Question

Which soil is also called ‘Regur Soil’?

Answer 1

Hint: This type of soil gets its characteristic colour due to the presence of titaniferous magnetite, iron and some amount of alumina and iron oxides. Cotton is the most commonly grown crop on this soil, hence it is also known as cotton soil.

Complete answer:
Out of all the different types of soils found in India, the black soil is the most noticeable. They are locally referred to as regur soils but are most popularly known as black cotton soils. They are called so because the cotton plant has been found as the most commonly grown crop plant in areas where the regur soil is found.

These soils are found in lava-covered areas since they are derivatives of trap lava rocks. In India, they are found in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. They are also seen in Madhya Pradesh on the Deccan lava plateau and the Malwa plateau. Moderate rainfall and the underlying basaltic rock is a characteristic feature of these regions.

These soils have a very high clay content. This gives it a characteristic texture and also a high water retention capacity. During the dry seasons, the soil cracks open but it is not subject to water and wind erosion as it has an iron-rich granular structure. These soils have relatively less humus, but it does not compromise on its fertility because it is highly water-retentive and responds well to irrigation.

Thus, Black soil is also called ‘Regur soil’.

Note: In India the black soil or the regur soil covers almost 46 lakh square kilometres of the land. This makes up 16.6 % of the total land in India. A large number of fruits, vegetables and crops like wheat, jowar, linseed, tobacco, castor etc. grow successfully on this soil. This soil is so fertile that it has been used for centuries with the addition of fertilizers or manure.