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Question

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?

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2025 Question Paper (06-Aug-2025) Shift 2
The correct answer is
Only 1 and 3

Black Soils Characteristics Explained

This question asks us to identify which of the given characteristics are typically associated with Black Soils (also known as Regur soil). Let's analyze each characteristic individually:

Characteristic 1: Moisture Retention and Cracking

  • Statement: High moisture-retaining capacity, often developing deep cracks during dry hot weather.
  • Analysis: Black Soils are famous for their ability to retain moisture. This is due to their fine texture (clayey nature). When these soils become very dry during hot weather, they shrink and develop deep, wide cracks. This characteristic is a hallmark of Black Soils.
  • Verdict: This statement is associated with Black Soils.

Characteristic 2: Crop Suitability and Climate

  • Statement: Ideal for tea and apple cultivation due to high fertility and cold climate preference.
  • Analysis: Black Soils are highly fertile and are excellent for growing crops like cotton, groundnuts, and millets. However, they are typically found in warmer regions, particularly the Deccan Plateau. Tea and apple cultivation usually thrive in well-drained, acidic soils found in hilly or mountainous regions with cooler climates (like Assam, Darjeeling, or Himachal Pradesh). Black Soils generally do not prefer cold climates and are not the primary choice for tea and apple cultivation.
  • Verdict: This statement is NOT primarily associated with Black Soils.

Characteristic 3: Mineral Composition

  • Statement: Rich in lime, iron, magnesia, and alumina, but poor in phosphoric contents.
  • Analysis: Black Soils are indeed known to be rich in essential minerals like lime, iron, magnesia, potash, and alumina. However, they are generally deficient in crucial nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, and sometimes humus.
  • Verdict: This statement is associated with Black Soils.

Conclusion on Black Soil Traits

Based on the analysis, characteristics 1 and 3 accurately describe Black Soils:

  • High moisture-retaining capacity and deep cracking are key features.
  • Their mineral composition is rich in lime, iron, magnesia, and alumina, though often poor in phosphorus.

Characteristic 2 relates more to soils found in different climatic and topographical conditions.

Therefore, the characteristics primarily associated with Black Soils are the first and the third ones.

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Similar Questions

  1. Which of the following statements correctly differentiates Alluvial soils from Red and Yellow soils?


Important Questions from Soils

  1. Which soil is acidic in nature and found in high rainfall areas?
  2. The soil that is present over the piedmont plains such as Chos and Duars is 

  3. Which of the following statements regarding Soil is/are FALSE? 
    1. Fertile soil supports plant growth by providing plants with nutrients, acting as a water holding body and serving as the substrate to which plants anchor their roots. 
    2. Vegetation, tree cover and forest prevents soil degradation and desertification by stabilizing the soil, maintaining water and nutrient cycling. 
    3. Grass found on pasture lands cannot protect the soil against soil erosion and also inhibits the soil biological activities. 
    Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

  4. With reference to the different types of soil found in India, identify the pairs which is/are wrongly matched. 
    1. Submontane soil - These are formed by the deposition of eroded material and are found in the Tarai region stretching from Jammu and Kashmir to Assam. 
    2. Karewa soil - These are the lacustrine deposits found in the Kashmir valleys and Bhadarwah Valley. 
    3. Peaty and Marshy soil - These are typical soils of the monsoon climate characterised by seasonal rainfall and is deficient in organic matter. 
    4. Laterite soil - These soils are rich in humus and organic matter. 
    Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

  5. Match List I with List II. 
     

    List – I (Pedogenic Process)List – II (Description)
    A. PodzolizationI. It is associated with humid cold mid-latitude climates and coniferous vegetation
    B. LaterizationII. It is associated with soils found in tropical and subtropical environments
    C. CalcificationIII. It is associated with warm, semi-arid environments, usually in grassland vegetation where evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation
    D. GleizationIV. It is associated with poorly drained and water logged areas of cold climates and peat is found in the upper portion of the soil
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