Question

Give reasons for the following.

Black soil is said to be ideal for dry farming.

Answer 1

1. High clay content: Black soil is fine‑textured and clayey (up to 50% clay), so it holds water well. This helps supply moisture to crops between rains.
2. Strong moisture retention: It absorbs and loses moisture slowly, so moisture remains available to plants for a long time during dry periods.
3. Deep subsoil moisture storage: Black soil stores moisture in its subsoil, which rain‑fed crops can tap into during dry spells.
4. Shrink–swell (cracking) behavior: When dry it shrinks and forms deep cracks that improve aeration and allow easier root penetration; this also creates a “self‑ploughing” effect.
5. Fertility and mineral content: It contains useful minerals (lime, iron, magnesium, and potash) that support crop growth even under limited water.
6. Suited to rain‑fed crops: Because of the above properties, crops commonly grown without irrigation (e.g., cotton, jowar, wheat, pulses) do well on black soil.