CROP SCIE: Classification of Crops - (Flashcards)

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards covering key concepts from the crop classification lecture notes, including botanical and functional classifications, crop groups, growth forms, adaptations, habitats, and examples.

What are the two main classifications of crops discussed in the notes?

Botanical Systems and Functional (or Functional) Systems.

In botanical classification, what are taxonomy and nomenclature?

Taxonomy is the descriptive classification of plants; nomenclature is the system of assigning names to plants.

Which taxon is most inclusive and which is least inclusive in botanical taxonomy?

Kingdom is the most inclusive; species is the least inclusive.

What is a taxon (plural taxa)?

A group in a classification system.

Who developed the binomial nomenclature and what does it consist of?

Carolus Linnaeus; it consists of two parts: Genus and species (often with an authority).

What group of plants bears true seeds within fruits?

Angiosperms (flowering plants).

What are the two main functional classifications of crops?

Agronomic (field crops) and horticultural crops.

What characterizes agronomic crops?

Annual herbaceous crops grown on farms under extensive or large-scale cultivation.

What are cereal crops and which are major in the Philippines?

Cereal crops are grasses used as staples; major in the Philippines are rice and corn (sorghum and wheat are minor).

What are grain legumes and a key trait they possess?

Leguminosae; consumed as dry seeds; they fix nitrogen via Rhizobium bacteria.

Name three major grain legume crops in the Philippines.

Mungbean, peanut, and soybeans.

Name four fiber crops listed in the notes.

Kenaf, jute, ramie, and cotton.

What are root and tuber crops primarily known for?

They are rich sources of carbohydrates; major examples include cassava and sweet potato; potato is a tuber.

What are forage crops and what groups do they include?

They are grown for animal fodder and include forage grasses and forage legumes.

List four important forage grasses mentioned.

Napier (elephant grass), Guinea grass, para grass, pangola grass.

Name some important legume forages listed.

Centro, ipil-ipil, Townsville Stylo, siratro.

Which crops are classified as 'crops for industrial processing'?

Sugarcane, tobacco, castor bean.

What is a soiling crop (zero grazing)?

A crop cut green and fed to livestock.

What is a cover crop?

A crop grown to maintain soil cover and prevent erosion; when turned under, it becomes a manure.

What is a catch crop or emergency crop?

A crop planted on land where other crops have failed; usually quick-growing.

What is silage?

Forage that has been preserved in a succulent condition by partial fermentation.

What is green manure?

A crop grown and plowed under to improve the soil.

What are pomological or fruit crops?

Fruit crops classified into tree fruits, nut fruits, and small fruits based on the habit of the plant.

Name examples of tree fruits.

Mango, lanzones, durian, orange.

Name examples of nut fruits.

Talisay, cashew, pili.

Name examples of small fruits.

Pineapple, strawberry, grapes.

How are vegetables categorized in horticultural crops?

Based on similarities in cultural requirements; major groups include leafy vegetables, cole crops, root/tuber/bulb crops, legumes, solanaceous crops, cucurbits, sweet corn, okra, and tree vegetables.

Give examples of leafy vegetables and cole crops.

Leafy: malungay, pechay, kangkong, saluyot. Cole crops: cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage.

What are root, tuber, and bulb crops?

Crops with swollen underground stems or roots, such as sweet potato, onion, radish, potato.

What are solanaceous crops?

Crops from the Solanaceae family; examples include tomato, eggplant, and sweet pepper.

What are cucurbits?

Crops from the Cucurbitaceae family; examples include cucumber, muskmelon, squash, watermelon, ampalaya, chayote.

What are ornamentals and their subcategories?

Plants grown for aesthetic value; subcategories include cut flowers, cut foliage, flowering pot plants, landscape plants, foliage plants, and turf.

Give examples of cut flowers.

Daisies, roses, gladiolus, carnations, chrysanthemum, anthurium, sampaguita, orchids, birds of paradise.

What are cut foliage or florist greens?

Foliage plants used as background in floral arrangements; examples include ferns and asparagus.

What is turf in the ornamentals category?

Turf grasses used for lawns and greens (e.g., Manila grass).

What are plantation crops and their subtypes?

Crops classified by their useful components; subtypes include oil crops, fiber crops, beverage crops, spices, aromatic/essential-oil crops, latexes and resins, and medicinal/biocidal crops.

Name oil crops and some examples.

Oil crops: coconut, African oil palm, lumbang, castor bean.

Name fiber crops and some examples.

Fiber crops: abaca, buri, maguey, kapok, cabo negro.

Name beverage crops and some examples.

Beverage crops: cacao, tea, coffee.

Name aromatic or essential-oil producing crops listed.

Lemongrass (tanglad), citronella (salay), patchouli, vetiver, ilang-ilang.

What are latexes and resins as plantation crops?

Latexes are sap-derived products (e.g., rubber); resins are solid or semi-solid substances secreted in plant sap used in varnishes, paints, adhesives, inks, and medicines.

Name medicinal and biocidal crops mentioned.

Vitex negundo, Mentha cordiflora, Blumea balsamifera.

What factors influence how crops are classified beyond botanical differences?

Purpose of cultivation, extent of cultivation (intensive vs extensive), living state at use, and how the commodity is used.

Define intensive cultivation.

A system with high inputs of capital, labor, and technology per unit area.

What are the temperature-based adaptations mentioned and examples?

Cool season (temperate) crops prefer 15–18°C (e.g., wheat, sugar beet); warm season (tropical) crops prefer 18–27°C (e.g., corn, rice).

What is the difference between sciophytes and heliophytes?

Sciophytes prefer shade; heliophytes prefer direct sunlight.

What are halophytes?

Plants that can grow in salty soils and often have salt-secreting glands or other salt-management traits (e.g., mangroves, Atriplex).