Which crop suits black cotton soil best for planning my season?

Black cotton soil holds water well and is fertile but cracks when dry and gets sticky and waterlogged when wet, so the best crops are those that use its moisture holding nature and tolerate its heavy texture. Cotton, soybean, sorghum (jowar), pigeon pea and sunflower do well on it in kharif, and chickpea, wheat, safflower and mustard suit it in rabi, often grown on stored soil moisture with little or no irrigation. The main caution is drainage, because in a heavy rain year these soils waterlog and crops can suffer, so avoid very water sensitive crops in low lying patches and make sure excess water can drain. The plus side is that black soil rabi crops can grow largely on residual moisture, saving water. Get a soil test for nutrients since these soils are often low in nitrogen and may need phosphorus and zinc, then plan the crop and fertiliser accordingly. Confirm the best crop and variety for your specific field and rainfall with your local KVK.