Crop Science | Classification of crops

Summary

This video explores the classification of crops, highlighting the importance of organizing agricultural plants to avoid confusion. It explains scientific naming using Latin binomial nomenclature and details hierarchical classification from kingdom to species. Crops are categorized based on growth habit, life cycle, climate, light requirement, habitat, reproduction, cultivation method, and purpose. The video covers agronomic, horticultural, and special-purpose crops, providing examples such as cereals, legumes, vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, plantation crops, and medicinal plants. It also discusses protective and companion crops, emphasizing their roles in soil health, pest management, and animal feed, offering a comprehensive guide for understanding diverse crop types.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Classification of crops helps organize the diverse types of agricultural plants and avoid confusion.
• 📜 Binomial nomenclature, proposed by Carlos Linnaeus and written in Latin, provides a universal scientific name for plants.
• 🌿 Crops can be classified based on growth habit: herbs, shrubs, trees, and vines.
• ⏳ Life cycle classification includes annual, biennial, and perennial crops.
• ☀️ Crops can be classified based on climatic requirement: tropical and subtropical, and based on light requirement: heliophytes (sun-loving) and sciophytes (shade-loving).
• 💧 Habitat-based classification includes terrestrial, aquatic, halophytes, lithophytes, parasitic, epiphytes, and saprophytes.
• 🌾 Reproduction-based classification distinguishes sexual crops (seed-producing) from asexual crops (vegetative propagation).
• 🚜 Manner of culture separates agronomic crops (field-grown) from horticultural crops (garden-grown).
• 🥕 Purpose-based classification groups crops into agronomic (cereals, legumes, fiber, forage, starchy roots, sugar, stimulants), horticultural (vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, plantation crops), and special types (green manure, catch crops, cover crops, trap crops, repellent crops, companion crops, fodder/silage).
• 🌺 Ornamentals and landscape plants are grown for aesthetic purposes, including flowers, foliage, and turf.
• 🪴 Plantation crops are cultivated for oil, fiber, beverages, spices, latex/resin, or medicinal purposes.
• 🌾 Special crops like cover, trap, repellent, and companion crops are used to improve soil, manage pests, or support main crops.

Q & A

Why is it important to classify crops?

Classification of crops is important to organize the diverse agricultural plants, avoid confusion, and provide a universal system for identification using scientific names.

What is the binomial nomenclature and why is it used in plant classification?

Binomial nomenclature is the scientific naming system proposed by Carlos Linnaeus, using Latin to give each plant a universal name, which helps avoid confusion caused by local or common names.

What are the main types of crop classification based on growth habit?

Crops can be classified as herbs (short, soft stems), shrubs (medium-sized woody plants), trees (tall plants with thick woody stems), and vines (climbing plants that require support).

How are crops classified based on their life cycle?

Crops are classified as annuals (complete life cycle in one year), biennials (complete life cycle in two years), and perennials (live for several years and do not die after flowering).

What is the difference between heliophytes and sciophytes?

Heliophytes are sun-loving plants requiring high light intensity (5000 foot candles), whereas sciophytes are shade-loving plants that thrive under low light intensity (500 foot candles).

What are examples of special habitat-based crops?

Examples include parasitic plants like Rafflesia, epiphytes like orchids, and saprophytes which grow on decaying organic matter.

How are crops classified based on their mode of reproduction?

Crops are classified as sexual (reproduce through seeds involving meiosis and fertilization) or asexual (reproduce using vegetative parts such as stems, roots, or leaves, without meiosis).

What distinguishes agronomic crops from horticultural crops?

Agronomic crops are typically field crops grown in open areas, while horticultural crops are grown in gardens or controlled environments for vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, and plantation crops.

Give examples of crops classified according to their purpose.

Agronomic crops: rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane; Horticultural crops: tomatoes, mangoes, roses; Special crops: green manure (cespania), trap crops (sorghum), repellent crops (marigold).

What are companion crops and how do they benefit agriculture?

Companion crops are sown together with another crop and harvested separately, providing mutual benefits such as improved growth or pest protection, for example, epilibil grown with black pepper.

What are green manure and cover crops, and how do they improve soil health?

Green manure crops are grown and incorporated into the soil while still green to enrich soil nutrients, while cover crops provide soil cover, prevent erosion, control weeds, and enhance soil fertility.

What role do trap and repellent crops play in pest management?

Trap crops attract pests away from the main crop (e.g., sorghum, sunflower), while repellent crops deter pests from the main crop (e.g., marigold, citronella).