BLACK EARTH AREA (Central), an administrative unit in Russia created by the Soviet Government in May 1928. It consists chiefly of the provinces of Voronezh, Kursk, Tambov and Orel, with part of the province of Tula. The creation of this province is in pursuance of the Russia. Government's policy of trying to organize administrative units on the basis of their eco nomic background. The Steppe Black. Earth or Tchernozem, characteristic here, occurs over deposits of many kinds and ages, in a more or less continuous belt from Manchuria through Siberia to South Russia, Rumania, Hungary, Moravia and Bohemia. These regions have a high temperature and strong evaporation in summer with consequent desiccation of the soil, and, in winter, prolonged soil frost. During the winter, water accumulates and provides for a luxuriant spring crop of grass, the strong root systems of which supply organic matter and thus a soil is formed having a humus content varying from 6% to 12% or more. When this belt lies on the loess (q.v.) the mobility of water in that formation favours the development of black earth, which under these circumstances spreads into less strictly arid areas. During the intense summer evaporation, the water accumulated in win ter rises to the drying upper layers of the soil, and gypsum and calcium carbonate are deposited in distinct horizons, at various depths; the gypsum usually lies beneath the calcium carbonate stratum. The soil is loose in texture, very crumbly and of a deep black colour; the humus content decreases from above down wards, and humus layers 7o to loo cm. thick are common. The lower soil of the Russian investigators) is irregularly coloured, being usually light or yellowish brown, with dark veins and patches. The humus layer merges into bedrock in the lower layer of the soil without any sharp division.
In the Central Black Earth area of Russia, the climate is con tinental (ay. Jan. temp. —8° C to —9° C, ay. July temp. +2o° C to C) . The frost in winter is severe, the rivers are ice bound from II() to 120 days, and there is much snow. The rain fall, averaging about Soo mm. is sufficient for the local vegeta tion. The high summer insolation and the severe winter frost retard the decay of the humus. To the north is much grey forest soil, while to the south-east are a few patches of the salted soil so characteristic of the Lower Volga area. Along the river courses are sandy and alluvial soils. To the east of the Don river is a plain not more than 200 metres above sea-level, while the west is part of the Central Russian plateau rising to 500 metres. The prevailing character of the area is level plain, deeply entrenched by ravines and river valleys, the slopes of which are everywhere forest covered, so that steppe alternates with forest (lyesso steppe), though in the south the steppe is continuous. In the central course of the Don and its tributaries are chalk outcrops and in the central Don area high white chalk pillars appear. The prefix "Byel" (white) or "Myel" (chalk) is often given to the picturesque settlements in these areas, e.g., Byelgorod, Byelpolye, Byelgorye, Myelovaya.
The area is 195,o0o sq.km. and every bit of suitable land is cultivated. Of the population of 11,600,400 (1927). no fewer than 10,450,20o were engaged in agriculture, but in spite of this and of the fertility of the tchernozem, the harvest is insufficient for the needs of the people, and many go as seasonal labourers to other provinces, while others are occupied in koustar (peasant) industries, especially the manufacture of hempen rope and string. The standard of life is low, and miserable hovels without chim neys and with earthern floors are common. The three-field system is general and the transition to grass and root-crop culti vation and to the four-field system is slow. War and famine de creased fertility and reduced harvests, undermined the stamina of the people, diminished live stock (and consequently manure), horses by 5o%, working cattle, sheep and pigs even more; and prevented renewal of agricultural implements. In 1926 the num ber of livestock was still markedly less than in 1913. The area sown in 1926 was about 8o% of that in 1913 and the harvest per acre was much less. In a drought area the vegetation period is important, and varies for different crops. Rye, buckwheat, flax, millet and barley need 10o days or less, summer wheat and oats 105 days or more, while maize and potatoes may need 15o days. The chief crops are rye, millet and oats. Other crops are sum mer wheat and potatoes, hemp (especially in Voronezh, Orel and Kursk), sunflower seed (especially in Voronezh) and sugar beet in the southern region, where beekeeping is also very successful. Fruit is cultivated to some extent in the south and centre, the north-west corner lies beyond the northern limit of cherry pro duction and the north-east beyond that of pear production. The north-west of the area has a good supply of timber and sawmill ing is extensively carried on, but much of the remaining area is markedly deficient in timber. Factory industries are little de veloped and are mainly agricultural, e.g., sugar beet factories in Kursk and Voronezh, oil pressing from sunflower seeds in Voronezh and Tambov, while flourmilling is widespread, mainly dependent on wind. The electrification of the area is proceeding very slowly.
As regards mineral wealth, the marked magnetic needle anomaly has led to the recent discovery at a depth of 16o to 18o metres of iron ore in the Kursk and Shchigry areas, and this may result in industrial developments here. There are also phos phorite regions extending from Orel to Shchigry, and in the Morshansk area. Lipetsk is noted for its mineral springs and for the deposits of iron to the north-west of the town. Com munications by rail, river and road are better than in many other districts of Russia, and several towns have grain elevators. The chief towns (q.v.) are Voronezh, the administrative centre, Tambov, Orel, Kursk, Byelgorod, Lipetsk and Elets. The popu lation is mainly Great Russian, though in the south-west there is a high proportion of Ukrainians, who demand to be treated as a national minority, and of Mordvins near Penza.