Republic of the Philippines

AURORA STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Bazal, Maria Aurora, Aurora

PRINCIPLES OF
CROP PRODUCTION
(CS 100)

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE

First Year Level
SY 2023-2024
 CLASS POLICIES AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Writing of full name based on PSA as well as non-edited close-up profile picture is
required on social media account.

2. Proper dress code during online and/or face to face classes must be worn (sando, see
thru, exposing clothes is highly prohibited).

3. The instructor will regularly check class participation during classes. Fifteen (15) minutes
late will not be admitted and is considered absent.

4. Students must observe good manners and right conduct in the school and classroom
premises. Disruptive behavior such as saying inappropriate words, violent actions, and
discrimination towards his/her classmates and instructor is prohibited and may result to
student being subjected to punishments based on student handbook.

5. No requirements until Prelim Examination means dropped/failed/5.00.

6. Dropping students must submit their official letter/official dropping form.

7. Requirements: students should pass the given assignments, quizzes, exams and
project. Note: No special exams/ quizzes unless the reason is valid. All requirements
(per period) must be submitted before term examination.

8. It is advised that the students must regularly check the updates in social media platforms
regarding to their subject matters.

9. Any questions about our subject matters must be directly asked to the instructor.

10. Electric gadgets are not allowed unless permitted.

11. Field Work: Proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and tools are required during
field works.

GRADING SYSTEM
Lecture (60%)
Course Requirements Percentile
Quizzes/Exercises/Assignment 20%
Participation/ Attitudes and Values 10%
Project 15%

Term Examinations 50%

100%
Laboratory (40%)
Course Requirements Percentile
Lab Activities 15%
Participation/ Attitudes and Values 10%
Work Ethics 20%
Laboratory Project 30%
Term Examinations 25%
100%
 MODULE 1
Course Description: CropSci100
Principles of Crop Production
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course, students should be able to:

Knowledge

1. Discuss the basic processes and factors in crop production;

2. Discuss the basic components of sustainable crop production; and
3. Discuss the socio-economic, cultural and political issues in crop production
in relation to agricultural sustainability

Skills
1. Identify and categorize crops according to the types, uses, importance,
origin and geographical distribution;
2. Design and conduct a small-scale garden;
3. Apply the following basic principles in producing crops; and
4. Use techniques, skills, and modern technology inputs necessary for farm
practice.

Values
1. Recognize the need, and ability to engage in agriculture.

Number of Hours: 90 hours/ semester (2 hours lecture and 3 hours

laboratory/week)

Learning Objectives: (prelim topic)

At the end of the topic, students should be to:
• define agriculture;
• discuss the concept of Crop Science
• discuss and identify the top regional producers and top provincial producers of
the major crops in the Philippines
• classify crops according to its growth habit, life cycle, mode of reproduction and
purpose
 The Concept of Agriculture
Agriculture
- Defined as the science and art of cultivating useful plants and raising livestock to
meet human needs. It is concerned with plant and animal production for food and
fiber, the provision for agricultural supplies and services and the processing,
marketing, and distribution of agricultural products.
- Systematic raising of useful plants and livestock under the management of man
- Purposeful work through which elements of nature are harnessed to produce
plants and animals to meet human needs
- Broad industry engaged in the production of plants and animals for food and
fiber, the provision for agricultural supplies and services of processing, marketing
and distribution of agricultural products.

HISTORY
The first cultivation flourished near the Nile River , Indus and Tigris Euphrates as
primitive men begun to settle and had division of labor. Evidences of progress and
civilization could be seen by the Six Wonders of the World such as: The Hanging
Garden of Babylon, Pyramid of Egypt, Leaning Tower of Pizza, the Taj Majal of India,
the Great Wall of China, and the Rice Terraces of the Philippines.
First plants cultivated- unknown
7,000-10,000 years ag0- the first production of food by crop cultivation and actual
domestication
The centers of origin of some important plant species according to Vavivlov:
1. China- 136 important species originated, including millet, buckwheat, soybeans,
a number of legumes, and many vegetables
2. India and Indo-Malayan Center including Philippines- 117 species, specially Rice,
sugarcane, and a large number of legumes and many tropical fruits such as
mangoes and citrus
3. Central Asia- 42 species such as wheat, peas, lentil s, several oil plants and
cotton
4. Near East- 83 species including rye, grapes, peas, cherry, almond and fig
5. Mediterranean Center- 84 species such as St. Johns bread, beet and many
vegetables
6. Ethiopia- 38 species, the most important are barley and wheat
7. South Mexico and Central America- 49 including corn, beans, squash, chili-
pepper, numerous fruits, cacao and cotton
8. South America with subcenters in Chile, Brazil and Paraguay- 45 species
including white potato, cassava, peanut, pineapple, cashew and rubber tree
Harlan( an American Scientist)-These 8 Centers of origin of species are now centers of
Genetic Diversity.
-Wrote a book about about the center of origin of species
World and Domestic Food Situation and Production Centers
• The Philippine population is expected to increase by 2.6B over the next 45 years
from 6.5B today to 9.1B in 2050. Much of the increase will be from developing
countries. The population in developing countries will increase from 5.3B to 7.8B
in 2050.
• Great pressure is being placed on agricultural lands hence, it is imperative to
increase current levels of food production to provide an adequate supply of food
to increasing population.
• Must is nor suitable for agriculture of the worlds total land area of 150 M km2.
Arable land comprise 10% ; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 24%;
forest and woodland 31’%. The remaining 34% is land surface that supports little
or no vegetation; Antartica deserts, mine sites, urban areas.
• Rapid Population growth in most developing countries had greatly reduced the
arable land per capita. It is estimated that by 2050, the amount of arable land will
be just over one-tenth of a hectare per person, from 0.50 ha in 1961.
Philippine Population, Food Supply and Agriculture
• 2019 Philippine Population- 108.61M
• Agricultural land- about 32% of total land area
• In 2008, agriculture accounted for 18% of the gross domestic product (GDP)
The increase in food supply is about 2% per year, just enough to keep up with the
population increase. About 20% of these increase is due to the expansion of new
production areas; 80% is due to technological advances in agriculture.
Philippine Agriculture
RA 8435- Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA)
- Signed into law, 1997
- Mandated the modernization of the country’s agricultural sector.

CONCEPT of CROP SCIENCE

Crop Science- concerned with the observation and classification of knowledge
concerning economically cultivated crops and the establishment of verifiable principles
regarding their growth, development and reproduction, to derive optimum benefit from
them.
Divided into the following areas:
1. Agronomy- came from the Greek word agros (field) nomos (to manage)
-principles and practices of managing field crops and soils
2. Horticulture- came from Latin words hortus (garden) and colere (to culture)
-gardens and plants within an enclosure, which includes;
Olericulture- study of cultivating vegetables
Pomology- fruits
Floriculture- flowers
Nursery Management
Landscape Gardening
CROP PRODUCTION AS A SCIENCE, ART AND BUSINESS
- a science because it is based on the basic sciences of chemistry, mathematics,
physics, breeding and genetics.
- an art because it requires skills even with little or no scientific training.
- a Business because plants are grown not simply to satisfy the needs of man but
to realize some profit.
Agricultural research in the Philippines is carried out in schools and research centers in
both private and public sectors. These are:
a. State college and universities offering degree programs and in agriculture and
related fields.
b. Department of agriculture and research networks.
c. National commodity research centers
PhilRice -Philippine Rice Research Institute
NTA- National Tobacco Administration
FIDA- Fiber Industry Development Authority
PCA- Philippine Coconut Authority
SRA- Sugar Regulatory Administration
PRCRTC- Philippine Root crops Research and Training Center
NARC- National Abaca Research Center
NPRCRTC- Northern Philippine Root Crops Research and Training Center
d. Specialized discipline-oriented research centers
IPB- Institute of Plant Breeding
NCPC- National Crop Protection Center
NPGRL- National Plant Genetic Resource Laboratory
BIOTECH- National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
PHTRC- Postharvest Horticulture Training and Research Center
e. Private Seed Companies
• Syngenta
• East west
• Pioneer
• Monsanto
• Allied Botanicals
The following are major international research organizations mandated to do research
and development in crop species important to food and agriculture.
• IRRI- International Rice Research Institute (Philippines)
• ICRISAT- International Center for Semi-Arid Tropics (India)
• CIMMYT- Centro Internacional de Mejoramiente de Maize y Trigo (Mexico)
• IITA- International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (Nigeria)
• CIP- Centro Internacional de Patatas (Peru)
• CIAT- Centro de Internacional de Agricultural Tropical (Colombia)
• ICARDA- International Center for Agricultural Research for Dry Areas (Syria)
• ICRAF- International Center for Research on Agroforestry (Kenya)
• AVRDC- Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (Taiwan)
• Biodiversity International- for International Plant Genetic Resources Institute
(Italy)
 The Nature and Importance of Agriculture Some Data and Facts
about Phil. Agriculture
The Philippines has an estimated land area of about 30 million hectares. Luzon = 47%
Visayas = 19% Mindanao = 34 %
Agriculture = 12.231 million has.
7.5 million are considered Prime lands Luzon=43%
Visayas= 23%
Mindanao= 34%
9.4 million has are hilly, mountainous , rough or rugged
Hilly lands- is an area of at least 1 sq km of which 70% of the land form have more than 15% slope.

Rice Area = 4.126 million has.

Irrigated = 52%/2.79 million has. Rainfed = 44%/1.33 million
has Upland = 4%

Corn Area = 2.527 m has. Sugarcane = .388 m has.

Peanut = 0.0269 m has.
Nature and Features of Philippine Agricultural System
The Philippines is a tropical country, where most areas grow crops the whole year round. It
has two distinct seasons based on rainfall: wet (late part of April to early part of October) dry (late part
of October to early part of April). In 1920 Corona classified our climate into 4 types. Lately it is
classified into 6 types. It is clear that climate has made a significant change not only in the Philippines
but the world over. Just recently the much publicized climate change is considered a very serious
issue worldwide.
The top 5 crops in the Philippines are rice, corn, coconut bananas and sugarcane. Field
legumes like mungbean, peanut, and soybeans are considered as secondary crops in order of
economic importance.Worldwide; wheat, rice and corn are the top 3 major crops.
The 4 major crops of the Philippines are under the research and development
responsibilities of local and international research institutions an example of which are the
PhilRice and IRRI that are responsible for research and development of rice.
The Philippines has now a human population of about 101 million and consumes an
average of about 103 kgm of rice per annum. The average rate of increase in human
population is 2.35% per annum while increase in food production is only 2%. So what will
happen if this trend will continue in the years to come?
It is a dream of every Philippine government (President) administration to that the
country will be able to attain self-sufficiency in rice but it did not happen for the past 4
presidents. The local supply of rice in our country is short of around 10% for the entire
Filipinos, Thus our country keeps on importing rice from our Asian neighbors every year to
a tune of 2 million metric tons every year. Why is this so? The Philippines has Phil Rice and
IRRi‘s main office is in the Philippines. Rice researchers and technologists in other countries
were trained in the Philippines but we buy rice from them. Why? Why?
The nature of Agriculture as a field of study
Agriculture is simply the arts and science of raising plants and animals, and is
considered the basic and mother industry of most countries.
• art –requires skills and practice
• science- knowledge and skill are learned through systematic discovery of facts
and principles through the formulation of hypothesis, testing, designing,
experimentation, gathering of facts, analysis, and interpretation until general
conclusion and recommendation are arrive at.
It has two major branches: Crop Production and /or Crop Science and Animal
Production and /or animal science.
Crop Science is further subdivided into: Agronomy and Horticulture Agronomy is
concerned with cereals, legumes, root crops, and field
crop production and management.
Horticulture is concerned with the production and management of vegetables,
flowers, fruits, and landscaping.
The word crop denotes several meaning but in this course the word crop refers to
plant that are grown and harvested for economic reason.
Importance of Agriculture;
Source of food Source of fuel
Source of clothing and shelter Source of
employment Source of GDP
Source of raw materials for the industry
Fundamental basis of community
The importance is almost all the food you eat, the clothes you wear….and for as long as
humans and animals eat food/feed agriculture will remain as an important industry.
 Future Directions/ Prospects
The Department of Agriculture‘s objectives is to ensure a sound policy environment that is
favorable to higher investment to agriculture and fisheries. It also aims to provide a setting that is
market oriented while addressing the key concern of food security poverty alleviation and social
equity, job generation increase income, global competitiveness and resource sustainability.
The DA is banking on hybrid seeds and other improved genetic materials such as Bt corn and
GET Excel Tilapia and other biotechnology products to dramatically increased productivity and
generate jobs in the country sides.
Launching of the Strong Republic National Highway (SRNH). Or the roll-on roll-of (RORO)
food highway.
Slogan: ―May Dating Na, May Aksyon Pa‖
Funding for the agricultural sector received a substantial budget increase.

The sector‘s competitiveness is promoted by an amendment to the high value crops development
act that will give incentive to large landowners who plant crops with high export demand.

The creation of the Plant Variety Protection Board that will give protection to intellectual property
rights acquired for the development of new plant varieties.

Biotechnology (Traditional and Modern Biotechnology) 2 categories:

Traditional- uses the old method of plant breeding such as cross
pollination, food processing involving fermentation and others.
Modern- makes use of genetic information found in the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) to
improve materials use in food production, medicine and others. Biotechnology, generally is the
use of living organisms (microorganisms, plants, and animals) , their parts or products to improve
or make materials such as food , medicines, chemicals and others materials useful to man. This
technology has been used in many advanced countries since 1990,s in commercial applications.
Use of CMS (cytoplasmic male sterility) in hybrid corn and hybrid rice offer a lot of promise.
 PROBLEMS, STATUS AND PROSPECTS OF PHILIPPINE
AGRICULTURE
The Philippines is basically an agricultural country with a tropical environment. Like
other small countries in Asia, it is beset with lot of problems:
- Average farm size is small
- Agricultural lands keep on decreasing and decreasing due to land conversion,
etc.
- Most farmers are located in marginal areas where soil erosion is high & low
soil fertility
- High occurrence of pest and diseases
- Irrigation problems
- Lack of capital
- High price of farm inputs
- Low price of farm output
- Lacks farm to market roads
- Rampant graft and corruption in the bureaucracy
Unit II. Classification of Agricultural Crops Terms and
Definition:
1. Cultivar - Cultivated variety
2. Family - is usually the highest taxon commonly included in plant identification
or study.
3. Taxonomy - the field of science that deals with the classification, nomenclature
and identification of plants
4. Variety – a group of individuals (plants) within a specie that differ from the rest
of the species
Importance of Classifying Crop Plants:
1. To get acquainted with crops
2. To understand the climate, soil and water requirements of different
crops
3. To familiarized the adaptability requirements of crops
4. To know the growing habit of crops
5. to know the economic importance of crops

CLASSIFICATION OF CROPS
Why we classify crops?
- For order and organization because agricultural crops are diverse in nature
- For logical naming. The use of common name is not adequate because it varies
from one locality to another, whereas scientific name is constant worldwide.

The number and diversity of crop plants is enormous. Because of this, there is a need to classify
them. Classification is putting individuals into groups, the members of a group having one or more
characteristics in common. Classification reduces the big and diverse group of crop plants to
smaller groups and allows convenience in identifying them and relating them to one another.
Classifying crops into groups facilitates their use by researchers, cropsmen, students, and others.
There are many ways to classify crop plants, and the system to be used depends on the
purpose of the user. However, the two main classification systems, and the most useful in Crop
Science are the botanical system and the functional system.

The Botanical System of Classification

Systematics or taxonomy is an organized system for descriptive classification of plants

while nomenclature is a system of assigning names to plants. The science of plant taxonomy is
coordinated by the International Board of Plant Nomenclature. They made the rules in
accordance with the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN).
There are seven general taxonomic groups in botanical classification or scientific
classification of plants (Table II-1) but the more important to cropsmen’s interest starts only in the
class category. Kingdom is the most inclusive, species is the least inclusive. Each group is called
a taxon (plural is taxa).
Carolus Linneaus (1707-1778), a Swedish physician was credited for his work by giving
two-part scientific names to organisms, which taxonomist still do today. His system of naming
organisms is called the binomial system of nomenclature. It means that each plant has a two-
word name, Genus and Species. The first or genus name is followed by a descriptive or species
name, this combination is known as scientific name, which is used as the universal name of a
given plant. Usually a third name is placed after the species to give the authority who named the
plant. Modern plant classification is based on this system.
The Latin language is used in naming plants. Sometimes, the names given reflect specific
plant attributes or use of the plant. For example, some specific epithets indicate color e.g., alba
(white), variegata (variegated), rubra (red), others are vulgaris (common), esculentus (edible),
sativus (cultivated).
Linneaus’s method of classification was based on the flowers and/or reproductive parts of
a plant because flowers are the plant parts least influenced by environmental changes. At present,
classification is mainly based on phylogeny or evolutionary relationships.
In the Table II-1 below, rice and soybean are botanically classified using Arthur Cronquist’s
system, which is the most accepted of the more recently developed classification systems of
Angiosperms or seed plants.

Table II-1. Examples of scientific classification of crop plants (rice and soybean)
Plantae Kingdom Plantae
Magnoliophyta* Division Magnoliophyta*
Liliopsida (monocots) Class Magnoliopsida (dicots)
Cyperales Order Fabales
Poaceae Family Fabaceae
Oryza Genus Glycine
sativa Species max
NSIC-Ri-2 Variety CLSoy-1
*Group of flowering plants that bear true seeds (seeds within the fruits). It is the most
important division in terms of crop production, because practically all the economically important
plants used for food, feed, and fibers belong to this group.

A. Botanical classification (based on ICBN and/or ICNCP) Plants are

named in 3 ways:

1. Common name – usually the English name

2. Local name – varies from place to place
3. Scientific name – follows the binomial system of nomenclature (genus and
species)
Grouping of plants (largest to smallest group) as bases for modern classification:
Kingdom, division, class, sub-class, order, family, genus and species ( Table 1).
 Classification
Scientific Name Zea mays
Kingdom Plantae Botanical Classification
Division Spermatophyta
Sub-divison Angiosperms
Class Monocotyledonae Plant Kingdom
Order Graminales Division : Thallophytes
Family Graminae (plants that lacks stems,
Zea leaves and roots e.g algae,
Genus and fungi)
Mays Bryophytes (non-
Species flowering plants ex. mosses,
liverworts, hornworts)
Pteridophytes (ex. ferns; lack flowers or seeds
Spermatophytes (all seed-bearing)
Sub-Division:
Gymnosperms Angiosperms
-Plants with naked seeds - plants with seeds enclosed in a vessel
-ex. pine tree
Class:
Monocotyledonae Dicotyledonae
(monocots ex. corn) (dicots ex. mungbean

Artificial System- based on convenience in which the structure or feature serves as the
basis of grouping
Natural System- uses the most prominent and most peculiar morphological structure of
the plant with the intention of grouping together those that are most familiar in a number
of structures
Phylogenetic System- classifies plants according to their evolutionary status
The Functional System of Classification

The functional system of classification is the method of classifying crops most commonly
used in Crop Science. Under this system, crops are classified into agronomic crops (or field
crops) and horticultural crops.
Agronomic crops are annual herbaceous plants grown in cultivated fields under a more
or less extensive (or large-scale) system of culture (Kipps, et al, 1976).
Horticultural crops are crops that are grown under a system of intensive culture in
relatively small areas (Kipps, et al, 1976). They are plants of high enough value to warrant a large
input of capital, labor and technology per unit area of land (Janick, 1972).
As shown by the definitions above, the classification of crops into agronomic crops and
horticultural crops was traditionally based on size of area planted to the crops and intensity of
culture or management.
Advances in technology (e.g. mechanization) and the discovery of more uses of crops
have made the above distinction obsolete. At present, the following criteria are used as basis in
determining whether a crop is a field crop or a horticultural crop:

a. purpose for which the crop is grown

b. type of culture
c. general custom of the country (Bautista et al, 1994).

The “boundary” between agronomic crops and horticultural crops has becomes less clear.
Thus, a crop plant may be an agronomic crop under one situation, and a horticultural crop under
another situation.
 This classification system is the basis for the division of Crop Science into two branches,
namely Agronomy and Horticulture.

A. Classification of Agronomic Crops

1. Agronomic Classification

Agronomic crops are grouped or classified based on the manner by which they are utilized.
As such, an agronomic crop with multiple uses can be a member of several groups in this
classification system. The groups are:
1.1. Cereal or Grain crops are grasses (i.e., members of the family Graminae or Poaceae) that
are grown for their mature edible seeds. They are usually used as staples. The word
“cereal” is derived from the name of the most important grain deity, the Roman goddess
Ceres.
There are eight cereals in the world: rice, corn, wheat, sorghum, barley, oat, rye, and
millets. The first four are grown in the country.
1.2. Grain legumes or Pulses are members of the family Leguminosae or Fabaceae, which are
consumed in the dry seed form. The legumes are rich sources of protein. Many of the
plants possess the ability to fix nitrogen from the air in symbiotic association with
Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium bacteria. The major legume crops in the Philippines are
mungbean, peanut, and soybeans.
1.3. Fiber crops are annual crop plants from which fiber can be obtained. The important
commercial fiber crops in the Philippines are: cotton, ramie, jute and kenaf.
1.4. Root and tuber crops are crops grown for their roots or stems that are modified for food
storage. They are rich sources of carbohydrates. Cassava, sweet potato and yams (ubi
and tugui) are root crops, while potato is a tuber crop.
1.5. Forage crops are crops used as animal feed, such as legumes and grasses for animal
fodder. The important grass species are: napier or elephant grass, Guinea grass, para
grass, pangola grass, and Alabang X. Among the important legume forages are: centro,
ipil-ipil, Townsville stylo, siratro.
1.6. Oil crops are annual crops grown for the oil that can be extracted from them. Examples are
sunflower, sesame, corn, peanut, and soybean.
1.7. Sugar crops are annual crops grown for their sugar content. Examples are sugarcane,
sugar beet, corn, and sweet sorghum.
1.8. Alcohol crops are crops that are rich in starch or sugar, which can be fermented to produce
alcohol. For example, cassava and sugarcane.
1.9. Stimulant and drug crops are crops that contain substances that serve as stimulants or
medicine. An example of stimulant crop is tobacco.

Fiber crops, oil crops, sugar crops, alcohol crops, and stimulant and drug crops are
sometimes placed in a group called annual industrial crops.

2. Special-purpose Classification

2.1. Green-manure crops are crops grown and then turned under for soil improvement, such as
increasing soil fertility and organic matter content. These are mainly legumes that are fast-
growing and produce high biomass.
2.2. Cover crops are crops grown to cover the soil and protect it from erosion. They can also
reduce leaching of certain nutrients such as potassium. When turned under, they become
green-manure crops.
2.3. Catch crops or Emergency crops are substitute crops planted when it is too late to plant the
regular crop or when the regular crop has failed. They are usually early maturing.
2.4. Soilage crops or Soiling crops are forage crops that are cut green and fed green to animals
in the practice called zero grazing.
2.5. Silage crops are forage crops that are cut and preserved in a succulent condition by partial
fermentation.
2.6. Trap crops are crops planted to attract certain insect pests. When okra is planted between
upland cotton, it is preferred by cotton boll weevil, thus reducing damage to the cotton.
Okra in this example is a trap crop.
B. Classification of Horticultural Crops

1. Horticultural Classification
As in the case of agronomic classification, crops are grouped under horticultural
classification based on use. There are four main groups, namely, fruit crops, vegetable crops
ornamental crops, and plantation crops. The four main groups are further classified into sub-
groups.

1.1. Pomological or Fruit Crops. A fruit is a plant from which a more or less succulent fruit or a
closely related structure is obtained and which is eaten as a dessert or snack (Janick,
1972). It is an edible, more or less fleshy botanical fruit of a perennial plant usually used
in fresh form (Bautista et al, 1994).For convenience fruit crops are classified into a) tree
fruits b) nut fruits, and c) small fruits, depending mainly on the habit of the plant on which
they are borne.
1.1.1. Tree Fruits. Fruits borne on trees. Majority of the crops belong to this category, such as
mango , lanzones, durian, orange, etc
1.1.2. Nut Fruits. Fruits borne on trees but which are enclosed by a stony structure, such as
talisay, cashew, and pili.
1.1.3. Small Fruits. Fruits borne not on trees but on herbaceous plants, such as pineapple,
strawberry, and vine plants such as grapes.

1.2. Vegetable crops. A vegetable is an herbaceous plant of which some portion is eaten,
either cooked or raw, during the principal part of the meal (Janick, 1972). It is a succulent
plant or plant part usually eaten as a supplementary food in cooked or raw form, and is
neither a sweet fruit nor a mature grain; muskmelon and watermelon are, however,
considered vegetables mainly because the members of the family (Cucurbitaceae) to
which they belong are classified as vegetables, and their methods of culture are similar
(Bautista et al, 1994).
Vegetable crops are classified based on similarities in the method of culture. In
general, crops belonging to one group have the same cultural requirements and
problems.
1.1.1. Leafy Vegetables. Crops grown mainly for their leaves, such as malunggay, pechay,
kangkong, and saluyot.
1.1.2. Cole Crops or Crucifers. Crops that belong to the crucifer family specifically cabbage,
cauliflower and Chinese cabbage.
1.1.3. Root, Tuber, and Bulb Crops. Crops with swollen underground stems or roots, such as
sweet potato, onion, radish, and potato.
1.1.4. Legumes. Crops belonging to the legume family, such as sitao, cowpea, lima bean, pigeon
pea, chick pea,, and winged bean.
1.1.5. Solanaceous Crops. Crops belonging to the solanaceous or nightshade family
(Solanaceae) whose economically useful parts are the fruits, such as tomato, eggplant,
and sweet pepper.
1.1.6. Cucurbits. Crops belonging to the cucurbit family (Cucurbitaceae) such as cucumber,
muskmelon, squash, watermelon, ampalaya, and chayote.
1.1.7. Sweet corn
1.1.8. Okra
1.1.9. Tree Vegetables. Examples are malungay, katuray, himbabao.

1.3. Ornamentals. Ornamentals are plants used for their aesthetic or decorative value (Bautista
et al, 1994). Ornamentals can be classified according to their special uses. This
classification is based on the specific plant part aesthetically valued and on form in which
the plants are maintained or marketed.
1.3.1. Cut Flower or Florist Crops. Plants grown for their flowers, such as daisies, roses, gladiolus,
carnations, chrysanthemum, anthurium, sampaguita, orchids, birds of paradise.
1.3.2.. Cut Foliage or Florist Greens. Plants whose foliage provide background in floral
arrangements. Ferns and asparagus are important in this category. Some species of
asparagus like asparagus fern are sometimes used for corsages, bouquets, and wreaths.
1.3.3.. Flowering Pot Plants. Plants grown in containers for their beautiful flowers, usually for
display purposes. (Chrysanthemum, poinsettia, santan, bougainvillea.
1.3.4. Landscape Plants. Almost all ornamentals fall under this category. They are used for
landscaping purposes.
1.3.5. Foliage Plants. Plants grown for their attractive foliage. Many of these plants can tolerate
low light intensities since they have no demanding inflorescences to support. They are
used as indoor plants by which they are sometimes called. Examples: begonia,
philodendron.
1.3.6. Turf. Turf grasses are used for lawns or greens (grass for golf courses). They rightfully fall
under landscape plants but have grown in importance to be in a class by themselves.
Example: Manila grass.

1.4. Plantation Crops. Plantation crops is loosely defined as crops, usually perennial in growth,
and that requires minor changes in the structure of the product (in primary processing)
before use. They are also classified according to their useful components. Those in the
same group may have different cultural practices but their principal products can be
substituted for one another.
1.4.1. Oil Crops. These are perennial crops grown for their oil content, such as coconut, African
oil palm, lumbang, and castor bean.
1.4.2. Fiber Crops. These are perennial crops grown for their fibers, which are used for textiles,
corsage, pulp, paper twines, sacks, bags, mats, etc. For example: abaca, buri, maguey,
kapok, cabo negro.
1.4.3. Beverage Crops. Crops that are used for brewing non-alcoholic drinks, such as cacao, tea,
and coffee.
1.4.4. Spice-producing Crops. black pepper (Piper nigrum), vanilla (Vanilla planifolia).
1.4.5. Aromatic or essential-oil-producing Crops: lemon grass or “tanglad”(Cymbopogon citratus);
citronella or “salay” ( C. winterianus); patchouli (Pogostemon cablin);vetiver grass
(Vetiveria zizanoides); “ilang- ilang” (Cananga odorata).
1.4.6.. Latexes and Resins. These crops where products of the sap (latex) are tapped or obtained
from the bark such as rubber.
Resins are organic substances from plants. They are solid or semisolid natural organic
substances secreted in the sap of some plants and trees that have transparent or
translucent quality and a yellow or brown color. They are used in varnishes, paints,
adhesives, inks, and medicines.

1.4.1. Medicinal and Biocidal Crops. Sources of pharmaceutical and insecticidal compounds.
Examples of native species which have been clinically tested to have medicinal properties
are lagundi (Vitex negundo), yerba buena (Mentha cordiflora), sambong (Blumea
balsamifera).

Other Classification Systems

A. Based on Growth Duration

1. Annuals. These plants complete their life cycle, usually from seed to seed, in one growing
season and then die. Examples: rice, tomato, squash, corn.
2. Biennials. These plants complete their life cycle in two growing seasons and then die. The
first season is devoted to vegetative growth and food storage. The second is devoted to
reproductive growth, that is, the plant produces flowers and seeds. For example, sugar
beet grows vegetatively in the first season. In winter, it becomes vernalized and starts
reproductive growth in spring. Another example is bulb onion.
3. Perennials. Perennials are plants that have the ability to repeat their life cycle indefinitely
by circumventing the death stage. They may be herbaceous, as in species with
underground vegetative structures called rhizomes (e.g. Indian grass), or aboveground
structures called stolons (e.g. buffalo grass). They may also be woody, as in shrubs,
lianas (grape), and trees (orange).

B. Based on Stem Type

1. Herbaceous - crop plants that have soft succulent non-woody stem. They have no
secondary tissue or the secondary tissue is not well developed. Herbaceous plants are
further classified into:
1.1. Herbs are herbaceous plants that can stand upright without support. (Examples: corn,
banana)
1.2. Vines are herbaceous plants that require supports to stand upright. (Examples: upo, ubi)

2. Woody - crop plants that have hard stems because of their well-developed secondary
tissues. Woody plants are further classified into:
 1.1. Trees are woody plants that possess a single central stem and are usually taller than
shrubs at peak height. They can stand upright without any support. (Examples: santol,
ipil-ipil)
1.2. Shrubs are woody plants with several more or less upright stems. Like trees, they can
stand upright without any support. with no trunk and may have several main branches;
rarely grows higher than 5meters (Examples: santan)
1.3. Lianas are climbing woody plants. They need support to stand upright. (Example: grape).

C. Based on Stem Growth Form

Certain plants can stand upright without artificial support, others cannot. Based on this
characteristic, plants are classified into:

1. Erect. Erect plants can stand upright without physical support, growing at about a 90-
degree angle to the ground. This feature is needed for mechanization of certain crops.
Plant breeders develop erect (bush) forms of non-erect (pole) cultivars for this purpose.
There are both pole and bush cultivars of crops such as bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in
cultivation.
2. Decumbent. Plants with decumbent stem growth form, such as peanuts (Arachis
hypogaea), are extremely inclined with raised tips.
3. Creeping or repent. Plants in this category, such as strawberry (Fragaria spp.), have
stems that grow horizontally on the ground.
4. Climbing. Climbers are plants with modified vegetative parts (stems or leaves) that enable
them to wrap around a nearby physical support, so they do not have to creep on the
ground, such as yam (Dioscorea spp.).

D. Based on Adaptation
1. Based on Temperature Adaptation
1.1. Cool-season crops or temperate crops. These plants, such as wheat and sugar beet,
prefer a monthly temperature between 15 and 18°C for growth and development.
1.2. Warm-season crops or tropical plants. These plants, such as corn and rice, require warm
temperatures higher than 18°C during the growing season.

2. Based on Response to Light

2.1. Sciophytes. A plant that prefers shady conditions. Examples: Some orchids.
2.2. Heliophytes. Plants that like sunlight or plants that can survive and grow in direct sunlight
or that grow best in direct sunlight. Examples: Peanut, corn, rice.

E. Based on Habitat
1. Terrestrial. Plants that live or grow on land rather than in water or in the air. Example:
Corn, mango
2. Aquatic. Plants that live or grow in water. Example: water lilies.
3. Halophytes. Plants capable of growing in salty soils. Example: Mangrove trees.
4. Epiphytes. Plants that grow on live trees or dead trunks but do not depend on them for
water and nutrients. Example: orchids.
According to Mode of Reproduction
• Sexual- develops after undergoing meiosis and fertilization in the flower to
produce viable embryo in the seed
• Asexual- produced by any vegetative means not involving meiosis and
fertilization
F. Based on Temperature Tolerance
• Tropical- grown in the tropics could Not withstand chilling
• Sub-tropical por semi-temperate crops- can withstand slight chilling and
relatively high temperature
• Temperate- can withstand chilling and low temperature
G. Based on Photoperiodic Response
• Long-day plants- require a relatively long day (14hrs or more) for the
formation of inflorescence; remain in vegetative stage when the day is short
ex. grains (except rice, sorghum, corn, soybean)
• Short-day plants- require daily prolonged darkness to induce flowering; but a
short interval of light during the night may prevent flowering ex. rice, onion,
sorghum, corn
H. Special Types
• Parasites- with parasitic, sucking roots
• Epiphytes- grow upon other plants (orchids) but not parasitic
• Saprophytes- grow in places rich in decaying substances
I. Based on Purpose
1. Cereals/Grain Crops- grown for their grains
ex. rice, corn, wheat, sorghum
2. Legumes- grown for their pods and grains
ex. cowpea, mungbean, sitao, peanut
3. Root crops- grown for their enlarged/tuberous roots
ex. cassava, ube, arrowroot
4. Fiber crops- grown for their fibers used in textile, cortage, twines, sacks, etc.
ex. cotton, ramie, kenaf, jute
5. Oil crops- grown for their oil content
Ex.soybean, peanut, sunflower, castor, coconut
6. Sugar crops- grown for their sugar content
Ex. sugarcane, sugarbeet
7. Pasture/Forage crops- used for roughage source for animals
Ex. paragrass, napier, ipil-ipil, stylosanthes
8. Beverage crops- used for brewing non-alcoholic drinks
Ex. coffee, cacao, tea
9. Spices, condiments, essences- used to provide special flavor, scent and color to
food, perfumes, soaps, and body dressing
Ex. black pepper, vanilla, citronella, ilang-ilang, annatto
10. Latex and Resins- used for extracting sap from the trunk/stem
Ex. rubber, chico, pili, rimas, papaya
11. Medicinal and poison crops- with curative, laxative and pesticidal properties
Ex. lagundi, sambong, tobacco
12. Vegetables- usually eaten with staple crops and further classified based on
similarities in the method of culture
a. Root- raddish, carrot
b. Leaf- spinach, lettuce
c. Stem- celery, asparagus
d. Flowers- squash, katuray
e. Fruit- okra, tomato,eggplant
13. Fruits- edible botanical fruits used for desserts and may be eaten raw, cooked, or
in processed form ex. pineapple, mango,cashew
14. Ornamentals- cultivated mainly for aesthetic value, further classified according to
special uses
a. Cut-flowers- grown for their flowers (roses,orchids)
b. Flowering pot-plants- grown in containers for their flowers, usually for display
(poinsettia)
 c. Landscape plants- for landscaping purposes (blue palm, white grass, song of
India)
d. Foliage plants- for attractive foliage, grown indoor or outdoors for decoration
(begonia, philodendron)
e. Cut-foliage- foliage used to provide background in floral arrangement (ferns,
fortune plant,palmera)
f. Turf- used in lawns or greens (Bermuda grass, carabao grass, blue grass)
J. Special Groups
1. Green manure- crop that are plowed under while still green and growing to
improve the soil
Ex. sesbania
2. Companion crop- crop sown with another crop and harvested separately. The
combination benefits either or both crops
Ex. ipil-ipil with black pepper
3. Cover crop- any crop grown to provide soil cover, prevent soil erosion by wind or
water,improve soil and control weeds
Ex. centrosema
4. Catch crop- short season crop grown immediately after the failure of the main
crop to utilize residual resources. Ex. rice is destroyed by typhoon,so petchay
and mustasa were planted
5. Trap crop- crop planted to protect the main crop from pests by attracting the
pests and later destroying it. Ex. rice is the main crop, sweet potato is planted to
trap rats
6. Soilage- grasses grown,cut and directly fed to animals
7. Silage- grasses grown, cut, fermented and preserved before being fed to
animals.
8. Agricultural Classification – is based mainly on their uses and that agricultural crops are
group into : agronomic, horticultural, and weeds.
a. Agronomic crops – are annual herbaceous plants that are grown in the farm under a
system of extensive or large scale culture.
Derived from Greek words:
―Agros‖- field and ―Nomos‖- manage
1. Horticultural crops- are annual and perennial species which are grown
under a system of intensive culture.
“Hortus”- garden and ―colere‖-to cultivate Agronomic
Classification(Uses)

1. Cereals or grain crops- grains used as staple food

Rice Oryza sativa L.
Corn Zea mays L.

Sorghum Sorghum bicolor L/ Sorghum vulgare

L..

Wheat Triticum spp.

Barley Hordeum vulgare

Millet(pearl ) Pennisetum typhoides

Millets ( panics etc.) Panicum spp.

Millet (Italian) Setaria italica

Millet (Japanese) Echinocloa spp.
Oats Avena sativa
 Rye Secale cereale

Triticale ( x Tritiosecale )

2. Legume seed crops or pulses- consumed in dry seed form and high in
protein under Family Leguminosae or Fabaceae
Peanut Arachis hypogea L.
Soybean/soya bean Glycine max L.

Mungbean Vigna radiata L./Phaseolus aureus

Beans (Field/garden) Phaseolus vulgaris L

Beans (Broad) Vicea faba L. Black gram/ cowpea

Vigna ungiculata Garden pea
Pisum sativum

Chick pea Cicer arietinum

Winged bean Psophocarpus tetragonolobos

Lentil Lens cculinaris

Pigeon pea Cajanus cajan

Yam bean Pachyrhizus erosus
3. Root and tuber crops – source of carbohydrates, the major economic
parts are the roots
Cassava Manihot utilissima

Sweet potato Ipomea batatas

Gabi Colocasia esculenta

Yam Dioscorea alata
Carrot Daucus carota

4. Sugar crops- source of sugar

Sugarcane Saccharum officinalis
Sugarbeet Beta vulgaris

Corn Zea mays

5. Oil and beverage crops –source of oil and beverages

Coconut Cocos nucifera
Corn Zea mays
Soybean Glycine max
Castor bean Ricinus communis

Cotton Gossypium ssp.

Olive Olea europaea

Palm oil Elaeis guianeensis

Sunflower Helianthus annus
Peanut Arachis hypogaea

Sesame Sesamum indicum

Safflower Carthamus tinctorius

6. Fiber crops-grown for fiber-grown for fiber (seed, bark or stem)

Abaca Musa textiles
Kenaf Hibiscus sabdariffa
Jute Corchorus olitorius

Hemp Cannabis sativa

 Ramie Boehmeria nivea

Cotton Gossypium hirsutum

Kapok Ceiba pentandra

Flax Linum usitatisssimum

7. Oil seeds crop- crop seeds rich in fatty acids, are used to extract
vegetable oil to meet various requirements
Ground nut/peanut

Mustard(black) Sinapis nigra

Mustard (White) Sinapis alba

Sunflower Helianthus annus
Sesame Sesamum indicum

8. Rubber crop
Rubber Heavea braziliensis
9. Medicinal and aromatic or drug crops / biocidal plant source of pharmaceutical and
medicinal plant.
Ulasiman Portuloca oleraceae

Lagundi Vitex negundo

Yerba Buena Mentha cordiflora

Sambong Blumea balsamifera

Tobacco Nicotiana tabacom

Pepper mint Mentha piperita
Pepper Capsicum spp.

Lemon grass Cymbopogon citratus

Citronella grass C. winterianus

10. Forage legumes and grasses

Grasses:
Guinea grass Panicum maximum

Paragrass Brachiaria mutica

Pangola grass Digitaria decumbens

Alabang grass Dicanthium aristatum
Signal grass Brachiaria decumbens

Star grass Cynodo plectostachyus

Napier Pennisetum purpureum

Carpet grass Axonopus spp.

Legumes:
Kudzu Pueraria phseoloides

Centro Centrosema pubescens

Ipil-ipil Leucaena leucocephala

Stylo Stylosanthes humiles

Siratro Macrophilium atropurpurium

Setaria Setaria anceps
11. Starch crops- grown for the production of starch.
 Tapioca/cassava Potato
Sweet potato Maize
B. Horticultural Crops- require special care. They are group into:
1. Olericultural crops/Vegetable crops - Edible groups: tree fruits, nuts, small fruits,
Onion- Allium cepa

Garlic-Allium sativum

Tomato- Lycpersicon esculentum Eggplant-

Solanum melongena Cabbage-Brassica
oleraceae

Yard long bean-Vigna sesquipedales Winged bean-

Psophocarpus tetragonolobus Bitter gourd- Momordica
charantia Watermelon-Citrullus lunatus

Pechay-Brassica rapus

TOP PRODUCING PROVINCES

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Science Statistics Website (Latest data as of Feb.2015)
BENGUET: Chrysanthemum, Gladiola, Roses, Orange, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots,
Cauliflower, Habitchuelas, Chine Petchay, White Potato
ILOCOS NORTE: Tamarind, Garlic
ILOCOS SUR: Tobacco, Virginia Tobacco
PANGASINAN: Mango, Carabao Manggo, Eggplant, Peanut
ISABELA: Tobacco Native, Mongo
NUEVA VISCAYA: Mandarin
BULACAN: String Beans
NUEVA ECIJA: Okra, Onion
BATANGAS: Gourd
LAGUNA: Rambutan, Radish
QUEZON: Coconut (with husk), Ampalaya
ORIENTAL MINDORO: Calamansi
PALAWAN: Cashew
ALBAY: Orchids, Pechay Native, Squash
CATANDUANES: Abaca
SORSOGON: Pili Nut
ILOILO: Watermelon
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL: Sugarcane
BOHOL: Ube
LEYTE: Camote
NORTHERN SAMAR: Gabi
BUKIDNON: Pineapple, Lettuce, Tomato
LANAO DEL NORTE: Ginger
DAVAO DEL NORTE: Banana, Banana Cavendish, Durian
DAVAO DEL SUR: Cacao
NORTH COTABATO: Rubber, Banana Lacatan, Banana Saba
SULTAN KUDARAT: Coffee (dried beans), Coffee Arabica, Coffee Robusta
AGUSAN DEL SUR: Oil Palm (fresh fruit)
LANAO DEL SUR: Cassava
MAGUINDANAO: Kangkong
SULU: Coffee Excelsa, Coffee Liberica, Lanzones, Mangosteen

Prepared by: Contact Information:

Rica Nicole Y. Napoles Email: [email protected]

Instructor CP#: 09462728107/09756832657