---
title: "Black Soil Definition and Characteristics | Model Diplomat"
description: "Black soil is a clay-rich, moisture-retaining soil ideal for cotton cultivation, primarily found in India and formed from basaltic lava."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/black-soil"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Black soil is a dark, clay-rich, lime- and iron-bearing soil formed from weathered basaltic Deccan lava, noted for high moisture retention and natural cotton-growing fertility.
- Why is black soil also called regur and self-ploughing soil?
- What is the parent material of Indian black soil?
- What is the nutrient profile of black soil?
- Why is black soil ideal for dry farming?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Black soil is a dark, clay-rich, lime- and iron-bearing soil formed from weathered basaltic Deccan lava, noted for high moisture retention and natural cotton-growing fertility.

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The cotton economy of Maharashtra's Vidarbha region — central to farmer-distress debates examined by India's 2006 Radhakrishna Expert Group — rests on deep black regur soil weathered from Deccan basalt.

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