Q. Consider the following statements about Black Soils:

1. It is generally clayey, deep and impermeable.
2. During rainy season, this soil develops wide cracks.
3. It swells and becomes sticky when wet and shrinks when dried.

Which of the above is / are correct?
Answer: Only 1 and 3
Notes: The black soils are generally clayey, deep and impermeable. They swell and become sticky when wet and shrink when dried. So, during the dry season, these soils develop wide cracks. Thus, there occurs a kind of 'self ploughing'. Because of this character of slow absorption and loss of moisture, the black soil retains the moisture for a very long time, which helps the crops, especially, the rain fed ones, to sustain even during the dry season.