Chernozem is the common name for a type of dark, fertile soil commonly found in Ukraine and Russia. In the context of Oceanyka it is used to describe local soils with similar characteristics to Eastern European chernozem. It owes its dark colour to a concentration of decayed organic compounds, that along with a strong mixture of minerals and nutrients makes it perfect for agriculture. Australia possesses vast tracts of black soil suitable for long term agriculture. These are mostly concentrated in the Murray-Darling Basin, the continent's most agriculturally productive zone.
