Chernozem, or Black Earth (from Russian: чернозём), is a kind of soil. This black-coloured soil contains a very high percentage of humus — 3% to 15% , rich in phosphoric acids, phosphorus and ammonia. I has a large depth, often more than 40 inches, up to 250 inches (6 metres) in Ukraine. It is very fertile and does not require any fertilizing. Because of that it is often considered to be the best kind of soil.

There are two "Chernozem belts" in the world: from Northeast Ukraine across Black Earth Region and Southern Russia into Siberia, and in Manitoba, Canada. Similar soil types occur in Texas.

Chernozemic soils are a soil type in the Canadian system of soil classification and the United Nations' FAO soil classification.

Chernozemic soil type equivalents, in Canadian, FAO, and USA soil taxonomy. Source: Pedosphere.com (http://www.pedosphere.com/resources/cssc3rd/chapter16.html).

Canadian	FAO	United States
Chernozemic	Kastanozem, Chernozem, Greyzem, Phaeozem	Borolls
Brown Chernozem	Kastanozem (aridic)	Aridic Boroll subgroups
Dark Brown Chernozem	Kastanozem (Haplic)	Typic Boroll subgroups
Black Chernozem	Chernozem	Udic Boroll subgroups
Dark Grey Chernozem	Greyzem	Boralfic Boroll subgroups, Albolls

es:Chernozem pl:Czarnoziemy