In Indian agriculture, black cotton soils are best suited for the cultivation of which major field crop?

Introduction / Context:
Soil types and their suitable crops are a core part of Indian geography and agriculture. Black soil, often called black cotton soil or regur, covers a large part of the Deccan plateau. This question checks whether the learner can link this characteristic soil type with the crop for which it is especially famous and suitable.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The soil type mentioned is black soil or black cotton soil. • We must identify the crop best suited to this soil. • Options include maize, sugarcane, cotton, paddy rice and wheat. • Standard school level agriculture geography is assumed as background.

Concept / Approach:
Black soils are clay rich, moisture retentive, and develop deep cracks in the dry season. They are derived largely from basaltic rocks of the Deccan trap and are rich in minerals like lime, iron and magnesia but poor in phosphorous and nitrogen. These properties make them especially suitable for cotton cultivation, which needs good moisture holding capacity and deep soil profile for tap roots.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the common name black cotton soil, which itself hints at the associated crop. Step 2: Among major Indian crops, cotton is repeatedly paired with black soil in textbooks, especially in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. Step 3: Look at the options and identify which crop is most typically associated with black soils in exams. Step 4: Maize, paddy and wheat are usually grown in alluvial soils, red soils or lateritic soils in many regions, though they can grow in black soil also with inputs. Step 5: Since black soil is traditionally named for and associated with cotton, we select cotton as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Agricultural geography chapters in standard texts clearly mention that black cotton soils are ideal for cotton cultivation. Crop distribution maps show major cotton belts overlapping with black soil regions in central and western India. Government and exam preparation material also refer to these soils as regur, emphasising their cotton suitability.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Maize: Though maize can be grown in various soils, it is not the classic crop associated with black cotton soils in exam questions. Sugarcane: Sugarcane prefers deep, fertile alluvial soil or well drained loams with heavy irrigation rather than specifically black soil. Paddy rice: Typically associated with fertile alluvial soils and heavy rainfall or irrigation in lowland fields. Wheat: Grown largely in alluvial soils of the northern plains and in some black soil regions, but it is not the primary crop linked to the term black cotton soil.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students overthink and choose sugarcane because it is also grown in Maharashtra and Karnataka, which have black soils, but that ignores the naming clue. Another pitfall is confusing black soil with alluvial soil and therefore choosing wheat or paddy. Remembering the phrase black cotton soil directly connects the soil type to the correct crop.

Final Answer:
Black cotton soils in Indian agriculture are best suited for the cultivation of cotton.