Black soils are derivatives of
trapped lava. These are found mostly across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka,
and Madhya Pradesh on the Deccan lava plateau and the Malwa Plateau, where
there is both moderate rainfall and underlying basaltic rock.
Black soil is rich in calcium,
potassium and magnesium but has poor nitrogen content. Crops like cotton, tobacco, chilly,
oil seeds, jowar, ragi and maize grow well in it.