Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other one is labelled as Reason (R).

Assertion (A): Water requirement for wheat crops varies from 300 to 600 mm.

Reason (R): Water requirement varies depending on the soil type and rainfall and variety.

In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

Correct option is A

Explanation of the Correct Option (a): Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Why Assertion (A) is CORRECT:
· Wheat is a moderate water-requiring crop.
· Its total water requirement generally ranges between:
· 300 to 600 mm
· The variation depends on climatic and management conditions.
· Hence, the assertion is scientifically correct.
Why Reason (R) is CORRECT:
· Water requirement of crops is influenced by:
· Soil type (sandy soils need more frequent irrigation than clay soils)
· Rainfall amount and distribution
· Crop variety (duration and growth habit)
· Therefore, wheat grown under different soils and climates shows variation in water requirement.
Why (R) Correctly Explains (A):
· Differences in soil, rainfall, and varieties directly cause the wide range (300–600 mm).
· Hence, the reason properly explains the assertion.
Explanation of Other Options
Option (b): Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A)
· Incorrect because:
· Reason (R) clearly explains why the water requirement varies.
Option (c): (A) is correct but (R) is not correct
· Incorrect because:
· Reason (R) is factually correct.
Option (d): (A) is not correct but (R) is correct
· Incorrect because:
· Assertion (A) is a well-established agronomic fact.
Key Points Related to the Question
· Wheat water requirement: 300–600 mm
· Depends on:
· Soil texture
· Rainfall pattern
· Crop variety and duration
· Critical stages of wheat irrigation:
· Crown root initiation (CRI)
· Tillering
· Flowering
· Grain filling