Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Water requirement refers to the total quantity of water needed by a crop in a given period for its normal growth and development under field conditions. This includes transpiration, evaporation, and any metabolic water needs.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us match each crop with its typical seasonal water requirement range (expressed in mm):
A. Cotton: Cotton is a long-duration, high-water-demanding crop. Its water requirement typically ranges between700 and 1300 mm. Thus, (A) matches with (I).
B. Maize: Maize is a C4 crop with moderate water requirements, typically ranging between500 and 800 mm per season. Thus, (B) matches with (II).
C. Wheat: Wheat is a winter season (rabi) crop with a relatively short growth cycle and low-to-moderate transpiration rates, requiring about450 to 650 mm of water. Thus, (C) matches with (V).
D. Groundnut: Groundnut requires moderate, regular water supply during its vegetative and pegging stages, typically ranging between500 and 700 mm. Thus, (D) matches with (IV).
E. Pineapple: Although pineapple is a CAM plant with low daily transpiration rates, it has a very long cropping cycle (often 12-18 months), resulting in a total water requirement of700 to 1000 mm. Thus, (E) matches with (III).
This gives the match combination: A-I, B-II, C-V, D-IV, E-III.
Step 2: Final Answer:
The correct option is (A).