Consider the following characteristics:
1. High moisture-retaining capacity, often developing deep cracks during dry hot weather.
2.Ideal for tea and apple cultivation due to high fertility and cold climate preference.
3. Rich in lime, iron, magnesia, and alumina, but poor in phosphoric contents.
Which of the above characteristics are primarily associated with Black Soils?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Answer: Only 1 and 3
Explanation: The characteristics listed in statements 1 and 3 correctly describe Black Soil (also called Regur soil), which is commonly found in the Deccan Plateau region of India.
Statement 1 is correct: Black soil has high moisture-retaining capacity and develops deep cracks during hot and dry conditions due to shrink-swell properties.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Tea and apple cultivation require mountain or forest soils found in cool, high-altitude regions (like Himalayan regions), not black soil.
Statement 3 is correct: Black soil is rich in lime, iron, magnesia, and alumina, but generally deficient in phosphorus and nitrogen.
Additional Key Facts
Black soil is also known as Regur soil.
It is formed from the weathering of basaltic lava rocks.
Best suited for cotton cultivation, hence also called “Black Cotton Soil.”
Found mainly in: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
It becomes sticky when wet and hard when dry.
Potential Exam-Oriented Questions & Answers
Question: Which nutrient is generally deficient in black soil?
Answer: Phosphorus and nitrogen
Question: Why do black soils develop cracks in summer?
Answer: Due to high clay content and shrink-swell property during drying