Where irrigation is possible or in more humid environments arable land use is possible and shows a considerable potential for agricultural production. However, tillage operations can be performed in the dry season with heavy machinery. Mechanical tillage in the wet season causes serious soil compaction. Really wet land is impassable. Vertisols are imperfectly to poorly drained, leaching of soluble weathering products is limited, the contents of available calcium and magnesium are high and pH is above 7.
Flooding can be a major problem in areas with higher rainfall.
Surface water may be drained by open drains. Mole drainage is virtually impossible. Vertisols are chemically rich and are capable of sustaining continuous cropping. However, the overall productivity normally remains low, especially where no irrigation water is available. Nitrogen is normally deficient as well as phosphorus.