Consider the following statements regarding the soils of India: Statement I: Black soils, also known as Regur soils, are self-plowing and possess high moisture retention capacity due to their clay mineral composition. Statement II: Laterite soils are highly fertile and ideal for intensive cereal cultivation without the application of chemical fertilizers. Which of the following is correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Statement I is correct because black soils contain montmorillonite clay which swells when wet and develops deep cracks when dry, creating a natural self-plowing effect. Statement II is incorrect because laterite soils are acidic, heavily leached, and poor in nitrogen and phosphorus, requiring heavy manuring for agriculture. They are primarily utilized for growing plantation crops like tea and coffee.