Classification of Crops – Classification of Hgricultural and Horticultural Crops are based on different factors eg. climate and family. This classification is different from biological classification of crop. There are thousands of economically important crops.
Classification Of Crops
(A). Classification Based on Group
- Agricultural crops.
- Horticulture crops.
- Agro-forestry plant crops.
Agricultural Plant-crops
Agricultural crops include– Rice, wheat, millets, pulses, oilseeds etc.
Tabl 01– Crops of agriculture crops.
| S. N. | Name | Sc. Name |
| 1. | Millets | Different spp., eg. – Finger millet, Kodo millet etc. |
| 2. | Oil seeds | Different spp., eg. – Soybean, peanut, rapeseed etc. |
Horticultural Plant-crops
Horticultural crop includes– Mango, citrus, apple, peach, plum, flowers, vegetables etc.
Agro-forestry Plant-crops
Agro-forestry plant-crops are equally important to forestry and agriculture.
(B). Classification Based on Climate
- Tropical crops.
- Subtropical crops.
- Temperate crops.
Tropical Crops
Tropical crop can tolerate high temperature. These plant-crops require hot and humid weather for flowering and fruiting.
Example– Rice, coconut etc.
Sub Tropical Crops
Sub Tropical plant-crops are similar to tropical crops. Crops require long dry spells and clean weather.
Example– Rice, pulses, millets, lychee etc.
Temperate Crops
Temperate crops loves relatively low temperature.
Example– Apple, plum, peach winter wheat etc.
Classification Based on Season
These crops are known as seasonal crops. Both flowering and fruiting are completed within 4 months.
- Rainy season crops
- Winter season crops
- Summer crops
Rainy Season Crops
Agronomically, it is known as Kharif crops. Kharif season starts with rainy season. In India it starts from June-July with the onset of Mansoon.
Example– Rice, maize, pulses, peanut etc.
Winter Season Crops
Another name for winter season crop is Rabi crop. It starts with winter season from October.
Example– Wheat, maize, potato etc.
Summer Crops
This is also called Zaid crops. These can tolerate high temperature. Starts from March-April.
Example– Cucumber, water melon, maize, Summer rice etc.
Classification Based on Family
Poaceae– Family Poaceae is also known as gramineae. This include grass crops.
Table 02. Plant-crops of family Poaceae.
| S. N. | Name | Sc. Name |
| 1. | Rice | Oryza sativa |
| 2. | Wheat | Tritucum spp. |
| 3. | Bamboo | Bambusa spp. |
| 4. | Doob grass | Cynodon dactylon |
Malvaceae– Family malvaceae is one of the most economically important agronomical group of crop.
Table 03. Plant-crops of family malvaceae.
| S. N. | Name | Sc. Name |
| 1. | Cotton | Gossypium spp. |
| 2. | Jute | Corchorus spp. |
| 3. | Okra | Abelmoschus esculentus |
Fabaceae– The family is also known as leguminoceae. These crops are known to fix nitrogen in soil. Nitrogen fixing nodules are found on roots.
Table 03. Plant-crops of family fabaceae.
| S. N. | Name | Sc. Name |
| 1. | Red gram | Cajanus cajan |
| 2. | Black gram | Vigna mungo |
| 3. | Chickpea | Cicer erietinum |
| 4. | Pea | Pisum sativum |
Classification Based on Life Cycle
- Seasonal crops
- Annual crops
- Perennial
Seasonal– The life cycle of seasonal crop is completed within 4 months.
Annual crops– Flowering and fruiting in annual crop is completed in a year. Annual crop can take more than 2 season to complete its life cycle. Some seasonal crops like brinjal and chili can be annual if not uprooted.
Example– Seed producing onion and cauliflower etc.
Perennial– Perennial crops take more than a year for flowering and fruiting. First or few years are taken for vegetative growth. They can bear flower and fruits for many years.
Example– Edge, hedge, fruit trees, cotton, lemon grass, Doob grass etc.
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