Consider the following statements : 1. Black soil is considered suitable for growing rain-fed crops 2. Black soil can retain moisture for a prolonged period, aiding crops to survive even in dry seasons With regard to the statements given above which of the following is/are correct ?
- A.Both the statements are correct and statement 2 is the correct explanation of statement 1
- B.Both the statements are correct and statement 2 is NOT the correct explanation of statement 1
- C.Statement 1 is correct but statement 2 is false
- D.Statement 1 is false but statement 2 is correct
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A. Both statements are true, and black soil suits rain-fed farming precisely because it holds moisture for a long time.
Black soil, or regur, formed from the weathering of Deccan basalt and is rich in clay, iron, lime and magnesium. Its fine clay swells when wet and holds water, then shrinks and develops deep cracks when dry, which also lets air into the soil (self-ploughing). This stored moisture lets crops such as cotton, jowar, pulses and oilseeds grow without irrigation in the drier parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. It is why it is called black cotton soil.
B is wrong: statement 2 is in fact the reason behind statement 1.
C is wrong: statement 2 is true; high moisture retention is the best-known feature of black soil.
D is wrong: statement 1 is true; rain-fed cotton and jowar are the classic black soil crops.
Exam tip: black soil = regur = Deccan basalt; it holds moisture and suits rain-fed cotton, but is poor in nitrogen and phosphorus.
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