Previous Year Question

Regur Soil is also known as Black Soil or Black Cotton Soil. It developed mainly through the weathering and disintegration of the basaltic lava of the Deccan Trap. According to NIOS, black soils were formed by the disintegration of volcanic basaltic lava.

Its major distribution is in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, with additional areas in Karnataka, Telangana/Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Its distribution is closely associated with the extensive Deccan Trap basalt region.

Because of its high clay content, Regur soil has a very high moisture-retention capacity. It swells and becomes sticky when wet, while on drying it shrinks and develops deep cracks. These cracks improve aeration and are sometimes associated with its self-ploughing characteristic.

This soil is particularly suitable for cotton cultivation, which is why it is called Black Cotton Soil. It generally contains adequate calcium, magnesium and iron, while nitrogen and organic matter are relatively low.