kanali" and "bahal". "aghani", is the main winter crop, consisting primarily of winter rice. "bhadai" is the autumn crop. apart from paddy, less important grain crops such as marua and maize are grown. the "rabi" crop includes such cold weather crops as wheat, barley, oats, gram and pulses.