Mr. ‘P’ is from Assam”. He wishes to cultivate either Tea or Wheat. Which one of the crops out of the two can he cultivate in his state? Substantiate your answer with any two reasons.
Answer:
Answer by Student
Mr. P can cultivate tea in his state of Assam. He cannot cultivate wheat because:
- Tea requires a warm and humid climate with well-distributed rainfall throughout the year. Assam has such a climate, whereas wheat requires a cool and dry climate with moderate rainfall.
-
Tea is grown on
hill slopes and well-drained soils.
Assam has a hilly terrain and fertile alluvial soils, whereas wheat is grown on flat and loamy soils.
Hence, tea is more suitable for cultivation in Assam than wheat.
Detailed Answer by Teachoo
Mr. P can cultivate tea in his state of Assam. He cannot cultivate wheat because:
-
Tea is a
tropical
and
subtropical
crop that thrives in hot and moist conditions. It requires a
temperature
of 20-30°C and an annual
rainfall
of 150-300 cm. It also needs frequent showers for the continuous growth of tender leaves.
Assam
has a
warm and humid climate
with an average annual temperature of 24°C and an average annual rainfall of 280 cm. These climatic conditions are ideal for tea cultivation. On the other hand, wheat is a
temperate
crop that grows well in cool and dry conditions. It requires a temperature of 10-15°C during sowing and 21-26°C during ripening. It also needs moderate rainfall of 50-75 cm during the growing season. These climatic conditions are not suitable for wheat cultivation in Assam, where the temperature is too high and the rainfall is too heavy.
- Tea is grown on hill slopes and well-drained soils that are rich in humus and organic matter. It also needs slightly acidic soils with a pH of 4.5-5.5. Assam has a hilly terrain and fertile alluvial soils that are suitable for tea cultivation. The Brahmaputra River and its tributaries provide irrigation and drainage facilities for the tea gardens. On the other hand, wheat is grown on flat and loamy soils that are rich in clay and silt. It also needs neutral or slightly alkaline soils with a pH of 6.5-8.5. These soil conditions are not suitable for wheat cultivation in Assam, where the soils are too acidic and poorly drained.
Hence, tea is more suitable for cultivation in Assam than wheat.