Chernozem, the other black gold.

No, chernozem is not a type of petroleum. There is no drilling into the soil for this kind of black gold. It IS the soil. This is actually a very rich, black soil found in the nation of Ukraine, among some places. In fact, "чернозем (chernozem)" translated from Russian literally means "Black Earth". In Ukrainian, chernozem is "чорнозем(chornozem)", also meaning "Black Earth".

This "other black gold" is a very rich, quality soil that is wonderful for agriculture. There is a high percentage of humus in the soil, and there are many nutrients in this soil, such as phosphorus, among many. It has a superior water-holding quality, compared to other kinds of soils. This is very important, especially in the warm months when water evaporation is very likely. Soil that can hold moisture very well is very important for crops.

     Chernozem soil, Anatoliy Lisnyak, Samogo.Net

In the entire world, there are two chernozem belts. One chernozem belt stretches from Croatia and the Danube river valley to Siberia. Another chernozem belt can be found in the central Canada. Small concentrations of chernozem can be found in northern China and part of Poland.

             Map of chernozem concentration, FAO-GIS


One third of the chernozem in the world is found in the nation of Ukraine. And the thickness of the chernozem in Ukraine can be as much as 5 feet(1.5 m).Ukraine has been called "Breadbasket of Europe" because of large production of wheat, rye, and other grains. It was a major grain producer under the Russian Empire. During its days as part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine produced 25% of the Soviet Union's wheat.

It is still a major grain producer, ranking 11th in the world in wheat production. It is a major producer of sunflowers. Ukraine makes more sunflower oil than any other nation on earth. In fact, Ukraine's role as a grain producer plays a part in its national flag. Blue on the top for the sky, and gold on the bottom for the grains produced in Ukraine.

Wheat farm in Ukraine, Kiyiv Post

A large concentration of this relatively rare type of soil in a nation, in the 2nd largest nation in Europe, it has been a highly sought-after resource. Many empires have wanted to control this region because of its soil resources. The desire to control this land has played a part in World War One, Holodomor, Ukrainian Civil War, and World War Two.



Before there were fights over oil, there were fights for fertile soil. The chernozem was the Black Gold of its time, and in some ways, still is.