๐ Topic 02 of 6 ยท Chapter 04 ยท Soils of India
Black Soil (Regur) of India
Distribution, properties, cotton crop, Deccan Trap โ complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
๐ฑ Black Soil โ Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Other names | Regur soil, Cotton soil, Black Cotton soil, Tropical Chernozem |
| Formation | Weathering of Deccan Trap (basaltic lava rocks) |
| Area covered | ~16% of India’s land area โ 2nd most widespread |
| Distribution | Maharashtra (largest), MP, Gujarat, AP, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu |
| Colour | Deep black to grey โ due to titaniferous magnetite and humus |
| Texture | Fine-grained; clayey; sticky when wet |
| Depth | Very deep (up to 180 cm) in Deccan Plateau |
๐ฑ Properties of Black Soil
- High moisture retention โ holds water for long periods; self-ploughing (cracks when dry)
- Rich in: Calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, lime
- Deficient in: Nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter
- Self-ploughing: Develops wide cracks in summer โ allows air circulation; mixes soil layers
- Sticky when wet โ difficult to work with during monsoon
- pH: Slightly alkaline (7.2โ8.5)
๐พ Crops Grown in Black Soil
- Cotton โ most important crop; black soil is ideal for cotton (hence “cotton soil”)
- Wheat, jowar, linseed, tobacco, sugarcane, groundnut
- Citrus fruits in Maharashtra
- Black soil is best suited for dry farming โ retains moisture even in dry conditions
โญ Key Facts โ Black Soil:
โข Also called Regur (from Telugu “Reguda”) or Cotton Soil
โข Formed from Deccan Trap (basaltic lava) โ volcanic origin
โข Self-ploughing = develops cracks in summer = unique property
โข Maharashtra = largest area under black soil
โข Best for cotton cultivation โ India’s cotton belt is on black soil
โข Deficient in nitrogen โ needs fertilizer for maximum yield
โข Also called Regur (from Telugu “Reguda”) or Cotton Soil
โข Formed from Deccan Trap (basaltic lava) โ volcanic origin
โข Self-ploughing = develops cracks in summer = unique property
โข Maharashtra = largest area under black soil
โข Best for cotton cultivation โ India’s cotton belt is on black soil
โข Deficient in nitrogen โ needs fertilizer for maximum yield