Basic concept of Agronomy

 Agronomy has been derived from two Greek words “agros meaning field
and ‘nomas’ to manage.

 Literally it means the art of managing fields and technically it means the
art of managing fields and technically it means the science and economics
of crop production by management of farm land through efficient use of
soil fertility water labour and other factors related to crop production.

 Thus agronomy as a branch of agricultural science dealing with

principles and practices of field management for the production of field
crops.

 Among all the branches of agriculture, agronomy occupies a pivotal

position. It has three clear branch:
 Crop Science
 Soil Science
 Environmental science
 The core of agronomy is the field of crop plants with the theme of
controlling the environment (micro-climate) and the nature of
agronomy is based on soil-plant – environment relationship.

Scientific crop production includes crop improvement & improved

agro- techniques.

The fundamental principles of agronomy are:

 Planning and execution of max. land utilization, labour, capital,

resources, rainwater, transport and marketing facilities.

 Choice of crop varieties for particular agro- climate, land, soil fertility,
season, method of cultivation suitable for the cropping system.

 Proper field management by tillage and land improvement practices.

 Adoption of multiple cropping, mixed cropping or inter cropping to
ensure harvest even under adverse environment conditions.
 Timely application of proper and balanced nutrient to the crops for
improvement of soil fertility and productivity.

 Choice of quality seed or seed material.

 Proper water management. Efficient use of water by scheduling

irrigation during critical stages of growth.

 Adoption of need based plant protection measures against insect, pest

& diseases.

 Adoption of suitable management practices like intercultural operation.

 Adoption of suitable method and time of harvesting of crop to reduce

field damage and adoption of suitable post- harvest techniques.
CROP CLASSIFICATION
Crops are grouped in several ways namely, according to the range of
cultivation, place of origin and distribution, different characteristics, uses,
cultivation requirements and other common behavior.

Crop plants are grouped into three main classes according to three
range of cultivation:
A. Garden crop: These are basically grown in the kitchen garden, flower
garden, backyards.

B. Plantation crops: These are grown in larger scale especially in estates.

Ex. Tea, coffee etc.

C. Field crops: Grown on large scale. Mostly seasonal crops such as rice,
wheat, cotton.
Agronomy deals with field crop and they are classified as:

1. According to their place of origin

2. Botanical classification
3. Commercial classification
4. Economic classification
5. Seasonal classification
6. Classification according to ontogeny Annual/ Binneals/ Perennial
7. Agronomic classification
8. Classification based on leaf morphology
9. Classification based on serving special purpose
Classification According to the Place of origin
A number of crops may be grown elsewhere but each crop has its nature
place. The agro- climatic situation of the place of origin may provide
relevant information about its ideal environment for it place of origin may
provide relevant information about its ideal environment for its
adaptability.

Accordingly the crops are grouped into:

a. Nature: which are grown with in the geographic limit of their origin.
Crop of Indian origin are Rice, Barley, Black gram, Gram, Mustard,
Castor, Sugarcane, Cotton.

b. Exotic or alien or Introduced: These crops are grown even beyond

their site if origin. Some of the crops which are now grown in India but
introduced from other countries are Tobacco, Potato, Jute, Maize,
Sunflower.
Botanical or taxonomic classification
Crop plants are dealt with under the natural or the families under which
they come in systematic arrangement.
The classification facilities in understanding the morphological character of
any particular family of crop plants with different agro- botanical or
morphological – agronomical characteristics:
A. Poaceace (Graminae) or gross family: Rice, Wheat, Oats, Barley, Maize,
Sugarcane, Sorghum, Paragrass
B. Papilionacea (Legumes) or pea family: Pea, Cowpea, Pigeon pea, Velvet
bean, Groundnut, Berseem, Lentil, Dhaincha
C. Cucurbitaceae or ground family: Mustard, Toria, Radish, Cabbage,
Cauliflower
D. Crucibitaceae or gaurdfamily: Sweetgourd, Bitter gourd, Pumpkin
E. Malvaceae or cotton family: Cotton, Lady’s finger (Okra)
F. Solanaceae or Brinjal Family: Potato, Tomato, Tobacco
G. Tiliaceae or Jute family: Jute, Sunhemp

H. Astereceae (Compositae) or Sunflower Family: Sunflower, Safflower, Niger

I. Chenopodiaceae or Spinach family: Beet , Sugarbeat
J. Pedaliacea: Sesame family
K. Euphorbiaceae family: Castor, Tapioca
L. Concolvulaceae or Sweet potato Family: Sweet potato
M. Umbeliferae or Coriander Family: Cunim, Coriander
N. Liliaceae or Onion Family: Garlic
O. Zingiberaceae or ginger family : Turmeric
COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION
The plant products which have commercial use go under popular
groupings
a. Food crop: Rice, Wheat, Greengram, Soyabean, Groundnut

b. Feed Crop: Oats, Napier grass, Sorghum, Maize, Berseem, Lucerne

c. Industrial or Commercial Crops: Cotton, Sugarcane, Sugarbeet,

Tobacco, Jute

d. Food Adjuvents: Turmeric, Cumin, Garlic

ECONOMIC CLASSIFICATION
Classification according to use of crop plants and their products
1. Cereals:
a. Ceres (Roman wood) name from Roman goddess who was “givers of
grains.”
b. Cereals are the cultivated grasses grown for their edible starchy
grains (One seeded fruit known as caryopsis).
c. In general larger grains used as staple food are rice, wheat, maize,
barley and sorghum

2. Millets: they are small grained cereals like bajra, ragi. They are used
as staple food in drier region of the countries.

3. Oilseeds: The crop seeds are rich in fatty acids like sunflower, mustard,
groundnut, linseed, castor, sesame, soybean etc.
4. Pulses: Seeds of leguminous crop plants used as food. They are rich in protein.
Such as Green gram, Black gram, Peas, Cowpea, Pigeon Pea, Lentil etc.

5. Feed or Forage: Refers to vegetative matter or preserved, utilized as feed for

animals. Its includes hay, sailage, Pasturage and Fodder. Forage crops are
Berseem, Jowar, Sudan grass, Napier grass, Teosinte, Turnips, Velvet bean etc.

6. Fiber crops: Crop plants grown for fiber yield. Fiber may be obtained from
cotton, Jute, Sunhemp, Flax, Mesta etc.

7. Sugar & Starch Crops: Production of starch sugar Sweet potato, Tapioca,
Sugarcane, Sugarbeet etc.

8. Spices & Condiments: Turmeric, Cumin etc.

9. Drug crops: Preparation of medicines such as Mint, Mentha etc.

10.Narcotics: Tobacco, Opium, Poppy etc.

11. Beverages: Used for mild stimulating liquor, Tea, Coffee, Cocoa etc.
 SEASONAL CLASSIFICATION
Kharif : June- July to Sep.-Oct.
Rabi: Oct –Nov to Jan- Feb.
Zaid: Feb –March to May- June

Classification according to Ontogeny:

Each crop plant completes its life cycle after passing three progressive
stages of development.
They are grouped according to their life cycle.
A. Annual crops: Crop Plants that complete their life cycle within a year
of season such as rice, wheat, maize, mustard
B. Binneal crops: Crop plants having a life span of two consecutive years.
First year, growth is purely vegetative. During second year it produces
flowers Radish, carrot, Beet
C. Perennial crops: Crops that live for more than one year sugarcane,
ginger, garlic, sweet potato
They occupy land for more than 30 months.