Agronomic classification of field crops

Agronomically, field crops are most often grouped according to the way in which they are used. Some 6f our crop plants have several uses; for example, corn is most often grown as a grain crop, but it is also known as one of the most productive forage crops. Another example is soybeans that are most often produced as an oil crop, but they are also grown as a hay or green manure crop¹.

The most common agronomic classification divides field crops into the following main groups:

I. Cereals or Grain Crops. A cereal is a grass grown for its edible
grain. The most important grain crops widely grown throughout the
world are wheat, com, barley, oats, rye, rice, sorghum, and millets. Grain crops are mainly used as bread crops and as concentrates in feeding
livestock. They are well adapted to machine harvesting and processing.
All of them are annuals, producing seed in the year of sowing.

II. Large-Seeded Legumes. The principal legumes grown for seeds are field peas, field beans and soyeans. The edible legumes are widely grown by man, for they are a very important source of protein. The growing of legumes is very useful for improving soil fertility.

III.Root Crops. Crops known as root crops are cultivated for their enlarged nutritious roots. The most widely grown root crops are vege­table crops used as human food. They are carrots, radishes, beets and others. Unlike cereals, they are biennials. The food collected by them the first year is stored up in their roots and used for producing seeds the second year.

W. Forage Crops. These are the crops used as feed for animals in a fresh or preserved form. Forage crops including grasses, legumes and some other crops are cultivated and used for hay, pasture and sila­ge. Most forage crops are perennials, that is², they can live and produce seeds for many years in succession³.

V. Tuber Crops. The most important tuber crop cultivated through-
out the world is potatoes. A tuber is not a root, it is a short thickened
inderground stem. Like root crops tubers are biennials, but people grow
them as annuals.

VI. Fibre crops. As the name shows, these crops are grown for
their fibre which is used in making clothes or for different purposes in
industry. Almost all fibre crops produce seed containing oil used either
as human food or as industrial material. Of the fibre crops cotton, flax
and hemp are of greatest importance for man.

Some other groups of field crops can be named, such as sugar crops, drug crops, oil crops, etc.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14