Question

Very dark, cracking clay-dominated soils; (ii) locally called regur, karail, and bhal; (iii) high clay varying from 30-60%, base-rich; (iv) occur in Maharastra, Madhya Pradesh., Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and some parts of Karnataka and T.N. ...... is called
(A) Black Soils
(B) Alluvial Soils
(C) Red Soils
(D) Laterite and Lateritic Soils
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (A) only.
• B. (B) and (C) only.
• C. (D) only.
• D. (B), (C) and (D) only.

Hint:

"Regur" is the classic Indian synonym for Black Cotton Soils (Vertisols), famous for their high montmorillonitic clay content (30-60%) and self-ploughing (cracking) nature.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
India is classified into several major soil groups based on their parental materials, climatic conditions, mineralogy, and physical properties.
Identifying a soil group involves analyzing diagnostic traits like soil texture, color, cracking behavior, and regional distribution.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the diagnostic features described in the question:
- Very dark color, cracking clay-dominated soils: These are characteristic features of Vertisols, which expand and contract severely upon wetting and drying, forming deep vertical cracks.
- Local names: These soils are locally referred to as Regur (black cotton soil), Karail (in parts of Uttar Pradesh), and Bhal (in Gujarat).
- High clay content: They contain a high percentage of swelling clay minerals (montmorillonite, typically 30-60%) and are rich in bases like calcium and magnesium.
- Geographic distribution: They are derived from Deccan trap basalt and cover large areas in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
These features uniquely and completely describe Black Soils.
Therefore, only option (A) is correct, matching Option (A).

Step 4: Final Answer:
The soil group described by these characteristics is Black Soils (A only).