Paddy
Explanation
The agricultural pattern of a region is determined by its climatic conditions, particularly rainfall and temperature, alongside soil type. The Ganga-Brahmaputra basin, specifically its eastern and lower reaches, is characterized by fertile alluvial soil and a humid monsoon climate with heavy rainfall.
Option Analysis
- Wheat: Incorrect. Wheat is a Rabi crop that requires a cool growing season and moderate rainfall (typically 50–75 cm). It is predominantly cultivated in the Upper and Middle Ganga plains (such as Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh), where rainfall is significantly lower than in the eastern basin.
- Maize: Incorrect. Maize requires moderate temperature, rainfall, and well-drained soil. While it is cultivated in various parts of the basin, it is not the dominant crop in the high-rainfall, often waterlogged zones of the lower basin.
- Paddy: Correct. Paddy (Rice) is a Kharif crop that demands high temperatures (above 25°C) and high humidity with annual rainfall exceeding 100 cm. The lower Ganga-Brahmaputra basin (covering West Bengal, Assam, and parts of Bihar) provides these specific conditions, making rice the staple and predominant crop of the region.
- Sorghum: Incorrect. Sorghum (Jowar) is a coarse grain typically grown in semi-arid regions with low rainfall. It is unsuited to the high-moisture environment of the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin.
Key Takeaway: The lower Ganga-Brahmaputra basin is agro-climatically defined by high humidity and heavy rainfall, making it the primary region for Paddy cultivation, in contrast to the wheat-dominated drier upper plains.