In Bangladesh’s agriculture-dependent society, field crops play a vital role. These crops are classified from both scientific and practical perspectives. Classification helps facilitate agricultural planning based on the characteristics, uses, and requirements of each crop.
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🧪 Classification of Field Crops (কৃষিতাত্ত্বিক ভিত্তিতে শ্রেণিবিভাগ)
From an agronomic point of view, field crops are generally categorised into the following groups:
1. Cereal Crops (তণ্ডুলজাতীয় শস্য)
These crops belong to the Gramineae (grass) family and are known as staple food grains. Their grains are edible and rich in carbohydrates.
Examples:
Rice
Wheat
Barley
Maize
Pearl millet
Sorghum
Chinese millet, Kaon, Rye, etc.
2. Pulses or Grain Legumes (ডাল ফসল)
These crops fall under the Papilionaceae sub-family of the Leguminosae family and are primarily a source of protein. They also help in improving soil fertility.
Examples:
Lentil
Chickpea
Grass pea
Pea
Black gram
Green gram
Pigeon pea
Cowpea
3. Oilseed Crops (তৈলবীজ ফসল)
Oil is extracted from the seeds of these crops. They are a source of fat and are used in food, industry, and fuel production.
Examples:
Mustard
Groundnut (Peanut)
Soybean
Sunflower
Sesame
Linseed
Safflower
Castor
Niger seed
4. Sugar Crops (চিনি ফসল)
The juice of these crops is used to produce sugar, molasses, and jaggery. They contain a high amount of sugar.
Examples:
Sugarcane
Sugar beet
Additionally: Date and Palmyra trees are also used for producing jaggery. Though not classified as field crops, they are considered sugar crops.
5. Fibre Crops (আঁশ ফসল)
Fibre extracted from these crops is used to make cloth, rope, and other industrial products.
Examples:
Jute
Cotton
Sunnhemp
Kenaf
Ramie
6. Narcotic Crops (নেশাজাতীয় ফসল)
These crops yield various stimulants or sedatives. While some have medicinal uses, excessive consumption can lead to addiction.
Examples:
Tobacco
Opium poppy
Hemp
Henbane
Kumbhi
7. Beverage Crops (পানীয় ফসল)
These crops are used to prepare stimulating drinks. Though they are not nutritionally significant, they have a stimulating effect on the mind.
Examples:
Tea
Coffee
Cocoa
Cola
8. Forage & Pasture Crops (পশুখাদ্য ফসল)
These crops are cultivated as animal feed. In pastures, these are grazed directly by livestock.
Examples (Fodder Crops):
Grass pea
Grass kalai
Maize
Sorghum
Pasture grasses:
Bermuda grass (Dubo)
Carpet grass
Clovers
9. Green Manuring Crops (সবুজ সার ফসল)
These crops are ploughed into the soil to act as organic manure. They enhance the organic content and fertility of the soil.
Examples:
Dhaincha
Sunnhemp
Classification of Crops Based on Important Criteria
For scientific and effective crop management, crops are classified on various bases. These classifications help farmers plan cultivation more efficiently, optimise soil use, manage irrigation, determine sowing periods, and select appropriate seeds. Below are several key criteria for crop classification:
🌾 1. Classification Based on Growing Season
In Bangladesh, crops are typically cultivated in three seasons—Rabi, Kharif-I, and Kharif-II. Based on these seasons, crops can be grouped as follows:
a. Rabi Crops (Winter Crops):
Sown during the Rabi season and usually grow in dry and cool weather.
Examples:
Boro rice
Wheat
Barley
Mustard
Pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas)
b. Kharif Crops (Summer and Monsoon Crops):
(1) Kharif-I Crops:
Sown during the first Kharif season (April–June).
Examples:
Aus rice
Jute
Maize
(2) Kharif-II Crops:
Sown during the second Kharif season (July–October).
Examples:
Aman rice
Sunflower
Soybean
c. Dual-Season Crops:
Some crops can be cultivated in both seasons.
Examples:
Sesame
Kaon (foxtail millet)
Maize
Groundnut
🌼 2. Classification Based on Pollination
The pollination process plays a crucial role in crop reproduction and yield.
a. Self-Pollinated Crops:
Pollination occurs with pollen from the same flower.
Examples:
Rice
Wheat
Tobacco
Pulses
b. Cross-Pollinated Crops:
Pollination takes place using pollen from different flowers.
Examples:
Mustard
Maize
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Carrot
c. Often Cross-Pollinated Crops:
Primarily self-pollinated but also allow for some cross-pollination.
Examples:
Cotton
Sunflower
🌱 3. Classification Based on Life Cycle
a. Annual Crops:
Complete their life cycle in one season.
Examples:
Rice
Jute
Tobacco
b. Biennial Crops:
Produce leaves and roots in the first year and flowers and fruit in the second.
Examples:
Sugar beet
Carrot
c. Perennial Crops:
Remain productive over many years.
Examples:
Tea
Coffee
Mango
Blackberry (Jam)
Jackfruit
🌾 4. Classification Based on Cotyledons
a. Monocot Crops:
Have one cotyledon (seed leaf).
Examples:
Rice
Wheat
Maize
Millet (Chhena, Kaon)
b. Dicot Crops:
Have two cotyledons.
Examples:
Jute
Mustard
Tobacco
Pulses
🌞 5. Classification Based on Photoperiodism (Day Length)
a. Short-Day Crops:
Flower when exposed to shorter daylight periods.
Examples:
Jute
Sugarcane
Sweet potato
Aman rice
b. Long-Day Crops:
Flower when exposed to long daylight periods.
Examples:
Sugar beet
Cabbage
Spinach
c. Day-Neutral Crops:
Day length has no significant effect on flowering.
Examples:
Soybean
Maize
Aus rice
Boro rice
In Bangladesh’s agricultural system, crop classification based on nature, growing environment, soil type, climate tolerance, and usage diversity is crucial for achieving success. The classifications discussed above provide essential insights for agricultural planning and management.
Classification Based on Environment, Soil Type, Climate Tolerance, and Usage Diversity:
🌍 1. Classification Based on Soil Acidity (pH)
The success of crop cultivation can vary depending on the soil’s pH level. Based on pH, crops can be categorised into three main types:
a. Acid-Tolerant Crops:
These crops thrive in acidic soil.
Examples:
Tea
Coffee
b. Alkaline-Tolerant Crops:
These crops grow well in alkaline or high-pH soil.
Examples:
Sugar beet
Paddy (rice)
c. Neutral Soil Crops:
These crops are suitable for neutral or moderately pH-balanced soils (approximately 6.5–7.5).
Examples:
Jute
Wheat
Sugarcane
🌡️ 2. Classification Based on Temperature Adaptation
Temperature has a direct influence on crop growth. Based on temperature requirements, crops are classified as follows:
a. Warm Climate Crops:
Best suited for hot and dry climates.
Examples:
Lentils
Chickpeas
Pigeon peas
b. Moderately Warm Climate Crops:
Grow well in warm and humid conditions.
Examples:
Sugarcane
Jute
Rice
c. Cool Climate Crops:
Prefer cold weather for optimal growth.
Examples:
Wheat
Barley
Sugar beet
🧬 3. Special Classification of Crops
a. Catch Crops:
Short-duration crops grown between two main cropping seasons.
Example:
Chinese millet or Kaon between Boro and Aman rice crops.
Special Note:
Catch crops are also cultivated as an alternative source of income when main crops fail due to natural causes.
b. Cash Crops:
Crops cultivated mainly for generating cash income to cover farming costs.
Examples:
Tobacco
Jute
Sugarcane
c. Cover Crops:
Used to cover the soil to prevent erosion and control weeds.
Examples:
Groundnut
Clover
Bermuda grass
d. Silage Crops:
Crops harvested green and specially stored to feed livestock.
Examples:
Maize
Sorghum
Napier grass
e. Mixed Cropping:
Sowing seeds of multiple crops together in the same field.
Example:
Wheat and lentils sown together
f. Inter-Cropping:
Cultivating another crop in the rows between a main crop.
Example:
Lentils grown between rows of wheat
g. Relay Cropping:
Sowing the next crop before the previous one is harvested.
Example:
Grass pea cultivated in an Aman paddy field before harvesting
h. Multiple Cropping:
Growing more than one crop in the same field within a single year.
Example:
Aus → Aman → Boro rice in the same field
🌱 These special classifications help make agriculture more diverse, sustainable, and productive. For farmers, considering such classifications is essential for making optimal use of time, land, and resources.