How Many Types of Crops are There

Introduction

Crops are where plants have been grown for edible as well as for commercial purposes. As Mahatma Gandhi said agriculture is the backbone of India. Actually, every country in the world has to be focused on farming. Not only human beings, every living thing in the world needs food. A man’s waste may be eaten by small insects and further remains will go back to soil to restart the cycle.

Around the world, India is the country which is depending on internal agriculture because of its huge population. It not only played a major role in feeding the country but also in the country’s GDP by exporting primary and secondary goods to countries all over the world.

Indian Crops

India is a country which is naturally bestowed with tropical monsoon climate in the South and temperate climate in the North. Which means India has a favourable climate, fertile soil and good irrigation facilities to grow many crops. Indian crops are classified on different basis which are as follows

1. On the basis of economy

2. On the basis of season

3. On the basis of life cycle

4. On the basis of uses

5. On the basis of some special uses

1. On the Basis of Economy

The following types are classified under the name of economy as it decides the country’s growth internally and also externally.

• Food crops

• Cash crops

Food Crops

• These types of crops are grown to be eaten.

• If this production is affected, the whole country will suffer heavily by shortage of food and demand for these goods.

• So, to maintain and tackle our population’s needs these crops are to be grown continuously and effectively with the help of science and technology.

• Nowadays, technology and scientific research actively work together to increase the yield more than usual.

Some examples of food crops are rice, wheat, millets, and pulses, etc.

Cash Crops

• The crops which are grown to be used in industries as raw materials to produce a by-product.

• It also meets markets for sale and for exports.

• This type of crops will yield revenue to the country which results in the growth of the economy.

• Because of these crops we are getting clothes, spice powders, tea and coffee powders, etc.

Some examples of cash crops are sugarcane, jute, cotton, tea and coffee.

2. On the Basis of Season

There are also some types of crops which are classified on the basis of season. They are

• Rabi crop

• Kharif crop

• Zaid crop

Rabi Crop

This type of crop is also known as winter crops. The crop which is sown in the month of last October-November and harvested in the month of March-April.

For example: Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Pea and Lentil.

Kharif Crop

It is also called as monsoon crops or autumn crops as it is sown in the month of June-July and harvested in the month of November-December.

For example: Rice, Millet, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut, Sesame, Jute, Sugarcane, etc.

Zaid Crop

Zaid seasons are summer season crops that are sown in the month of May-June and harvested in the month of July-August.

For example: Pumpkin, Muskmelon, Watermelon, Cucumber, Tomato, Chili, Sunflower, etc.

3. On the Basis of Life Cycle

The classification is based on the lifetime or period of availability over the year. They are

• Annual crops

• Biennial crops

• Perennial crops

Annual Crops

These crops / plants complete their life cycle from germination to production of seeds within one growing season and then die.

For example: Rice, Wheat, Millet, Cotton, Groundnut, Potato, etc

Biennial Crops

It is a flowering type of plant commonly seen in temperate climates. It will take almost two years to complete its life cycle.

For example: Sugar beet, Onion, etc.

Perennial Crops

They are plants/crops that need not be replanted each year, after harvesting they automatically grow back. This majorly indicates flowering plants which could bloom over the years without replanting.

For example: Bananas, Pines, Coneflower, etc.

4. On the Basis of Uses

This is categorized on the basis, to ease to follow our diets in daily schedule which makes sure to get the contents of protein, vitamins, starch, carbohydrates and so on. In the roots, they are tabled as per its benefits and characteristics. They are

• Cereals

• Oil seeds

• Pulses

• Spicy crops

• Fibre crops

• Fodder crops

• Fruit crops

• Roots and Tubers

• Stimulants

• Medicinal crops

Cereals

It basically looks like grass variety but its grains are used as food. They are highly rich in starch.

Example: Rice, Wheat, Barley, Maize, Millets, etc.

Oil Seeds

The crops which contain primary oils in their seeds.

Example: Sesame, Sunflower, Mustard, Groundnut, Sunflower, etc.

Pulses

They are high in protein, fibre and various vitamins, pulses are called as Grain Legumes.

Example: Gram, Pea, Red Lentil, Pigeon Pea, Soybean, etc.

Spicy Crops

The crops by which spices are obtained are known as spicy crops. These types of crops are mostly used for trade, which demands Indian spices in the spice market.

Example: Ginger, Peppermint, Chilli, Coriander, Cumin, Turmeric, Black Pepper, Cardamom etc.

Fibre Crops

The crops which are grown for their fibres.

Example: Jute, Cotton, etc.

Fodder Crops

The crops which are cultivated primarily for animal feed are known as fodder crops.

Example: Cow peas, Soybeans, Maize, Sorghum.

Fruit Crops

Any one of the groups of wild and cultivated trees, shrubs etc which yield fleshy or hard edible fruit are known as fruit crops.

Example: Mango, Guava, Lemon, Banana, Papaya, Apple, etc.

Roots and Tubers

Roots and tubers are plats yielding starch roots, tubers, rhizomes, corns, and stems.

Example: Potato, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Radish, Turnip, etc.

Stimulants

The crops which have the capacity to psycho stimulant effect known as stimulant crops.

Example: Tobacco, Cannabis, Tea, Coffee, Poppy seeds etc.

Medicinal Plants

The plants which contain alkaloid which are used for the preparation of different types of medicines are known as medicinal crops.

Example: Neem, Lavender, Flax seed, Turmeric, etc.

5. On the Basis of Some Special Uses

This type of crops has grown in different types and for various purposes other than edible use. They are

• Catch crops

• Cover crops

Catch Crops

This type of crops are grown in the place left between two main crops.

For example: commonly most of the cereals are grown in this manner like Oats, Barley, Mustard, etc.

Cover Crops

A crop which is grown for the protection and enrichment of the soil.

For example: Groundnut, Cow peas, Radish, etc.

Conclusion

There are also some other types of crops which are the techniques following by other countries over the world. The crop types are determined by the weather and climate of the country or part of the country. We cannot conclude with number and types in a nutshell thus there are numerous kinds and landforms to figure out in future with the dominant of science and technology.