Black earth
Black earth, also known by its Russian name as chernozem, consists of extremely fertile black-coloured soils, lying often up to 6 meters deep, rich in phosphoric acids, phosphorus and ammonia, with from 5 to 16 percent organic components.
Black earth country predominates in parts of southern Russia and the Ukraine, extending into southern Siberia, and producing bumper crops without the need for fertiliser. Similar soil types occur in Texas.
Original text adapted from Meyers Konversations-Lexikon of 1888 - 1889.