This document discusses different ways of classifying agricultural crops. It begins by distinguishing between crops, which are useful plants grown by humans, and weeds, which are unintended plants. Crops are then classified as either agronomic or horticultural. Agronomic crops are grown on a large scale while horticultural crops are grown intensively. The document further discusses botanical classification of crops based on morphological characteristics and descriptive classification based on factors like life span, growth habit, and environmental adaptation. It provides examples to illustrate different classifications.

1. CLASSIFICATION OF
AGRICULTURAL CROPS
JENNIFER P. CELADES
CANR-Agriculture Department, BISU-Bilar

2. Agricultural Classification
A. Crop vs. Weed
1. Crop
any useful plant, or a plant which is grown for
any purpose
utilized by man directly or indirectly, raw or
processed
2. Weed
an unintended plant or any plant which grows where it
is not wanted.
Many have allelopathic effect on other plants, by
releasing harmful allelochemicals (plant-produced
herbicides).
Examples: Lantana camara and A. indica
hagonoy (Chromolaena odorata)
yellow nutsedge

3. B. Agronomic vs. Horticultural Crops
On the basis of tradition, extent of cultivation and
intensity of culture, agricultural crops are classified into
two main divisions:
1. Agronomic crops
also called “field crops”.
mostly annual herbaceous plants that are grown
under extensive or large-scale culture.
The usable products are usually in high dry matter
form.
Examples: cereals, seed legumes, root and tuber
crops, sugar crops, latex and rubber crops, pasture
and forage crops, and fiber crops

4. 2. Horticultural crops
 referred to as “garden crops”.
 grown under any of the fields of horticulture such
as:
 olericulture or vegetable crops production
 pomology or fruit crops production, and
 ornamental horticulture (floriculture and landscape
horticulture)
 spices and medicinal plants
 Horticultural crops are annual and perennial plants
which are grown under an intensive system of
culture.
 utilized with high moisture content , highly
perishable
 are“intensively cultured plants directly used by man
for food, for medicinal purposes, or for esthetic
gratification”.
 Intensive culture means a large input of capital,
labor and technology per unit area of land.

5. Both agronomic and horticultural crops are
further subclassified into specific groups
according to the primary purpose of growing
them.
For example:
corn (maize)=of young corn or sweet corn
Pineapple =fruit crop =piña cloth.
Papaya =industrial product papain.
The basis of classification, should be “primary
usage,” disregarding the other minor uses.

6. Criteria AGRONOMIC CROPS HORTICULTURAL CROPS
Ultimate consumers Human and animals human
Harvest stage Often harvested mature Harvested at different stages
Consumption Consumed processed in living state or dried Often consumed fresh
Moisture content of harvested products low high
Aesthetic consideration low high
Calories high low
Vitamins and minerals low high
Life cycle Semi – annual, annual, few perennials Semi – annual, annual, biennial, perennial
Adaptations limited wide
Management extensive intensive
Income per unit area low high
Crop classifications
Cereal or grain crops, grain legumes or
pulses, oil seed crops, pasture and forage
crops, fiber crops, sugar crops,
Vegetable crops, fruit crops and edible nuts,
ornamental crops, nursery crops, aromatic
crops, medicinal crops
Terms for production unit Field, pasture, range, forest
Garden, orchard, grove, vineyard,
greenhouse, nurseries, sometimes
plantation

7. Plants are classified according to the ff.
criteria:
I. Botanical
II. Descriptive
III. Agricultural
IV. Special Purpose

8. Introduction
Botanical classification is based on the
morphological characteristics of plants as
well as on their anatomy, physiology and
DNA sequences.
Descriptive classification is based on the
environmental adaptation, growth habit
and other observable features.
In agriculture, plants can be broadly
classified as either useful or unuseful. Those
which are useful are called crops while those
which are not useful are called weeds.

9. Why classify crops?
To simplify plant collection initiatives,
research, breeding and specialized
development efforts.
To facilitate efficient communication,
dissemination and retrieval of scientific
information.
the grouping of crops will indicate that these
crops may have similar uses, adaptation,
growth habits and methods of culture.

10. Why classify crops?
disease control and prevention, such
classification is important due to commonality
of some diseases.
To students of crop science, a list of crops
under the various agricultural classifications
will be a useful reference in crop names and
identification and as a review guide.
To the farm manager, the same list will offer
innumerable benefits in finding alternative
crops for specific uses.

11. Botanical Classification of Crops
During this meeting it was decided that Carl
Linnaeus' Species Plantarum, which was
published in 1753, would serve as the
starting point for priority of botanical
names.

12. Botanical Classification of Crops
The principal ranks of taxa in descending
sequence are:
1. kingdom
2. division /phylum
3. class
4. order
5. family
6. genus
7. species

13. Plant Kingdom
Thallophytes-algae, bacteria & fungi
Bryophytes- mosses
Pteridophytes-ferns
Spermatophytes
• All seed bearing
Gymnosperms
• plants with naked seeds
e.g. pine tree
Angiosperms
• plants with seeds
enclosed in a vessel
Monocotyledonae
(Monocots)
Dicotyledonae
(Dicots)
DIVISION
SUB-DIVISION
CLASS

14. Pteridophyte Angiosperm
Gymnosperm
dicot
Monocot

15. Kingdom Plantae
Division Spermatophyte
Sub-division Angiospermae
Class Monocotyledonae
Order Graminales
Family Graminae
Genus Zea
Species mays
Scientific Name: Zea mays
Classification Unit
Example of Botanical Classification

16. II. Descriptive Classification
Mode of Reproduction
Mode of Pollination
Life Span
Growth Habit
Gross physiological characteristics
Ecological Adaptation or Habitat
Temperature tolerance
Photoperiodic response
Modification of plant parts

17. Descriptive Classification
A.According to Mode of Reproduction
1. Sexual-develop from a seed
2. Asexual- reproduced by any
vegetative means without the union of
sexual gametes.

18. Descriptive Classification
B. Life Span
1.Annual- germinate, grow, flower, produce seed
and die in one season. (rice, corn, mungbean,
cowpea, squash)
2. Biennial- requires two growing seasons to
complete its life cycle, the first for vegetative
growth & accumulation of food reserves and
second for production of reproductive parts
(bulb onion, cabbage, celery, carrot, raddish)

19. Life Span
3. Perennial-including all trees and
shrubs and many herbaceous plants
with underground stems (e.g. corm,
rhizome, tuber) like banana and
clump-forming grasses.
continue growing and produce seeds
year after year

20. Descriptive Classification
D. Classification according to Leaf Retention/gross
physiological characteristics:
1. Deciduous- plants which naturally shed off or
lose leaves annually for extended periods.
Natural leaf shedding is pronounced in
deciduous trees of temperate regions.
In the Philippines, defoliation occurs during
summer months in Fire Tree (Delonix regia)
and red mombin or siniguelas, narra

21. Descriptive Classification
2. Evergreens- plants whose leaves persist the
year round.
Evergreens may lose their leaves annually,
but not until the new set of leaves has
developed.
Examples: pines, banana, papaya, palms
and most tropical plants.

22. Descriptive Classification
E. Ecological Adaptation or
Habitat
1. Aquatic, hydrophyte or hydrophytic plant - a
plant adapted to growing in water or
waterlogged soil.
It may grow entirely submerged, partly
submerged or floating, or anchored to the ground
in bogs, swamps, or beside the edges of ponds,
lakes or streams.
Examples: azolla(Anabaena azollae), kangkong
(Ipomea aquatica), bulrush (Cyperus spp.), water
lily (Nymphaea spp.), mangrove species.

23. Descriptive Classification
2. Epiphyte or epiphytic plant-
a plant that grows aboveground on
another plant but is not parasitic, usually
deriving only physical support from the host
and obtaining nourishment from the air and
other sources.
Examples: pineapple (bromyliad), orchid, and
fern families; also called air plant or tree dweller.
Where a plant, e.g. strangler fig (balete),
initially grows as an epiphyte but later
becomes rooted to the soil, it is especially
called a hemiepiphyte.

24. Descriptive Classification
3. Halophyte or halophytic plant-
a plant that is able to grow in habitats
excessively rich in salts or under saline
conditions.
Examples: nipa, talisay, bakawan
(Rhizophora mucronata) and other
mangrove species. Coconut, cashew and
tamarind have varying levels of tolerance
to saline conditions.

25. Descriptive Classification
4. Lithophyte or lithophytic plant
a plant adapted to growing on rocks or in
rocky terrain with little humus, absorbing
nutrients from the atmosphere, rain, and
decaying matter which accumulate on the
rocks.
Examples: Vanda, Dendrobium, other
orchids

26. Descriptive Classification
5. Mesophyte or mesophitic plant
terrestrial plant adapted to moderate conditions
for growth, i.e. not too dry and not too wet
Examples: corn and most commercially-grown
crops).
6. Parasite or parasitic plant
plant which grows on another plant from which
it takes part or all nourishment
Example: Loranthaceae (mistletoe family),
Rafflesia; Neottia and Corallorhiza orchids).

27. Descriptive Classification
7. Saprophyte or saprophytic crop- grows on
decaying organic matter and has no green tissue.
Example: mushrooms
8. Sciophyte or sciophytic plant- plant adapted to low
light intensity or shade,
e.g. most ferns and mosses, black pepper, cacao,
coffee, lanzones, mangosteen, hot pepper, gingers,
and many orchids can tolerate or require shade.

28. Descriptive Classification
9. Terrestrial or land plant- a plant
which grows on land, rooting in the
soil.
Most agricultural crops are terrestrial and
are further subclassified into various groups
such as halophytes, mesophytes, sciophytes
and xerophytes depending on climatic and
special adaptations.

29. Descriptive Classification
10. Xerophyte, xerophytic plant
a plant which is adapted to conditions with
little or no water.
Examples: bromyliads, euphorbias, cacti and
many succulents.

30. CLASSIFICATIONS OF
CROPS
Based on GROWTH HABIT

31. HERBS – succulent, seed plants possessing
self supporting stem

32. Vines – non-woody plants whose stems requires
support for upright growth, maybe climbing or
training plant

33. Shrubs – are self – supporting woody plants
characterized by several more or less
upright stems

34. Trees – are self supporting woody plants
characterized by several more or less
upright stems

35. CLASSIFICATION OF
CROPS
Based on gross physiological
characteristics

36. Deciduous – are plants that shed – off their
leaves during a portion of the year

37. Evergreen
• are plants whose leaves persist the year
round. Evergreens may loose their leaves
annually, but not until the new set of
leaves has developed.
• Ex. Santol, lanzones, mango, rambutan,
durian, papaya, mangoesteen,

38. CLASSIFICATIONS OF
CROPS
Based on temperature tolerance

39. Tropical Crops
• those grown in the tropics and could not
withstand chilling.
• Most of our fruits belong in this category
Ex. Banana, mang0, papaya, guava, etc.

40. Subtropical or semi - temperate Crops
• Those which can withstand slight chilling and
relatively high temperature.
Ex. Citrus family, grapes, strawberry and cherry

41. Temperate Crops
• Those which can not withstand high temperature
Ex. Apple, peaches, pears, plum and apricot

42. CLASSIFICATIONS OF
CROPS
Based on Photoperiodic Response

43. • Plants can be classified according how they react
and influenced by relative length of daylight and
darknesss.
A. Long day plants – They require long day (about
14 or more hours) for the formation of
inflorescence. If the daylight is shorter, these
crops remain in their vegetative stage.
Ex. Spinach, onion, lettuce, raddish, potato,

44. B. Short day plants – They require relatively short
day length (less than 14 hours to initiate
flowering.)
Ex. Cowpea, winged bean, sayote, soybean,
kamote, mungbean, chrysanthemum, cotton, rice,
poinsettia
C. Day-neutral plants – These crops that will flower
regardless of the length of photoperiod.
Ex. Corn, cucumber, tomato, eggplant,
pepper, sunflower.

45. AGRONOMIC CLASSIFICATION

46. 1. Cereal crops – are grasses grown for their edible
seeds, the term being applied either to the grain
or to the plant itself.
Ex. Rice, corn, millet, barley, sorghum, wheat

47. 2. Legume or Pulse crops - are pod-bearing plants,
with root nodules and whose leaves are divided into
leaflets.
Ex. Mungbean, peanut, cowpea, soybean, etc.
3. Root crops – are plants grown for their edible
fleshy roots
Ex. Sweet potato, yam, gabi

48. 4. Tuber crops –are plants grown for their short,
thickened underground stem.
Ex. Cassava, ginger, white potato
5. Sugarcane – is grown for its sweet juices from
which sugar is extracted and crystalized.

49. HORTICULTURAL
CLASSIFICATION

50. Division of Horticulture
1. Olericulture (vegetables)
2. Pomology (fruits)
3. Flowers and Ornamentals (Floriculture)
4. Plantation and Industrial crops

51. • Olericulture – is the study of vegetable
production. Person who are engage in the study
of vegetable crops with respect to culture and
production are called olericulturists. Vegetable
production may be categorized as follows:
a. Home gardening – the main intention of
the grower is to produce vegetable crops for home
consumption.
b. Market gardening – assorted vegetable
crops are grown to local and roadside markets.
c. Truck gardening – large-scale type of
vegetable production. Vegetable grown are
intended for wholesaler market, shipping to other
places or supplying a processing plant.

52. d. Hydroponics – is a subset
of hydroculture and is a method of growing
plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in
water, without soil.

53. •
Greenhouse Cultivation

54. Container Gardening

55. Bio-intensive Gardening

56. Classification of vegetable
crops

57. • crops grown mainly for their leaves
• Example: pechay, mustard,
kangkong (swamp cabbage),
alugbati, celery, kulitis (amaranth),
Leafy Vegetables

58. Leafy vegetables

59. • Cole Crops – Crops which is belong to
Brassica family. These plants grow better in
cool weather, need cooler temperature. The
terms "cold" and "cole" sound the same but
have different meanings. "Cold" of course
refers to temperature. "Cole" refers to any
of various plants belonging to the Cruciferae
or mustard family.
• Ex. Pechay, brocolli, cabbage, mustard,
cauliflower

60. COLE CROPS

61. • a family of flowering plants having
pods (or legumes) as fruits and root
nodules enabling storage of nitrogen-
rich material: includes green peas,
bush beans, soybeans, peanut,
mungbean
Leguminous Crops

62. Leguminous Crops

63. • any of several fruits of plants of the
family solanaceae.
• Solanum means nightshade
• Solanaceous – nightshade family
flowering plants
Example : tomato, eggplant, pepper
and tobacco
Solanaceous Crops

64. • Any of various mostly climbing, traili
ng
and
creeping flowering plant of the family
Cucurbitaceae
Ex. Squash, watermelon, cucumber,
bitter gourd, wax gourd, white gourd,
chayote
Cucurbits

65. Cucurbit Family

67. Cucurbits family

68. Thank You & good luck!

70. III. AGRICULTURAL
CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS
A. Crop vs. Weed
B. Agronomic vs. Horticultural Crops
C. Agricultural Classifications Based
on Primary Uses
D. Special Purpose Classifications of
Crops

71. C. Based on Primary Uses
1.Food Crops – plants grown primarily for the
harvesting of any part which is used by man as
food or processed into food product.
Examples: cereals, root and tuber crops, legume seed
crops, sugar crops, beverage crops, fruit crops and
vegetables.
2. Non-food Crops- plants grown for the
production of non-food products .
Examples: fiber, fodder, alcohol, tobacco, industrial oil,
rubber, latex & gums and resins, drugs, etc. or for
ornamentation, pasture and forage crops, dye and tannin
crops, biofuel crops, essential-oil crops, biocidal crops
and most industrial crops.

72. C. Based on Primary Uses
3. Staple Crops- plants grown for the
harvesting of parts which are used as
staple food.
In the Philippines, the top staple crop is rice
followed by corn.
Cassava is also consumed as staple by some
ethnic groups.
Examples of other staple crops: wheat,
breadfruit, millet, white potato, sweet potato,
yam.

73. C. Based on Primary Uses
4. Cereals/Grain Crops- grasses (Poaceae)
grown for their edible seeds
The word “cereal” is derived from Ceres, the
ancient Roman goddess of harvest.
– corn, rice, barley, oats, rye, grain sorghum,
wheat
5. Seed Legumes (pulses)- pod-bearing
plants, with root nodules and the leaves
are divided into leaflets
– soybean, mungbean, pea
6. Forage/Fodder/Pasture
– feed for animals whether in the form of hay,
silage or pasture
– carabao grass, paragrass, napier, ipil-ipil,

74. C. Based on Primary Uses
7. Root and Tuber or Tuberous Crops- plants
with modified, swollen root or underground
stem.
– Crops with modified roots are distinct from
those having modified stems.
– Modified roots: arrowroot, cassava, sweet
potato and yam bean, carrot, ginseng (Panax
spp.) and sugar beet, raddish
– A tuber/modified stem: is an enlarged tip of an
underground stem.
– Examples: white potato and yam, gabi

75. C. Based on Primary Uses
8. Fiber
• plants grown as sources of fiber
• fiber is extracted from the bark, leaves, or other
organs including the husk of coconut.
• Examples: cotton, abaca, jute, kenaf, maguey,
ramie, flax
9. Beverage
• plants which are sources of various drinks
including fruit juices, tea, coffee, cocoa, toddy,
beer and wine.
• Examples: cacao, coconut, coffee, soursop, tea

76. Based on Primary Uses
10. Sugar & sweetener crops
– grown for their sweet syrup. ex.
sugarcane, sweet sorghum, sugar beets
, stevia, corn, sweet potato, cassava,
rice, many palms.
11. Oil- edible & industrial
– Coconut, flax, soybeans, sunflower
soybeans, peanut, sunflower, oil palm,
sesame and cotton =fiber & oil source,
kapok

77. Based on Primary Uses
• 12. Rubber Crops- source of latex
which is processed into industrial
product called rubber (for household
& transportation uses)
– Examples: rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis),
Castilla rubber (Castilla elastica), Ceara rubber
(Manihot glaziovii), guayule (Parthenium
argentatum), Lagos Silk Rubber (Funtumia
elastica).

78. Based on Primary Uses
13. Latex and Gum Crops-
Plants grown for the collection of latex which is
processed into chewing gum, inelastic rubber and
other industrial products such as surgical tapes
and dental supplies, insulation, splints(support
broken bone), pipes, golf balls, waterproofing,
adhesives, etc.
Examples: chicle tree or chico (Manilkara zapota

79. Based on Primary Uses
14. Dye and Tannin Crops- plants grown as
sources of tannin and coloring substances.
– Tannin is an aromatic, phenolic substance
which is obtained from barks and other plant
organs and variously used in tanning,
medicines, dyeing, ink manufacture, etc.
Examples:anatto or achuete, Indian almond or
talisay, indigo (Indigofera tinctoria), bakawan
(Rhizophora and Bruguiera).

80. Based on Primary Uses
15. Biofuel Crops- plants grown for the
production of fuel that is used as additive or
replacement for petroleum products.
– The main biofuels are bioethanol, an alcohol
derived from fermented sugar or starch, and
biodiesel from vegetable oils.
– Examples: sugarcane, cassava, corn, coconut,
castor bean, Jatropha.

81. Based on Primary Uses
16. Olericultural or Vegetable Crops
– plants grown for their succulent and
edible parts such as the roots, stems,
leaves, young tops, fruits or seeds for
use in culinary preparations either fresh
or preserved in the fresh state.

82. Based on Primary Uses
Vgetable crops are classified according
to similarities:
– in edible parts,
– growth habits,
– methods of culture and
– botanical family. Melons are generally
included in this crop classification.

83. Vegetable Classifications Based on
Edible Part:
a. Leafy Vegetables
– Malabar nightshade (alugbate),
amaranth (kulitis), lettuce, jute
(saluyot), (horse raddish tree)
malunggay.

84. Based on Edible Part:
b. Shoot Vegetables
 asparagus, bamboo, celery.
c. Pod and Seed Vegetables- Generally members
of Leguminosae or Fabaceae family.
• snap bean, pole sitao, winged bean, okra, sweet
corn.
d. Root and Bulb Vegetables
– carrot, potato, onion, raddish

85. Based on Edible Part:
e. Flower Vegetables
– horse raddish tree (malunggay), katuray
(Sesbania grandiflora), squash, rose, sunflower
f. Fruit Vegetables
– ampalaya, eggplant, tomato, peppers, melons

86. Vegetable Classifications by Family
a. Cole Crops or Crucifers
– belong to Cruciferae or Brassicaceae
(Mustard) family, with edible leaves or
heads.
– cabbage, cauliflower, mustard, pechay,
Chinese cabbage, raddish.

87. Vegetable Classifications by Family
b. Cucurbits
– belong to the Cucurbitaceae (Gourd
and Squash) family.
– bottle gourd, charantia, cucumber, luffa,
melons, squash.

88. Vegetable Classifications by Family
c. Legume Vegetables
– members of the Leguminosae or
Fabaceae (Bean) family.
– bush sitao, katuray, pea, pole sitao.
d. Lilies- members of the Liliaceae
(Lily) family.
– asparagus, garlic, onion.

89. Vegetable Classifications by Family
e. Solanaceous Crops
– belong to the Solanaceae (Nightshade
or Eggplant) family and, with the
exception of white potato, are also
called Fruit Vegetables.
• eggplant, tomato, peppers, white potato.

90. Vegetable Classifications by Family
f. Mushrooms
– edible fungi belonging to the division
Basidiomycota (club fungi).
– straw mushroom, Shiitake mushroom,
puffball, termite mushroom, “kabuting-
higante”.

91. Based on Primary Uses
17. Pomological or Fruit Crops and
Nuts
– tree fruits=duhat, durian, jackfruit,
mango, mangosteen and papaya.
– small fruits (e.g. grape, passion fruit,
pineapple, strawberry).
– Nuts = cashew, pili.

92. Based on Primary Uses
18. Spice Crops
– black pepper, garlic, ginger, hot
pepper, onion, turmeric, vanilla,
cinnamon, anise
19. Essential-oil Crops- plants grown for
the extraction of essential oils which are
volatile, aromatic substances for
perfumery and other uses.
– citronella, eucalyptus, ilang-ilang,
peppermint, sampagita.

93. Based on Primary Uses
20. Ornamental Crops
further classified as:
– cutflowers specimen plants
– cut foliage avenue trees
– turfgrasses screens
– Groundcovers topiaries
– hedges fillers
– accents

94. Ornamental Crops
a. Lawn or Turf Grasses
– grasses grown for aesthetic purpose in the
landscape or for any outdoor recreational use.
– Bermuda grass, carabao grass
b. Cutflowers- plants grown for their attractive
flowers with long shelf life.
– anthurium, chrysanthemum, gladiolus,
orchids, rose.

95. Ornamental Crops
c. Cutfoliage
– plants grown for their attractive foliage which
are cut for floral decoration.
– ferns, fishtail palm, kamuning, Song of India,
Song of Jamaica.
d. Edge Crops- short statured plants grown to
serve as barrier between the lawn and garden,
to highlight gardens, or to create stand-alone
gardens; also called border plants.
– mondo grass, dwarf cucharita, dwarf
sansevieria.

96. Ornamental Crops
e. Groundcovers
– low-lying plants grown to suppress weed growth
and to control, retard or prevent soil erosion by
covering and binding loose, bare soil or produce
carpeting effect.
– cucharita (Alternanthera versicolor) , creeping
peanut (Arachis pentoi)
e. Hedges- plants grown at the edges of pathways or
boundaries and continuously pruned to knee-high
height or upper but below eye level.
– Duranta, hedge bamboo, Chinese holly, dwarf
santan, papua.

97. Ornamental Crops
f. Accents- plants with showy features distinct
from the rest of the other plants.
g. Specimens- plants having showy features, or
with unique characteristics which make them
pieces of conversation or botanical curiosity, or
otherwise desired as collector’s item.
– They are ideally planted in isolation rather than
massed with other plants
– queen of flowering trees (Amherstia nobilis),
palms, Mussaenda ‘Doña Eva’.

98. Ornamental Crops
h. Screens- plants grown to serve as barrier against
sun rays, to conceal certain parts of the landscape,
or to obstruct view.
– Indian tree, shrubs, trellised vines.
i. Shade crops- generally trees, shrubs, trellised
vines and lianas which are grown mainly to provide
shade singly or with supporting trellis.
j. Avenue Trees- trees and shrubs grown, more or less
equidistant, beside roads and streets. Palms are also
used.
– acacia (raintree), katuray, narra, date palm.

99. Based on Primary Uses
21. Biocidal Crops- plants containing organic
compounds with pesticidal properties.
– The effective parts are either directly applied
or seeped in water for foliar spray.
– chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum
cineriaefolium), lagtang, makabuhay
(Tinospora crispa), tobacco, tubli (Derris
elliptica), neem (Azadirachta indica)

100. Based on Primary Uses
23. Industrial Crops
– plants grown to provide materials for
industrial processing and production of
non-food products such as:
• biofuel, sugar, rubber, starch, industrial oil,
aromatic compounds, steroids, medicinal
drugs, organic pesticides, tannins and dye.

101. Based on Primary Uses
24. Plantation Crops
– This classification is based on the
extensiveness of production, system of
culture required, and market location.
– requires plenty of labor and large
investment of capital.
– multinational companies like Dole
Philippines and Del Monte.

102. IV. Special Purpose Classification
• Intercrop- any crop which is planted
simultaneously with or before the
flowering season of the main crop in
intercropping.
• Filler Crop- any crop which is planted to fill
a gap.
• In quincunx system of planting
arrangement, the space at the center of
four hills of a main crop is commonly
intended for a filler crop which is of a
different variety or species.

103. IV. Special Purpose Classification
• Relay Crop- the crop which is planted
after the flowering period or harvest of the
main crop in relay cropping.
• Ratoon crop- the crop consisting of the
regrowth from shoots retained on the
plants after harvest or from cut stalks of
the previous crop
• (e.g. pineapple, sorghum, sugarcane).

104. IV. Special Purpose Classification
Cash crop- any crop grown to generate
cash rather than for subsistence.
Catch crop- any short maturing plant that is
grown simultaneously with, or between
successive plantings of a main crop to
utilize residual fertilizer and soil moisture.
• also called emergency crop.

105. IV. Special Purpose Classification
• Nurse crop- any crop which is grown to provide
shade and increase humidity for the benefit of
the main crop during its seedling and early
stages of growth.
• Companion crop- any crop which is planted
close to the main crop to complement the
latter’s growth and production, or to maximize
utilization of space because they do not
compete

106. Examples of companion crop
a. Black pepper is planted with live madre de cacao
(Gliricidia sepium) to serve as trellis.
b. Lettuce acts as a living mulch to keep the soil
moist while sunflowers to the south or west
provide shade for the vegetable.
c. Planting squash and onions will maximize
production per unit area of land.

107. IV. Special Purpose Classification
Cover crop- a crop grown mainly to control soil
erosion, regulate soil temperature, control weeds
and reduce evaporative losses.
Green manure crop- a leguminous crop grown to be
plowed under the soil to increase organic matter
and serve as organic fertilizer.
Agroforest Crop – any crop which is suited under a
cropping system consisting of mixed agricultural
and forest crops.

108. D. Special Purpose Classification
Contour Hedgerow Crop- nitrogen-fixing trees
and shrubs which are grown along contour
lines in sloping lands under the Sloping
Agricultural Land Technology (SALT).
Examples:
a. Madre de Cacao, kakawate (Gliricidia sepium)
b. Giant Ipil-ipil (Leucaena latisiliqua)
c. Acid Ipil-ipil (Leucaena diversifolia)
d. Flemingia (Flemingia macrophylla)
e. Renzoni (Desmodium renzonii)

109. D. Special Purpose Classification
Trap crop plants grown to attract certain insect
pests or parasites because they are favorite
hosts.
Example: lettuce with pechay
Decoy crop- plant grown with the main crop,
attracts pests, but not suitable for growth and
reproduction.
Example: eggplant with tomato

110. Trap crops and the insect pests that they attract:
a. Basil (Ocimum basilicum)- green, loopy tomato
caterpillar
b. Garlic (Allium sativum)- greenfly.
c. Chive (Allium schoenoprasum)- greenfly and
cutworms.
d. Corn (Zea mays)- cotton bollworm.
e. Marigold (Calendula officinalis)- caterpillars and
cutworms.
f. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)- cotton bollworm.

111. IV. Special Purpose Classification
Insect pest repellant crop- plants grown along the
borders and at strategic places in the farm to repel
insect pests because of their strong aroma and
anti-herbivory properties.
Examples:
– Anise or Aniseed (Pimpinella anisum)
– Basil (Ocimum basilecum)
– Chive (Allium schoenoprasum)
– Garlic (Allium sativum)
– Marigold or Amarillo (Tagetes sp.)
– Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)-
– Sesame (Sesamum indicum)

112. IV. Special Purpose Classification
• Natural enemies attractant crop- flowering
plants grown at strategic places in the
farm to attract natural enemies of insect
pests.
Examples:
– Tagetes, - attract hoverflies whose larvae feed
on aphids.
– Legumes- attract spiders

113. Agronomic VS Horticultural Crops
CRITERIA AGRONOMIC CROPS HORTICULTURAL CROPS
Commodities Cereals, grain legumes, peanut, forages,
sugarcane etc.
vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants,
plantation crops etc.
Diversity/unit growing area less more
Management Extensive Intensive
Income/unit area Lower Higher
Adaptation Limited Wide
Utilization eaten as staples Consumed with staples
Consumption Usually processed and eaten at mature
stage
Usually consumed in fresh form; can be
eaten at any stage based on purpose
Aesthetic value Lower Higher
Nutritive value Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids plus
vitamins and minerals
Important vitamins and minerals, some
carbohydrates, proteins and lipids
Life cycle Semi-annual, annual and few perennials Semi-annual, annual, biennial and
perennials
Compatibility to cropping systems Less compatible Highly compatible
Moisture content when product is
harvested
low high
Note: The difference between horticultural and agronomic crops depends on the purpose for which the crop is
grown, type of culture, traditions and customs of the country.

114. Prayer can move
mountains…

115. Thank You & good luck!