AGRONOMY

(V) Classification of Crops :-

1. Gramineae or Grass Family : Wheat , Rice ,Barley , Sorghum , Oats , Rye , Maize , Bajra , Sugarcane etc.
2. Leguminoseae or Pea Family : Gram , Peas , Lentil , Soybean , Groundnut , Dhaincha etc.
3. Crucifereae or Mustard Family : Cabbage , Cauliflower , Turnip , Radish , Sarson etc.
4. Cucurbitaceae or Ground Family : Watermelon , Tinda , Cucumber , Bitter Gourd , Muskmelon ,
Pumpkin etc.
5. Liliaceae or Lily Family : Onion , Garlic , Tulip etc.
6. Solanaceae or Potato Family : Potato , Brinjal , Chillies , Tomato , Tobacco etc.
7. Malvaceae or Cotton Family : Cotton , Okra , etc.
8. Compositeae : Sunflower , Safflower etc.
9. Euphorbiaceae or Castor Family : Caster , Olive.
10. Convolvulaceae or Morning Glory Family : Sweet Potato etc.
11. Aroideae : Arum etc.
12. Zingiberaceae : Ginger , Turmeric etc.
13. Tiliaceae : Linseed etc.
14. Umbelliferae : Carrot , Coriander.
15. Laliatae : Mint , Basil etc.
(VI) Cultural Requirements :-
1. Row Crops : (15-60cm) Maize , Cotton , Sugarcane.
2. Solid Drilled Crops : (15-30cm) Wheat , Barley , Oats.
3. Ridge Sown Crops : Chillies , Onion , Radish , Turnip , Winter Maize , Cotton etc.
4. Flat Sown/Broadcast Crops : Sown by Broadcasting the Seed e.g. Berseem , Indian Clover (Senji).
5. Bed Sown : Cucurbits , Watermelons , Pumpkins.
6. Transplanted Crops : Rice , Onion , Tomato , Chillies , Brinjal , Cauliflower.
(VI) Special Purpose :-
Based on the Suitability of the Crop for more than one purpose
1. Cover Crops : Crops which are grown to Cover the Soil and to Reduce loss of moisture by Leaching And
by Wind or Water Erossion . Guara , Cowpea , Mash etc.
2. Green Manure Crops : Crops Grown into the field to plough to increase its Productivity. Legumes and
Nitrogenous Plants are Preffered over Non Legumes e.g. Sunhemp , Guara , Dhaineha , Jantar , Clovers
, Mash etc.
3. Catch/Emergency Crops : Staple Crops Failed on Account of their importance or Unfavorable Weather
Conditions or due to Late Onset of Rains Delayed Growing Season e.g. Cucurbits , Sathi Maize etc.
4. Cash Crops : High Value Marketable Crops e.g. Cotton , Sugarcane , Jute , Tobacco and Tea.
5. Soiling Crops : Crops are Cut Down Green and fed to livestock Directly from the field e.g. Lucerne ,
Berseem , Senji , Bajra etc.
6. Silage Crops : Crops Preserved in Succulent Conditions by Partial Fermentation in the Tight
Pit/Receptacle e.g. Maize , Sorghum , Nepier , Bajra , Oats Maize , NBH.
IMPORTANT NOTE :-
-- = Fodders 30-35 DM
65-70 % Moisture
(VII) Types of Crops :-
1. Inter Crops : Crop Grown in the line of main crop with Specific Ratio e.g. Moong in Maize , Maize
Soybean.
2. Mixed Crops : Seeds of the crops are sown mixed with each other in a specific Ratio e.g. Gobhi ,
Sarson , Toria
3. Border Crops : Crops are Grown on the border of the main cropusually forProviding shelter to the
main crop e.g. Dhaincha , Sunhemp etc.
4.Trap Crops : These crops are grown to Attract Certain insects , pests , e.g. Maize In Sugarcane ,
Ladyfinger in cotton
5. Sod Crops : Crops with thick Matted root system used for Pasture/ Grass Legume Roots.
6. Nurse Crops : Crops are grown to protect the other main crop from natural tragedy and give
protection to new Sown crop e.g. early between in maize to protect the former from high temperature.
7. Truck crops: Vegetables crops which are perishable in nature and yield high but need immediate
transport e.g. cauliflower, pumpkin, and bringal etc.
Intercropping : -
Intercropping refers to growing more than one crop in the same land area in rows of definite proportion
and pattern. E.g. Maize+soybean , Autumn cane + Raya , Mustard + Gram
Mixed cropping
Mixed cropping refers to simultaneously growing more than one crop in the same land area as a mixture
without any row pattern e.g.
Berseem+oats+Raya +Rye grass
Toria + Gobhi Sarson
Effects of weather elements on crop production :-
Weather: The environmental condition described by the short term variations in meteorological factors
(temperature, humidity, pressure and wind) within a local area for a shorter period of time(from a few
hours to about few weeks)
Weather affects the following events during crop development.
- Sowing
- Germination
- Growth
- Maturity
- Harvesting
- Storage
More than 50% variation in yield of crop is due to climate differences. The most important climatic
factors that influence growth, development and yield of crops are
- Solar radiation
- Temperature
- Rainfall
- Humidity
- Wind speed

Influence of weather climate on crops :-

Expension Canopy and root System

Interception of Solar Energy Extraction of Water Extraction of Nutrients

Production of Dry Matter

Allocation to Yield