43.

Adaptation and distribution of crops

1 Adaptation
Adaptation may be defined as any feature of an organism, which has survival value under the existing
condition of its habitat. Such features or feature may allow the plants to make fuller use of nutrients, water,
temperature or light available or may give protection against adverse factors such as temperature extremes,
harmful insects and diseases. Adaptation may be morphological or physiological.
(a) Morphological adaptation such as growth habit, strength of stalk, radial symmetry, or rhizomes.
(b) Physiological adaptation, which result in resistance to parasites, greater ability to compete for nutrients
or ability to withstand desiccation. However both morphological and physiological adaptation represents
the expression of physiological processes.

2 Principles of Plant Distribution

Environmental factors are highly influential in determining the natural distribution of plants.
There are eight principles of plant distribution
Evolution
Climatic factors like light, temperature, moisture, wind etc.
Edaphic factors like soil, parent material, physiography
Dispersal of flora
Plant migrations
Climatic variations or change
Relative distributions of land and sea (occurrence in geological time) and it exerts a high degree of
control over distribution of flora
Biotic factors like obligate insect pollination, seed dissemination by animals and grazing by live stock
directly influence the plant distribution.

3 Theories Governing Crop Adaptation and Distribution

Theory of tolerance - Each plant or living organisms is able to thrive well in certain climatic conditions
below which and above which the plant cant grow, i.e., it requires optimum climatic conditions.
Temperature is one of the most common limiting factors in plant distribution. Many tropical crops such as
rubber, cocoa, banana will not with stand freezing temperature (0C). In these rubber probably has the
narrowest tolerance range and banana the widest range for temperature tolerance.
Theory of avoidance - It may be accomplished through rapid completion of the life cycle, as in
ephemerals, dormancy in seeds to avoid effects of the hottest and driest periods, dormancy in vegetative
parts or roots of all the perennials, water accumulation in succulents and extremely deep root systems to
avoid moisture deficiency.
Theory of factors replaceability - One factor that can be replaced by another or substituted by another.
For e.g.,
Elevation can be substituted for latitude because of its temperature effects. The climatic conditions at the
latitudes of 3545 N resembles to that of tropical regions at elevation of
40006000 ft.
The angle direction of slope may be substituted for latitude. This is also a temperature adjustment,
depending on the angle of exposure to solar radiation, wind etc.
Parent materials may compensate for climate.
Rainfall may be replaced by fog and to some extent by dew.
Soil texture may be substituted for moisture.

Major Crops of Indian Sub-continent

The origin, adaptation, altitude, rainfall and temperature, soil and distribution of different crops are given
below.
1. Rice - In India rice is the most important food crop and it is the staple food in tropical and subtropical
regions of Asia and Africa.
Origin: Indo-Burma (Indo-Myanmar).
Adaptation: Grown in the world between 39S (Australia) 50N latitude (China). In India it is grown
between 8N to 34N latitude.
Altitude: From below sea level (Kuttanad region of Kerala) to 3000 m (Jammu and Kashmir) above MSL.
Rainfall and Temperature: Rice is classified as a hydrophyte. A heavy rainfall (R.F.) of 125 cm is
required during its growing period. There should be a monthly R.F. of 200 mm to grow lowland rice and
100 mm to grow upland rice respectively. Deep water rice requires one meter height of standing column of
water. Rice requires high humidity and high temperature (1832C). The critical mean temperature for
flowering and fertilization is 1620C.
Soil: Though rice can be grown in variety of soils, ideal soil is heavy alluvial soils of river valley and
delta. The best is soils with slightly acidic nature 5.5 to 6.5 pH, but rice is commonly grown in soils of 4.5
to 8.5 pH. Rice is also grown in acidic peaty soils of Kerala with pH of 3.0 and highly alkaline soils of
Punjab and Haryana with pH 10.0.
Distribution: Rice is widely distributed in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Japan,
Australia, USA, Spain, Korea. In India rice is grown in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar, Uttar
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh etc.
2. Wheat - Wheat is the most important and widely cultivated crop in the world. In occupies a prime
position in terms of production. India ranks second in production next to China. In India, wheat is the
second most important food crop next to rice.
Origin: Central Asia.
Cultivated species
Common/bread wheat95% production.
Durum/macaroni/samba wheat3-4% production.
Emmer wheat1% production
Indian dwarf wheatless than 1% production
Distribution: Widely distributed in USSR, China, USA, Switzerland, France, Germany, India etc. In India
wheat is grown in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, Haryana,
Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Adaptation: It can be cultivated from sea level to as high as 3,300 m above MSL.
Climate: Cool winter and dry hot summer is required. Wheat requires a rainfall of 4090 cm. But high
temperature and high humidity are harmful.
Soils: Though grown in wide range of soil, well drained loams and clay loams are better suited. It is grown
in soils with pH above 5.8 and the most suitable pH is 6.57.5.
Seasons
Winter wheat: Long duration wheat varieties are grown in this season, which require low temperature
during early growth for flowering and fruiting. It is grown from October, November to May, July.
Spring wheat: These varieties do not require low temperature for flowering the fruiting. Normally grown
from March, May to August, September.
In India, spring wheat is grown in winter (October, November to March, April). There are two seasons for
wheat in hills of Tamil Nadu (i) OctoberApril, and (ii) MaySeptember.
Wheat zones of India
1. North Western plains, 2. North Eastern plains, 3. Central zone, 4. Peninsular zone.
3. Maize - It is a multipurpose cereal, grown in USA, Brazil, China, Mexico, India and Canada. In India it
is grown in states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab, Karnataka, Himachal
Pradesh. It requires a mean temperature of 24C and night temperature more than 15C. Summer
temperature below 19C is not suitable. It requires a well distributed rainfall of 5075 cm. It can be grown
from sea level to 3000 m above MSL.
4. Sorghum (Jowar) - It is a cereal crop for food in underdeveloped countries and it is grown in USA,
China, Nigeria, Sudan and Argentina. In India, it is grown in states of Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Temperature
requirement is minimum 8 to 10C, optimum 26-29C and maximum 35-40C. Sorghum can tolerate high
temperature throughout its life cycle better than any other cereal crops. Sorghum can tolerate drought
condition. Because (a) it remains dormant during moisture stress and resumes growth when favourable
condition reappear, and (b) it possesses (i) high resistance to desiccation, (ii) low transpiration rate, and
(iii) largest number of fibrous roots.
5. Chick pea/Bengal gram - It is number one pulse in area, production and economic importance in India.
It is grown in India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Burma, Turkey. In India, it is grown in states of Madhya Pradesh,
Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Maharastra. It is a winter season crop but severe cold and
frost are injurious to it. It requires a moderate rainfall of 60-90 cm.
6. Pigeonpea (arhar) - A pulse crop of India with high demand. It is the second most important pulse crop
of India and foremost in Southern India. It is a crop with great resilience and withstands water stress and
association of short duration crops without any considerable adverse effect on yield. It is grown as pure
crop, intercrop border crop etc.
7. Groundnut (peanut) - It is an introduced important oilseed crop of India. It is a tropical crop grown in
India, China, U.S.A. and Brazil. In India, it is grown in the states of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
and Punjab. It is grown between 45N and 30S latitude with R.F: 370600 mm, minimum temperature:
1416C and optimum temperature : 2126.5C.
8. Sunflower - It is also an important oil seed crop of India. It requires a rainfall of 380 mm in summer and
550 mm in sandy loam soils. Sunflower has a heliotropic response. It is grown in U.S.A, Argentina,
Romania, Spain, Yugoslovakia, Turkey and former USSR countries. Being thermo and photo insensitive it
can be grown throughout the year.
9. Mustard - An oilseed of Indian origin. It is grown in India, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh. In India, it
is grown in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal and
Gujarat. It requires cool climate and rainfall of 3545 cm.
10. Cotton - It is a fibre crop of commercially important and an industrial crop. It is grown in India,
U.S.A, former USSR countries, China, Brazil, Egypt, Pakistan, Mexico, Turkey and Sudan. In India, it is
grown in Maharastra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and
Uttar Pradesh. Cotton is a heat loving plant requires a minimum rainfall of 175-200 mm (well distributed).
It requires a minimum of 180200 frost free days.
11. Jute - It is also a fibre crop. It is grown in India, Bangladesh, China, Thailand, Brazil, Peru, Burma,
Nepal and Vietnam. In India, it is grown in West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya and
Tripura. It requires an optimum temperature of 2538C, rainfall of 150 cm/annum and relative humidity
of 5590%.
12. Tobacco - It is grown in India, China and USA. In India, it is grown in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Maharastra and Uttar Pradesh. It is a day neutral
plant. It requires a rainfall of 500 mm and 90-120 frost free days. The temperature requirement is,
minimum temperature 1314C, Optimum temperature 2732C and maximum temperature 35C.
13. Sugarcane - It is an important commercial cash crop, grown in India, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan,
China, Philippines, Thailand and USA. In India, it is grown in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat,
Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Maharastra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. (It is grown in 30N30S latitude)
Frost causes injury to sugarcane buds. It requires an annual rainfall of 12502500 mm. It is a short day
plant, flowering can be photoperiodically controlled. It requires an optimum temperature of 2632C for
growth.
14. Potato - Being a crop of temperate crop, requires a cool temperature. Ideal temperature for vegetative
growth is 24C and that for tuberisation is 18-20C. It is susceptible to frost and requires bright sunny
weather. High humidity coupled with cloudy days is injurious to potato because the crop is attacked by
fungal diseases (late blight).
15. Sugar beet - It is grown in former USSR countries, USA., France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Poland,
Czechoslovakia etc. In India, it is grown in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and
Maharastra. It requires an optimum temperature of 2022C and maximum temperature of 30C and the
crop is highly tolerant to frost and cold.
16. Banana - It is grown in India, Taiwan, Equator, Coasto rica, Panama, Mexico, Ivory coast, Columbia
and Guatemala. In India, it is grown in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is grown with rain fall of 18002500
mm. It requires a minimum temperature of 89C and optimum temperature of 2429C.