Previous Year Question
Which soil needs little irrigation as it retains soil moisture?
Alluvial soil
Black soil
Red soil
Laterite soil
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is (b) Black soil.
Black soil has a high clay content and a high water-holding capacity. It can retain rainwater for a long period, so crops grown in it may require comparatively less irrigation.
The permeability of this soil is slow. It swells and becomes sticky when wet, while on drying it shrinks and may develop wide cracks. These characteristics are associated with its high clay content.
According to ICAR, the water-holding capacity of black soils can be about 70%, and in several regions crops are also raised on soil moisture conserved from monsoon rainfall. Therefore, among the given options, Black soil is the correct answer.