Classification of crops

Classification of crops

On Nigerian farms, we grow crops for food, animal feed, sale and factory use. We can put these crops into groups by looking at what they have in common.

Crop classification is the grouping of crops based on their similarities and differences.

This simply means putting crops with similar features together. We can group crops by their uses, length of life, number of seed leaves or climatic needs.

Classification by use

Cereals are grasses grown mainly for their grains. Examples are maize, rice, millet and sorghum. • Legumes are crops that bear seeds in pods. Examples are cowpea, soybean and groundnut. Their seeds usually contain much protein.

Root crops store food in swollen roots. Examples are cassava and sweet potato. • Tuber crops store food in swollen underground stems. Examples are yam and Irish potato.

Vegetable crops provide edible leaves, fruits or other parts used in meals. Examples are ugu, okra and tomato. • Fruit crops produce fruits eaten mainly fresh or processed into drinks. Examples are orange, mango and pineapple.

Oil crops provide oil. Examples are oil palm, groundnut and soybean. • Fibre crops provide fibres for making cloth, ropes and sacks. Examples are cotton, kenaf and jute. • Beverage crops are used to make drinks. Examples are cocoa, coffee and tea. • Spice crops add flavour to food. Examples are ginger and pepper. • Latex crops, such as rubber, produce a milky liquid used to make rubber products. • Forage crops, such as elephant grass, are grown to feed farm animals.

Classification by length of life

Annual crops complete their life cycle in one year or one growing season. They grow, flower, produce seeds and die. Examples are maize, rice and cowpea.

Biennial crops complete their life cycle in two years or growing seasons. They usually grow leaves and store food in the first year, then flower and produce seeds in the second year. Examples are carrot and onion, although farmers often harvest them in the first year.

Perennial crops live for more than two years. Many produce harvests year after year. Examples are cocoa, oil palm, mango and rubber.

Classification by seed leaves

A cotyledon is a seed leaf. • Monocotyledonous crops have one seed leaf. They usually have narrow leaves with parallel veins. Examples are maize, rice and oil palm.

Dicotyledonous crops have two seed leaves. They usually have leaves with net-like veins. Examples are cowpea, groundnut and mango.

Classification by climate

Tropical crops grow well in warm conditions. Examples are cassava, cocoa and oil palm. Cocoa is widely grown in Ondo State. • Temperate crops grow best in cooler conditions. Examples are wheat and barley. Some crops that need cool conditions can grow in suitable parts of Nigeria.

Why crop classification matters

Classification helps farmers choose suitable crops and plan planting, care and harvesting. Remember that one crop can belong to several groups. Maize is a cereal, an annual crop and a monocotyledonous crop. Groundnut is both a legume and an oil crop.