Black soil of the Deccan Plateau is considered useful for which crop?

Correct answer: Cotton

The correct answer is A, cotton. Deccan black soil, also called regur soil, developed largely from the weathering of basaltic rocks. Its fine clay particles give it a strong moisture-retaining capacity, which is valuable for cotton because the crop can continue to receive stored soil moisture during comparatively dry intervals. The soil is also rich in certain minerals, though it may require management or added nutrients for particular crops. Tea is more closely associated with humid, well-drained hill slopes; coconut prefers warm coastal environments; and jute generally needs humid conditions and fertile alluvial soils, especially in river plains. These contrasts make cotton the standard textbook association. Therefore, option A is correct, although black soil can support more than one crop in suitable conditions.