AGRI 31 Fundamentals of Crop Science I

A set of flashcards covering key concepts from the AGRI 31 Fundamentals of Crop Science I lecture notes.

What do the Latin roots of 'Agriculture' mean?

ager (a field) and cultūra (cultivation).

How is agriculture defined in the notes?

Systematic raising of useful plants and livestock under the management of man.

What is Crop Science?

A discipline dealing with the scientific approaches to improve the quality of crops and their management for more economical production.

What are the two main branches of Crop Science?

Agronomy and Horticulture.

What is the difference between agronomic and horticultural crops in terms of management intensity?

Agronomic crops are typically managed extensively; horticultural crops are managed intensively.

Name a crop associated with the Chinese center of origin.

Asian rice & soybean

Name a crop associated with the Near Eastern center of origin.

Wheat, barley, rye, oats, peas, chickpeas, lentil, olive.

Name crops associated with the Mesoamerican center of origin.

Maize, amaranth, Phaseolus beans, cotton, agave (sisal).

Name crops associated with the African center of origin.

African rice, pearl millet, sorghum, cowpea, yam, oil palm.

Name crops associated with the South American center of origin.

Peanut, potato, sweet potato, cassava, tomato, chili, cotton, cashew, pineapple.

What is a crop?

Cultivated plants grown for human food and animal feed.

Classification by use of crops includes which broad categories?

Food crops vs non-food crops; staple vs non-staple; cereals/grains, legumes, roots/tubers, oils, sugar/sweeteners, beverages, rubber, fibers, etc.

What are cole crops?

Brassicas derived from Brassica oleracea, such as cabbage, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and kohlrabi.

What are cucurbits?

Plants of the Cucurbitaceae family; Cucurbita includes squash, pumpkin, zucchini; Lagenaria includes gourds.

What is a legume (in crop terms) and what does ‘pulse’ refer to?

Legume: a plant whose fruit is enclosed in a pod; pulse refers to the dried seed.

What is a green manure crop?

Crops (usually legumes) grown to be plowed under to improve soil fertility.

What is a catch crop?

Fast-growing crops grown between successive plantings of a main crop.

What is a cover crop?

Crop grown primarily to provide ground cover to improve soil properties and control erosion/weed growth.

What is a companion crop?

A crop planted near another to confer benefits, such as insect-repelling effects.

What is a trap crop?

A plant grown to protect the main crop from biotic and abiotic factors.

What is silage?

Crops harvested, processed and stored in a succulent condition for livestock feed.

What is a life-cycle based classification criterion for crops?

Length of life cycle (annual, biennial, perennial).

Name one international crop research center.

IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) or CIMMYT, CIP, ICARDA, CIAT, ICRISAT, IITA, Bioversity International.

What do Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to do?

End poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all.

What are the stages of Philippine agriculture mentioned in the notes?

Pre-colonial, Colonial, Post-war.

Which agricultural system was introduced during the Spanish colonial period?

Hacienda system.

What is a key feature of pre-colonial Philippine agriculture?

Wet rice subsistence farming with little private land ownership and limited surpluses.

What major agricultural development occurred post-war in the Philippines?

Development and expansion of international agriculture; establishment of IRRI; Green Revolution and export crops.

Abaca

Musa textilis

Pili

Canarium Ovatum

Kapa-kapa

Medinilla Magnifica

Jade Vine

Strongylodon Macrobotrys

Mussaenda

Variety of Mussaenda

Waling-waling

Vanda Sanderiana

Lubi-lubi

Ficus pseudopalma

Duhat

Syzigium Cumini

Which three crops dominate the Philippine agricultural area?

Rice, corn, and coconut.

What does cropping intensity mean?

The average number of crops grown per year on a given area (cropping index).

What is a “geographic distribution and centers of production” concept in crops?

Centers and regions where major crops are predominantly produced (e.g., specific regions for rice, corn, coconut, etc.).

Give an example of an international organization focused on crop genetics and breeding mentioned in the notes.

CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) or IRRI.

What is the difference between agronomy and horticulture in terms of crops they deal with?

Agronomy focuses on field crops (extensive management), while horticulture focuses on garden/orshort crops (intensive management).

What is the significance of the term ‘centers of origin’ in crops?

They identify geographic regions where crops were first domesticated or diversified.

What is the percent distribution of crops as per 2024?

57.6%

Name one crop from the notes associated with the Far East/Chinese center.

Asian rice (Oryza sativa) or soybean.