Prepared by: Sarino, Rochelle Jean R.

Cereal or Grain Crops, Legume Crops, Forage Crops, Root

Crops, Fiber Crops, Tuber Crops, Sugar Crops, Drug Crops,
BTLED HE-1B Oil Crops and Rubber Crops

Course: TLE-EX163 Agri-Fishery Arts Part

1 AGRONOMIC CROP CATEGORIES BASED ON THEIR
NUTRITIONAL USES
Agronomic Classification of Plants

What is Agronomy? Protein Rich Crops: They provide essential amino acids
necessary for growth, development, and overall health.
Agronomy is a branch of agriculture that deals with field crop Examples include leguminous crops like beans, and soybeans
production and soil management. It involves the application of
scientific principles and techniques to optimize the production Staple Food Crops: Staple food crops are primary sources of
of food, fiber, and fuel crops while ensuring sustainability and calories and energy in diets around the world and provide the
environmental stewardship. foundation of daily sustenance that is rich in carbohydrates.
These include cereals like rice, wheat, maize (com), and millet,
Key areas of study within Agronomy
Oilseed Crops: are valued for the oils they provide, which are
rich in essential fatty acids and energy. These oils are used for
Crop Physiology: Understanding the physiological processes cooking, food processing, and industrial applications. These
of crops, such as growth, development, and metabolism, to are sunflower, canola (rapeseed), soybeans, and palm oil.
optimize plant performance and yield.
Nutrient-Dense Crops: a rich source of vitamins, minerals,
Crop Breeding and Genetics: Developing new crop varieties and antioxidants that contribute to overall health and well-being
through selective breeding and genetic modification to improve by providing essential nutrients. These include vegetables like
spinach, kale, carrots, and bell peppers.
traits such as yield, disease resistance, and tolerance to
environmental stresses.
Animal Feed Crops: These crops are primarily grown to
Soil Science: Studying soil properties, fertility, and provide nutrition to livestock and animals in animal husbandry
systems. They include forage crops (clover, grasses) and other
management practices to optimize soil health and productivity
crops used for animal feed, such as corn and soybean meal.
for crop growth.
Fiber and Fodder Crops: provide roughage for animals’
Crop Management Practices: Implementing agronomic
digestive systems and contribute to their overall health—fodder
practices such as planting techniques, irrigation, fertilization,
crops, which are specifically grown for livestock feed.
and pest control to maximize crop yields while minimizing
environmental impacts. Cash Crops for Export: Cash crops produced for export
generate income for farmers and contribute to the economy.
Sustainable Agriculture: Promoting agricultural practices that
These crops are often produced in regions with favorable
maintain or enhance environmental quality, conserve natural growing conditions and are in demand in international markets
resources, and support the long-term viability of farming like coffee, tea, cocoa, and cotton.
systems.
Specialty and High-Value Crops: These crops are grown for
Precision Agriculture: Using technology such as GPS, their unique characteristics, flavors, or health benefits. They
remote sensing, and data analytics to optimize field often fetch higher prices in the market due to their premium
management practices, monitor crop health, and make quality like saffron and vanilla, as well as herbs and medicinal
informed decisions for resource allocation. plants.

Agroecology: Studying the interactions between crops, soils, Biofortified Crops: are intentionally bred to have higher
and the environment within agricultural ecosystems to develop nutrient content addressing specific nutrient deficiencies
sustainable and resilient farming systems. prevalent in certain populations including vitamin A-fortified
sweet potatoes and iron-fortified beans.
Importance of Agronomic Classifications

1. Conservation and Sustainability: Proper classifications AGRONOMIC CROP CATEGORIES BASED ON THEIR
contribute to sustainable agricultural practices, soil BIOENERGY
conservation, and biodiversity conservation.

2. Agricultural Planning: Agronomic; classifications aid in Starch and Sugar Crops: Crops that are rich in starch and
planning crop management practices, irrigation schedules, and sugars, such as corn and sugarcane, that can be used for
pest control measures. bioethanol production. digestion

3. Crop Rotation: Knowledge of life cycles helps implement Dedicated Energy Crops: The crops specifically grown for
effective crop rotation strategies, promoting soil health and energy production, such as switchgrass, miscanthus.
reducing pest and disease pressures.
Oilseed Crops: Oilseed crops like soybeans, canola, and palm
4. Crop Selection: Help farmers choose appropriate crops oil are used to produce biodiesel, a renewable alternative to
based on their growth habits and life cycles, ensuring optimal fuel.
crop performance and yields.
Wood Biomass: Trees and woody plants are used for the
Classification of Plants production of wood pellets, which can be burned for heat or
used in biomass power plants.

Crop Residues and Agricultural Waste: Agricultural residues

like crop stalks, straw, and husks, as well as food processing
waste, can be converted into bioenergy.

Animal Manure and Waste: Animal waste and organic

materials from livestock operations can be used to produce
biogas through anaerobic digestion
- Variety
Algae: Algae are a promising source of biofuels due to their
Agronomic Plants Categories rapid growth and high oil content. They can be used for
producing biodiesel and bioethanol.
These crops are grouped or more precisely classified into
various categories based on agronomic classification, seasonal
classification and special purpose classification. (Rahmahn
M.A 2017, September 30)