Explain three geographical conditions that influence the cultivation of crops.

Climate, soil and topography are the main determining factors that influence the cultivation of crops.

1. Climate: Temperature and rainfall conditions influence the growth of crops.

   1. The hot and humid lands are suitable for the growth of crops such as cotton, sugar cane, jute and rice.
   2. Cooler and drier places are more suitable for growing wheat, corn and mustard.
   3. Very dry or very cold conditions are not suitable for the growth of crops.

2. Soil: Some soils such as alluvial soil of the river plains are extremely fertile. They are excellent for the growth of all types of crops.

   1. Soils rich in humus like the Chernozem of Russia are also extremely fertile.
   2. A crop may also be found to be extremely suitable for a particular type of soil. For example, cotton grows extremely well in the black soil of the Deccan Plateau in India while the terra roxa soil of Brazil is excellent for growing coffee. Laterite soils are ideal for growing tea.

3. Topography: Topography refers to the relief features.

   1. Levelled landscape always helps in ploughing, irrigating and harvesting crops. Thus, major farming areas are in the plains.
   2. On the other hand, crops such as tea and coffee grow better on hill slopes as they cannot withstand stagnant water.
   3. Crops such as rice and jute that require more water are ideally grown in the lowlands. Sometimes broad steps have to be cut on highlands such as mountain slopes, to get the flat terrain required for cultivation of these crops. This is known as terrace cultivation.