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Glite Dictionary
chernozemic soil

chernozemic soil

9.9
Fertile black soil with a thick layer of rotting plant material that grows crops well
  • noun
  • /ˌtʃɛrnəˈzoʊmɪk sɔɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : suelo chernozem
  • Extensive areas of chernozemic soil in Ukraine support high yields of wheat and barley.

Examples

  • The farm's productivity was attributed to the thick layer of chernozemic soil beneath the surface.

  • Researchers studied the unique properties of chernozemic soil to understand its agricultural value.

  • The chernozemic soil is rich in nutrients.

  • Is chernozemic soil found only in Ukraine?

  • Extensive areas of chernozemic soil in Ukraine support high yields of wheat and barley.

  • Researchers studied the unique properties of chernozemic soil to understand its agricultural value.

  • The farm's productivity was attributed to the thick layer of chernozemic soil beneath the surface.

Synonyms

fertile soil
vschernozemic soil
3 2.3

Ground that is rich in nutrients and helps plants grow well

is a specific black loamy, humus rich type found in temperate grasslands
prairie soil
vschernozemic soil
4.9

Ground under tall grass that is very good for growing crops

is darker and loamier, tied especially to Russia and Ukraine

Surface Forms

chernozemic soil singular
chernozemic soils plural

Morphology

chernozemic + soil

The adjective 'chernozemic' is a rare, technical borrowing (from Russian chernozem) whose internal components are not productive or familiar to a B1 learner, so knowing 'soil' does not let the learner infer the specific meaning 'fertile black loamy soil rich in humus'. Although related terms exist in some languages, the lexicalized nature and low frequency of 'chernozemic' make the overall MWE unpredictable for most learners.

Etymology

Chernozemic soil comes from the Russian and Ukrainian word chernozem, which literally means 'black earth' and breaks into chern = 'black' and zem = 'earth'. The name gives a clear image of dark, rich ground, so it is used for the very fertile black soil found in the wide grasslands of Russia and Ukraine.