CROP CLASSIFICATION

 CROP CLASSIFICATION

Introduction:

Agriculture is the backbone of Tanzania’s economy. The history of agriculture dates back to several centuries. Since time immemorial, crops and plants were grown and domesticated by the people, in several parts of the world. Plants which are fully useful for human and animal consumption have been segregated and cultivated in farms and fields. In Geographic studies, the area of cultivation of crops and plants, factors of their growth, their distribution and yield are analyzed with reference to space and time.

The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) explains the principal ranks of taxa. According to them, plants are classified based on the following criteria:

a)      Botanical,

b)      Descriptive, and

c)      Agricultural.

Hence, the objectives of studying this lesson are to know about:

1.      Descriptive Classification

2.      Ecological classification

3.      Agronomic Classification

4.      Horticultural Classification

5.      Ornamental and plantation classification.

 

1. DESCRIPTIVE CLASSIFICATION OF CROPS

The descriptive classification of crops is based on five criterions:

1.      Mode of Reproduction,

2.      Mode of Pollination,

3.      Life Span,

4.      Growth Habit and

5.      Leaf Retention.

The method adopted according to the Mode of Reproduction, has classified the crops into two major divisions as sexual and asexual reproducing plants. The Sexual category of plants are developed from a seed or spore after undergoing union of male and female gametes. The typical examples include palms and ferns. The Asexual category of plants undergo reproduction by any vegetative means without the union of the sexual gametes or by apomixis.

The Crop Classifications attempted according to the mode of pollination. This criteria divides plants into three categories as:

a.       Naturally self-pollinated crops

b.      Naturally cross-pollinated crops

c.       Both self- and cross-pollinated crops

In the Naturally self-pollinated plants, both pollen and embryo sac are produced in the same floral structure or in different flowers but within the same plant. Typical Examples include: rice, most pulses, okra, tobacco, tomato.

In the Naturally cross-pollinated crops, the pollen transfer is done from one flower to the stigma of another flower in a separate plant. Typical examples include, corn and many grasses, avocado, grape, mango, many plants with unisexual or imperfect flowers.

In both self- and cross-pollinated crops, plants are largely self-pollinated but varying amounts of cross-pollination also occur. Examples include, cotton and sorghum.

 According to Life Span, crops are classified into annuals, biennial and perennial categories.

The Annuals are plants which live within a short period of time, for a few weeks or months, perpetuated by seed, and which die soon after producing seeds. Examples include: rice, corn, cowpea, etc.

The Biennials are plants which requires two growing seasons to complete its life cycle, the first for vegetative growth and accumulation of food reserves, and the second for the production of reproductive parts. Examples include: onion, cabbage, carrot, celery, and radish.

The Perennials include, a plant that lives indefinitely, including all trees and shrubs and many herbaceous plants with underground stems (e.g. corm, rhizome, and tuber) like banana and clump-forming grasses. The Perennial plants continue growing and produce seeds year after year, either from a single plant or, in herbaceous plants, from succeeding regrowth.

Based on Growth Habit crops classified into Herbs, Vines, Lianas, Shrubs and Trees.

According to Leaf Retention, plants are classified into Evergreen plants and deciduous plants.

The Evergreen plants are those that maintain their leaves throughout the year. Abscised leaves are continually replaced by new flushes. Examples include pines, banana, papaya, palms and most tropical plants.

The Deciduous plants are those which naturally shed off or lose leaves annually for extended periods. Natural leaf shedding is pronounced in deciduous trees of temperate regions.

2.      ECOLOGICAL ADAPTATION OR HABITAT:

The plants are also classified according to their ecological adaptation and habitat. The major classes of plants are:

 

 

 

The Aquatic/ hydrophytic plants are adapted to growing in water or waterlogged soil. They grow entirely in submerged, partly submerged or floating, or conditions. Examples: lotus and water lily. 4 The Epiphyte or epiphytic plants grow above ground on another plant but is not parasitic, usually deriving only physical support from the host and obtaining nourishment from the air and other sources.

The most common epiphytes belong to the pineapple, orchid, and fern families. The Halophytes grow in habitats excessively rich in salts or under saline conditions. Mangrove vegetation are good examples. Coconut, cashew and tamarind have varying levels of tolerance to saline conditions.

The Lithophytes are adapted to grow on rocks or in rocky terrain with little humus, absorbing nutrients from the atmosphere, rain, and decaying matter which accumulate on the rocks.

The Mesophytes are terrestrial plants which are adapted to moderate conditions for growth, i.e. not too dry and not too wet (e.g. corn and most commercially-grown crops).

The Parasite or parasitic plants grow on another plant from which it takes part or all nourishment.

The Saprophyte or saprophytic crops grow on decaying organic matter and has no green tissue. This classification applies to the mushrooms, which are fungi.

The Sciophytes grow in low light intensity or shade, e.g. most ferns and mosses, black pepper, coffee, hot pepper, gingers, and many orchids can tolerate or require shade.

The Terrestrial or land plants grow on land. Most agricultural crops are terrestrial plants. They are further subclassified into various groups such as halophytes, mesophytes, etc.

The Xerophytes are adapted to conditions with little or no water. Examples: cacti and many succulents.

3.      AGRICULTURAL CLASSIFICATION

A crop is any useful plant, or a plant which is grown for any purpose. It is utilized by people directly or indirectly, raw or processed. These plants are intentionally grown or managed for various uses. On the basis of tradition, extent of cultivation and intensity of culture, agricultural crops are classified into two main divisions: agronomic and horticultural. The Agronomic crops are also called as “field crops”. They are mostly annual herbaceous plants that are grown under extensive or large-scale culture.

The agricultural classification of plants/ crops based on their primary uses include the following classes:

 

The Food Crops are plants grown primarily for the harvesting of any part which is used by people as food or processed into food product.

The Non-food Crops are mainly cash crops. These are plants grown for the production of non-food products such as fiber, fodder, alcohol and tobacco.

The Staple Crops are food crops. These are regularly consumed in a traditional diet and from which people obtain a major proportion of their energy and nutrient requirements. Examples of other staple crops: wheat and millet.

The Cereal or Grain Crops are mainly annual, herbaceous plants belonging to the grass family which are grown for their seeds or grains. Examples: corn, millet, rice, sorghum, wheat.

The Legume Seed Crops or Pulses are leguminous plants which produce edible, protein-rich seeds. Examples: cowpea, peanut and peas.

The Root and Tuber s us Crops are plants with modified, swollen root or underground stem. These organs are rich sources of carbohydrate and are commonly used as staple, livestock feed, or as raw materials for industrial purposes, such as starch and alcohol production, or processed into various food products.

The Oil Seed Crops are plants grown for their seeds which are rich source of edible and industrial oil. Example: sunflower

The Sugar and sweetener Crops are plants grown primarily for the production of sugar or other sweettasting products. Various forms of sugar are derived from various parts of certain plants such as from stems, bulb and other underground organs, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, sap and resin. These are called as sugar crops.

The Beverage Crops are plants which are sources of various drinks including fruit juices. Examples: coffee and tea.

The Rubber Crops are another major type of plants that are grown for the production of latex which is processed into the industrial product called rubber.

The Latex and Gum Crops are very typical plants. These plants are grown for the collection of latex which is processed into chewing gum, inelastic rubber and other industrial products such as surgical tapes and dental supplies, insulation, splints, pipes, golf balls, waterproofing, adhesives, etc.

The Dye and Tannin Crops are special kinds of plants. These plants are grown as sources of tannin and coloring substances. Tannin is an aromatic, phenolic substance which is obtained from barks and other plant organs and variously used in tanning, medicines, dyeing, ink manufacture, etc.

Fiber Crops are plants grown as sources of fiber used in making textiles, ropes, twine and similar materials. The fiber is extracted from the bark, leaves, or other organs including the husk of coconut. 6 The Pasture and Forage Crops are very essential varieties of plants. These plants are grown or managed as vegetable feed for grazing animals. Soilage Crops are the grasses grown, cut and directly fed to animals.

Silage Crops are the grasses grown, cut, fermented and preserved before being fed to animals.

The Biofuel Crops are special type of crops. These plants are grown for the production of fuel that is used as additive or replacement for petroleum products. Examples: sugarcane, corn, coconut, castor bean and Jatropha.

 

4. HORTICULTURAL CROPS/ PLANTS

Horticultural crops have been referred to as “garden crops”. Horticultural crops are annual and perennial plants which are grown under an intensive system of agriculture. The following are the major kind of horticultural crops:

 

 

 

The Fruit Crops and Nuts include plants that are grown primarily for their edible fruits. Nuts are grown for their fruits which are high in fat. The nut is a simple, dry, indehiscent fruit with a hard outer covering. Example is the cashew.

The Spice Crops are grown for the production of aromatic substances which are used as food flavoring, fragrance or preservative qualities. Spices are in solid or liquid forms. Examples: black pepper, garlic, ginger, hot pepper, onion and turmeric.

The Essential-oil Crops are plants grown for the extraction of essential oils which are volatile, aromatic substances for perfumery and other uses. Examples: eucalyptus, peppermint, etc.

 

Vegetable Crops are (except mushroom) grown for their succulent and edible parts such as the roots, stems, leaves, young tops, fruits or seeds for use in culinary preparations either fresh or preserved in the fresh state.

Vegetables are classified based on their edible parts, into several varieties. They are:

a)      Leafy Vegetables are crops that are grown mainly for their leaves. Examples: amaranth , lettuce, and raddish.

b)      Shoot Vegetables are plants grown primarily for their edible shoot, mainly the young, succulent stem. Examples: asparagus and celery.

c)      Pod and Seed Vegetables are generally members of Leguminosae or Fabaceae family. These plants are grown for their young pods and seeds. Examples: beans and sweet corn.

d)      Root and Bulb Vegetables are plants grown for their swollen underground roots and stems. Examples: carrot, potato, onion and raddish.

e)      Flower Vegetables are plants with edible flowers. Examples: rose and sunflower.

f)       Fruit Vegetables are grown for their fleshy, succulent fruits. Examples: eggplant, tomato, peppers and melons.

g)      Vegetables are also classified according to their families, into the following groups:

1.      Cole Crops or Crucifers. These vegetable crops belong to the Cruciferae or Brassicaceae (Mustard) family. They possess edible leaves or heads. Examples: cabbage, cauliflower, mustard, and raddish.

2.      Cucurbits, belong to the Gourd and Squash family. They are grown mainly for their fruits but some have edible young shoots and flowers; also called Vine Crops. Examples: bottle gourd, cucumber and melons.

3.      Legume Vegetables are the members of the Leguminosae or Fabaceae (Bean) family. The seeds are rich in protein. Examples: kidney beans, pea and pole sitao.

4.      Lilies are members of the Liliaceae (Lily) family. Examples: asparagus, garlic and onion.

5.      Solanaceous Crops, belong to the Solanaceae (Nightshade or Eggplant) family and, with the exception of white potato, are also called Fruit Vegetables. Examples: eggplant, tomato, peppers and white potato.

6.      Mushrooms are edible fungi belonging to the division Basidiomycota (club fungi). The edible part commonly consist of an upright stalk and an umbrella- shaped cap.

 

 

5. ORNAMENTAL AND OTHER PLANTATION CROPS

Gardening is a part of agriculture. Horticultural cultivation of garden plants is a major area of economy. The Ornamental Crops are plants that are grown primarily for decoration or landscaping or to be appreciated because of their attractive flowers or foliage. They also include floricultural crops.

The ornamental plants are further classified into several varieties, based on their usage, as:

 

 

 

The Accents are plants with showy features distinct from the rest of the other plants. It immediately attracts attention and becomes a focal item in the landscape garden and at the same time provides the contrast which gives attention to other plants.

The Specimens are obtained from plants that have showy features, or with unique characteristics which make them pieces of conversation or botanical curiosity, or otherwise desired as collector’s item.

The Screens are plants grown to serve as barrier against sun rays, to conceal certain parts of the landscape, or to obstruct view.

The Shade crops are generally trees, shrubs, trellised vines and lianas which are grown mainly to provide shade singly or with supporting trellis.

The Avenue Trees are mainly trees and shrubs grown, more or less equidistant, beside roads and streets. Palms are also used. In addition to these, there are two more categories of plantation crops. One is Biocidal Crops and Industrial Crops.

The Biocidal Crops are plants containing organic compounds with pesticidal or anti-microbial properties. The effective parts are either directly applied or seeped in water for foliar spray.

The Industrial Crops are plants grown to provide materials for industrial processing and production of non-food products, including drugs.

The crop names which we use in the farmland are also included under the plantation crops category.

 

 

 

Any crop which is intended by the grower to become his main source of revenue is called as the Main Crop.

 A plant which is temporarily grown in the nursery and later planted in the field or garden or used for ornamental display, when it reaches the proper age and size, is called as a Nursery crop. The Intercrop is any crop which is planted simultaneously with or before the flowering season of the main crop in intercropping.

The Filler Crop is any crop which is planted to fill a gap.

The Relay Crop is the crop which is planted after the flowering period or harvest of the main crop in relay cropping.

The Companion crop is any crop which is planted close to the main crop to complement the latter’s growth and production, or to maximize utilization of space because they do not compete.

The Cover crop is a crop grown mainly to control soil erosion, regulate soil temperature, control weeds and reduce evaporative losses.

The Green manure crop is a leguminous crop grown to be plowed under the soil to increase organic matter and serve as organic fertilizer. Mungbean (mungo) is ideal for this purpose.

The Trap crop or Decoy crop are plants grown to attract certain insect pests or parasites because they are favorite hosts. They act as decoys to lure pests away from the main crop.

The Insect pest repellant crops are plants grown along the borders and at strategic places in the farm to repel insect pests because of their strong aroma and anti-herbivory properties.

The Natural enemy’s attractant crops are flowering plants grown at strategic places in the farm to attract natural enemies of insect pests. The extent of cultivation of these crops vary from place to place and depends on such factors as the level of mechanization, adoption of technological advances, farm size, market stability and availability of capital.

A crop is a plant or animal product that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. 

Agronomy is the application of science and technology from the fields of biology, chemistry, economics, ecology, soil science, water science, pest management and genetics to the improvement and management of the crops but also Agronomy has been defined in short concise terms as the art and science of field crop production and management

Horticulture is the science and art of the development, sustainable production, marketing, and use of high-value, intensively cultivated food and ornamental plants. Horticultural crops are diverse; they include annual and perennial species, delicious fruits and vegetables, and decorative indoor and landscape plants.

Animal husbandry is the branch of science deals with the practice of breeding, farming and care of farm animals such as cattle, dogs, sheep and horses by humans for advantages. Animal husbandry refers to livestock raising and selective breeding. It is a branch of agriculture.

 

 

CLIMATIC FACTOR AFFECTING PLANT GROWTH

Temperature

Temperature, an approximate measurement of the heat energy available from solar radiation, is an important factor because most plant biological activity and growth occur within only a narrow range of temperatures, between 32F (0⁰C) and 122F (50⁰C). High temperatures limit biological reactions because the complex structures of proteins are disrupted or denatured. Although respiration and photosynthesis can continue slowly at temperatures well below 32F if plants are physiologically “hardened”, low temperatures limit biological reactions because water becomes unavailable when it is

Water (Precipitation)

Water is the principal constituent of plant cells, usually composing over 80% of the fresh weight of herbaceous plants. Water is the primary solvent in physiological processes by which gases, minerals, and other materials enter plant cells and by which these materials are translocated to various parts of the plant. Water is the substance in which processes such as photosynthesis and other biochemical reactions occur and a structural component of proteins and nucleic acids. Water is also essential for the maintenance of the rigidity of plant tissue and for cell enlargement and growth in plants

Light

Light is the ultimate source of energy and the most important ecological factor affecting plant growth. Variations in quality, intensity, and duration of light affect plant growth. Light is necessary for photosynthesis, the process that converts light energy into chemical energy. The rate of photosynthesis varies with different wavelengths, but the quality (wavelength) of sunlight does not vary enough in a given region to have an important differential effect on the rate of photosynthesis. The intensity of sunlight (measurable energy) and duration of sunlight (length of day or photoperiod)

Relative humidity (RH) 

This is the amount of water vapor in the air, expressed as the proportion (in percent) of the maximum amount of water vapor it can hold at certain temperature. The relative humidity affects the opening and closing of the stomata which regulates loss of water from the plant through transpiration as well as photosynthesis. A substantial understanding of this climatic factor is likewise important in plant propagation.

Wind

Air movement or wind is due to the existence of pressure gradient on a global or local scale caused by differences in heating. This serves as a vector of pollen from one flower to another thus aiding in the process of pollination. It is therefore essential in the development of fruit and seed from wind-pollinated flowers. Moderate winds favor gas exchanges, but strong winds can cause excessive water loss through transpiration as well as lodging or toppling of plants.

TYPES OF SEED DORMANCY

Endogenous dormancy occurs due to chemical changes within the seed's embryo. One reason a plant cannot germinate due to endogenous dormancy is because the embryo is not yet fully developed or specific seasonal cues have not ensued.

Exogenous dormancy is caused by conditions outside of the seed's embryo. An example of exogenous dormancy is when the seed coat is too durable for moisture to infiltrate, effectively preventing germination.

Enforced dormancy is literally "forced" upon the seed by some limitation of the germination environment. Seeds requiring light, alternating temperatures, or light/dark conditions fall into this category. One or more of these conditions need to be satisfied for the seed to begin germination.

Induced dormancy occurs when the seed has imbibed water but has been placed under extremely unfavorble conditions for germination. When later placed under more favorable conditions the seed fails to germinate while still remaining viable. It is often very hard to entice seeds displaying induced dormancy to germinate.

Innate dormancy It is the condition of seeds which is incapable of germination even if conditions suitable for seedling growth are supplied. This inability to germinate may be due in certain species to the embryo being immature at the time of dispersal.

 

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION OF SOME CROPS

COMON NAME	SCIETIFIC NAME	GROWTH DURATION	PEST	DISEASE
BEAN	Phaseolus vulgaris	45 to 75 days	Mites and beetles	Bacterial brown spot, halo blight, and common bligh
GROUND NUTS	Arachis hypogaea	4 to 5 months	White grubs, termites, millipedes, wireworms and earwigs	Alternaria Leaf Spot, Leaf Blight, Leaf Blight, Web Blotch.
BANANA	Musa acuminata	9 to 12 months	Nematodes, Weevils, Thrips	Aphid, flower thrips, fruit caterpillar, rust thrips.
AMARANTHS	Amaranthus retroflexus	90 to 120 days	Weevils, Fabricius, Boheman	Charcoal rot, Pythium stem canker
ORANGE	Citrus sinensis	15 months to 3 years	Citrus leafminer Lightbrown apple moth	Citrus canker and Citrus canker
COMON NAME	SCIETIFIC NAME	GROWTH DURATION	PEST	DISEASE
MANGO	Mangifera indica	100 to 150 days	·         Helopeltis, seed weevil, shoot caterpillar, leafhopper, stem miner.	Anthracnose, Die back, Phoma blight, Bacterial canker, Red rust, Sooty mould.
NEEM PLANT	Azadirachta indica	3 to 5 years	Aphids, beetle larvae, caterpillars, lacebugs	blights, rots, and wilts
MAIZE	Zea mays	90 to 140 days	Aphid, corn earworm, wireworms	Gray leaf spot, Northern corn leaf blight, Common rust, Southern rust, Eyespot.
WATER MELON	Citrullus lanatus	80 days	Thrips, Flea Beetles, Twospotted Spider Mites.	Anthracnose, Bacterial fruit blotch, Cercospora leaf spot, Downy mildew
ELEPHANT GRASS	Pennisetum purpureum	3 months	Viral, Fungal	Phytoplasma and leaf hoppers
MILLET	Panicum miliaceum	80-120 days	Millet stem borer, Pink stem borer, Head miner, Grain midge	Phyllosticta leaf blight, Pyricularia leaf spot, Rhizoctonia blight
IRISH POTATO	Solanum tuberosum	95 to 110 days	fungi and bacteria	wilt, early and late blight,
SWEET POTATO	Ipomoea batatas	90 to 170 days	Flea Beetles, Aphids, Armyworms, Cutworms.	Fusarium wilt (stem rot), Gray mold rot, Java black rot