- Fact: Cover 15 % of the area.
- Formation: These soils are of volcanic origin and formed due to weathering of basaltic rocks.
- Distribution: It is found in dry and hot regions of the peninsula.
- Composition: The black colour of soil is due to the presence of titanium-ferromagnetic compounds found in basaltic rocks.
- Characteristics
- Black soils of uplands are of low fertility while those in the valleys are very fertile.
- They have high water retention capacity and develop cracks when they dry up.
- Chemical Composition
- Rich in iron and lime.
- They are deficient in humus, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
- Distribution of Black Soils
- It is found in the Deccan lava plateau region of India that spread across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, parts of Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.
- Major Crops: Cotton, Millets, tobacco etc.