Which of the following characteristics is NOT correct with reference to the black soil of Madhya Pradesh?

Question

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Correct — C is the statement that is NOT correct. Black soil (regur, or 'cotton soil') is a clay-rich vertisol, not a sandy soil — its fine clay content is exactly what gives it high moisture retention and its characteristic self-ploughing, cracking behaviour when dry. A high sand content would be the opposite of what defines this soil.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) This statement IS correct — regur/black soil is popularly called 'cotton soil' or 'black cotton soil' because it is highly suited to cotton cultivation, so it cannot be the 'not correct' answer.  (b) This statement IS correct — black soil's high clay content lets it retain moisture well, a defining trait, so it does not answer the 'NOT correct' question either.  (d) This statement IS correct — black soil's structure is typically cloddy, occasionally turning crumbly at the surface, so it is not the false statement being asked for.

Concept: Black soil (regur soil) forms in situ from the weathering of basalt lava — the Deccan Trap — and is defined by its fine clay content, not sand. That clay gives it high moisture retention, a self-ploughing cracking behaviour when dry, and a cloddy-to-crumbly structure. It is called 'cotton soil' because these traits (retaining moisture through dry spells) make it well suited to rain-fed cotton.

State PCS 2023 Q73 — Madhya Pradesh GK PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q73 — Madhya Pradesh GK PYQ with Answer