Question:
Which of the following crops has minimum water requirement?
Which of the following crops has minimum water requirement?
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Remember the general hierarchy of water demand:
Sugarcane $>$ Rice $>$ Cotton $>$ Maize $>$ Wheat $>$ Pulses/Oilseeds.
Crops grown in the Rabi season generally require less water than those in the Kharif season because of lower temperatures and ET rates.
Sugarcane $>$ Rice $>$ Cotton $>$ Maize $>$ Wheat $>$ Pulses/Oilseeds.
Crops grown in the Rabi season generally require less water than those in the Kharif season because of lower temperatures and ET rates.
Updated On: Aug 21, 2026
- Rice
- Sugarcane
- Maize
- Wheat
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Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the crop among the given options that has the lowest total water requirement throughout its growth cycle.
Water requirement (WR) is defined as the total quantity of water, regardless of its source, required by a crop or an agricultural system in a given period of time for its normal growth under field conditions.
Key Formula or Approach:
The water requirement is generally calculated as:
\[ \text{WR} = \text{ET} + \text{Ww} + \text{Wl} \]
Where ET is evapotranspiration, Ww is water needed for special operations (like puddling in rice), and Wl is losses during application.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• Crop-wise Water Requirements:
Rice: Typically requires $1200 - 2500$ mm. This is very high because rice is often grown in flooded conditions and requires additional water for land preparation (puddling).
Sugarcane: Requires $1500 - 2500$ mm. It is a long-duration crop (stays in the field for $10-18$ months), which naturally increases its total water consumption.
Maize: Requires $500 - 800$ mm. While it is more efficient than rice, it is still a C4 plant that requires substantial moisture during its rapid growth phases.
Wheat: Requires $450 - 650$ mm. Wheat is a winter crop (Rabi) and has a relatively lower transpiration rate due to cooler environmental conditions during its peak growth stages compared to Kharif crops.
• Comparison:
Among the four listed options, Wheat consistently shows the lowest total water demand.
Rice and Sugarcane are known as "water-guzzling" crops.
While Maize is efficient, its total seasonal requirement in typical Indian conditions is higher than that of a standard 120-135 day wheat crop.
• Factors Influencing WR:
Solar radiation, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and crop duration all play significant roles.
Wheat's growth period coincides with the cooler months, which reduces the evaporative demand of the atmosphere.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Considering the standard values for major crops in India, Wheat has the minimum water requirement among the provided choices.
The question asks to identify the crop among the given options that has the lowest total water requirement throughout its growth cycle.
Water requirement (WR) is defined as the total quantity of water, regardless of its source, required by a crop or an agricultural system in a given period of time for its normal growth under field conditions.
Key Formula or Approach:
The water requirement is generally calculated as:
\[ \text{WR} = \text{ET} + \text{Ww} + \text{Wl} \]
Where ET is evapotranspiration, Ww is water needed for special operations (like puddling in rice), and Wl is losses during application.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• Crop-wise Water Requirements:
Rice: Typically requires $1200 - 2500$ mm. This is very high because rice is often grown in flooded conditions and requires additional water for land preparation (puddling).
Sugarcane: Requires $1500 - 2500$ mm. It is a long-duration crop (stays in the field for $10-18$ months), which naturally increases its total water consumption.
Maize: Requires $500 - 800$ mm. While it is more efficient than rice, it is still a C4 plant that requires substantial moisture during its rapid growth phases.
Wheat: Requires $450 - 650$ mm. Wheat is a winter crop (Rabi) and has a relatively lower transpiration rate due to cooler environmental conditions during its peak growth stages compared to Kharif crops.
• Comparison:
Among the four listed options, Wheat consistently shows the lowest total water demand.
Rice and Sugarcane are known as "water-guzzling" crops.
While Maize is efficient, its total seasonal requirement in typical Indian conditions is higher than that of a standard 120-135 day wheat crop.
• Factors Influencing WR:
Solar radiation, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and crop duration all play significant roles.
Wheat's growth period coincides with the cooler months, which reduces the evaporative demand of the atmosphere.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Considering the standard values for major crops in India, Wheat has the minimum water requirement among the provided choices.
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