noun
- a dark, fertile soil rich in humus and minerals, found in temperate grasslands and steppe regions, especially in Russia and Eastern Europe
Usage: technical/scientific term; also spelled chernozom
Examples
- The chernozem soils of Ukraine are among the most productive agricultural lands in the world.
- Farmers prize chernozem for its natural fertility and high organic content.
- The Russian steppes are characterized by deep deposits of chernozem.
- Chernozem forms in climates with moderate rainfall and significant seasonal temperature variation.
- The word chernozem comes from Russian, meaning 'black earth.'