Identify the crop on the basis of the following characteristics : 1. It is a kharif crop. 2. Aus, Aman and Boro are its three different growing periods in an agricultural year. 3. About one-fourth of the total cropped area of India is under its cultivation. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

The crop described is rice (paddy). Rice is primarily a kharif crop, sown with the arrival of the monsoon and harvested in September-October. In specific Indian states like Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha, climatic conditions allow for three distinct growing periods in an agricultural year, known as Aus, Aman, and Boro [1]. While Aman is the traditional kharif crop, Aus is often grown in the pre-kharif/autumn season and Boro in the rabi/summer season. Geographically, rice is the most dominant crop in India, accounting for approximately one-fourth of the total cropped area of the country [3]. India is a global leader in rice production, ranking second only to China [3]. The crop's adaptability allows it to be grown across diverse regions, from the irrigated plains of Punjab to the coastal regions of West Bengal [3].

Sources

1. [1] NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialisation > CROPPING PATTERN > p. 81
2. [3] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > rightarrow Kharif crop > p. 290