Some of the most important types of agricultural crops are grown in our country are as follows:
1. Rice:
Botanical name: Oryza sativa
Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)
Local name: Dhana
Rice is the most common cereal used by more than 60% of the world population as major food. Major cultivating states in India are Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Bihar.
Cultivation of Rice Plant:
Rice is water loving plant, which is grown in north eastern states and peninsular India all round the year if water is available either through rain or irrigation. Plants need high temperature between 25 – 35″C for optimum growth. There are many varieties of rice plants cultivated in Orissa.
Variety Month of Sowing Month of Harvesting Name of rice plants
Beali May September or October Cauvery, Pusa, Bala, etc.
Sarada June December Parijata, Padma, Hatna, etc.
Dalua December April Parijata, Bala, Pusa, etc.
Description of Rice Plants:
1. Rice plant is annual herb with presence of culm stem, linear and acuminate leaves with parallel, palmate, convergent, venation.
2. Inflorescence is spikelet with two empty Glume, fertile bract lemma and fertile bracteole palea.
3. The two empty Glumes, lemma and palea constitute the husk of the paddy grain.
4. Flower is bisexual, presence of two lodicules, six stamens, versatile anthers, two short style and feathery stigma.
5. Pollination is anemophilous and fruit is caryopsis.
Economic Use:
1. Rice grain is used as food for more than 60% of world population.
2. The husked rice (paddy) on an average contains 8.9% protein, 2% fat and 77.2% carbohydrate, 0.048% Calcium, 0.29% phosphorus, 0.002% iron, vitamin B complex.
3. Rice straw is commonly used as cattle feed, thatching and manufacture of straw board and paper.
4. Rice bran oil is used for soaps, cosmetics and cooking.
2. Green Gram
Botanical name: Phaseolus aureus
Family: Fabaceae
Local name: Muga or Mung
Green gram or golden gram is an important pulse (poor man’s protein). This leguminous plant is mainly grown in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
Cultivation of Green gram:
Green gram is a Rabi crops mainly cultivated in dry season. It requires less water but clay and loamy soil for growth. The seeds are usually sown at the end of November. It takes about 3 months to flower and mature seed and food formation occurs within 4 months. The improved varieties of green gram are -T1, T44, Baisakhi, Dhauli, Jawahar-45, etc.
Description of the plants:
1. Green gram is an annual plant that completes its life cycle within 4 months.
2. Tap root system possesses root nodules (carries symbiotic bacteria Rhzobium for nitrogen fixation).
3. Plant are sub-erect, much branched, 0.5-1.3 metre in height.
4. Leaves are alternate and trifoliately compound.
5. Flowers are small and papilionaceous.
6. Fruit is legume or pod and dehiscence both from dorsal and ventral suture.
Economic Use:
1. Green gram is rich in protein and consumed in the form of Dal.
2. It is also used in preparing biscuits.
3. The plant residue is a very good cattle feed.
4. Crop rotation is done with cereals by these groups of plants to increase the nitrogen fertility in soil.
5. Plants also used as green manure.
3. Groundnut:
Botanical name : Arachis hypogea
Family : Fabaceae
Local name : China Badam, Mungphali
Groundnut is second largest chief source of vegetable oil and an excellent cash crop. The major ground nut producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Orissa.
Cultivation of Groundnut:
Plant grows in tropical and sub-tropical areas requiring sandy, loam and well drained black soils. It is mainly grown from June to October. Harvesting is done when lower leaves turn yellow.
Description of the plants:
1. Groundnut is an annual herb.
2. Plant is much branched and has bushy appearance.
3. Two types of flowers develop in axillary spikes.
4. Sterile flowers are Papilonaceous corolla but fertile flowers are without corolla.
5. Pollination is Cleistogamous.
6. Fruit is lomentum and geocarpic.
7. Improved varieties of groundnut are – Kissan, Spanish, and Koperagaon 1 to 3.
Economic Use:
1. Groundnut seeds are highly nutritious and highly rich in protein, oil, and vitamins (A and B).
2. Groundnut oil is used for cooking purposes.
3. Vegetable ghee is prepared from groundnut oil by hydrogenation.
4. Plant parts are used as cattle feed as well as green manure.
5. Groundnut oil is also used as lubricant and manufacture of soap.
6. Oil cake is used as food for cattle, poultry and fish.
4. Holly Basil:
Botanical name: Ocimum sanctum
Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
Local name: Tulsi
Native of India, it is a short-lived perennial herb or small shrub, often grown as an annual. The foliage is green or purple, strongly scented. Leaves have petioles, and are ovate, up to 5vjm long, usually somewhat toothed. Flowers are white, tinged purple, borne in verticillaster inflorescence and fruit is carcerulus.
Economic Use:
I. Tulsi’s extracts are used in ayurvedic remedies for common colds, headaches, stomach disorders, inflammation, heart disease, various forms of poisoning, and malaria.
II. Traditionally, tulsi is taken in many forms: as an herbal tea, dried powder, fresh leaf, or mixed with ghee. Essential oil extracted from Karpoora Tulsi (camphor basil) is mostly used for medicinal purposes and in herbal toiletry. For centuries, the dried leaves of Tulsi have been mixed with stored grains to repel insects.
III. Recent studies suggest that Tulsi may be a COX-2 inhibitor, like many modern painkillers, due to its significant amount of eugenol (l-hydroxy-2-methoxy-4-allyIbenzene).Studies have also shown Tulsi to be effective for diabetes, by reducing blood glucose levels. The same study also showed significant reduction in total cholesterol levels with Tulsi. Another study showed that Tulsi’s beneficial effect on blood glucose levels is due to its antioxidant properties.
IV. Tulsi also shows some promise for protection from radiation poisoning and cataracts. Some Vaishnavites do not use Tulsi for medicine, though, out of reverence. However, the use of Tulsi for purification and as a medicine is widespread throughout India. Many Hindus – along with the ancient tradition of Ayurveda believe that the healing properties of sacred herbs such as Tulsi were given by the Lord himself, and can be used as a medicine out of reverence.
5. Margosa:
Botanical name : Azadirachta indica
Family : Meliaceae
Local name : Neem
Azadirachta incica as the name suggests; it is indigenous to India and South Asia. In India it is known as ‘Neem’.
Description of the plants:
1. It is medium to large sized tree with rounded crown of bright green dense foliage.
2. Leaves are imparipinnate, crowded towards the end of branches.
3. All parts of the tree, roots, bark, gum, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds and oil are used in preparation of various therapeutic use and products.
4. Plantation of Neem trees could help in the ‘green earth ‘projects.
5. The tree does not require much water for its growth. It can withstand extreme heat but at the same time cleanses, cools the atmosphere and balances the oxygen level in the atmosphere.
6. It helps to improve the fertility of the soil and to rehabilitate degraded wastelands.
Economic Use:
The Margosa is said to be the most promising tree of the 21st century. Its derivatives are used in a large number of medicines, cosmetics, toiletries.
1. Margosa contains essential oils which consist of nimbin, nimbinin, and ninbidin. Sulphur is the main constituent of ninbidin. The flowers contain bitter oil which contains a highly pungent essential oil nimbosterol, nimbecetin and fatty acids besides glucoside, nimbosterin. The fruits contain bakayanin.
2. Neem has emerged as an ideal source of pesticides and insecticides. About 352 species of insect pests, 19 species of nematodes and equal number of fungi have already been found to be susceptible to “neem effect”.
3. “Margosa” oil, heals bleeding gums and cures pyrrohoea when it is used in mouth and toothpaste
4. Some general uses of Neem are as follows:
(i) A combination of dried neem oil with Vaseline (1:5) is used for minor cuts, burns and wounds.
(ii) Later extract of neem leaves (boiled) acts as antiseptic and protects skin against infections.
(iii) Massage with neem oil mixed in coconut oil helps against dandruff and head lice.
(iv) Pure neem oil is used as nasal drops to provide relief from sinusitis.
(v) Burning neem oil (5%) with any other oil ward of mosquitoes.
[vi] People suffering from hyperacidity and diabetes may find chewing 2-3 neem leaves regularly very useful.
(vii) Extract of 10 fresh leaves (boiled) in a litre of water may be used as eyewash in case of itching in the eyes or conjunctivitis.
( viii) Soaking feet in the aqueous extract of neem leaves provides relief in foot problems. (ix) Gargle with honey added aqueous leaf extract (boil 2-3 neem leaves in water and cool) provides relief in soar throat.
6. Mango:
Botanical name: Mangifera indica
Family: Anacardiaceae
Local name: Amba
Mango is known as National Fruit of India and it is grown since pre-historic times. Mango is grown in almost all parts of India chiefly Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal. No country surpasses India in the number of mango varieties and the richness of their flavour. The famous varieties of mango having sweet taste, flavour and consistency of the pulp are Alphanso, Mulgoa, Dasheri, Langra, Hunisagar, Fazli, Gulab khas, Bombai and Chausa,
Cultivation of Mango:
Mangoes are cultivated in every province of India except above 1220m and are adapted to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. The mango tree prefers well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. The optimum growth temperature is 24 – 27°C. An annual rainfall of 75 – 190 cm is generally desirable.
Description of the plant:
1. Mango tree is a large spreading, magnificent ever green, with narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, leathery or tappering leaves.
2. The clusters of small pinkish white flowers are borne in large panicles at the end of branchlets.
3. More than four thousand flowers have been counted in a single panicle, but not all are capable of developing into fruits.
4. Panicle produces two kinds of flowers i.e., perfect (polygamous condition) and staminate (male flowers).
Economic Use:
1. Fruit is a large fleshy drupe.
2. The pericap is differentiated into smooth and shining epicarp, fleshy edible mesocarp and inner stony endocarp.
3. Ripe mango has 81% moisture, 16.9% carbohydrates, 0.7% fibres and 0.6% proteins. It is rich in carotene and its calorific value is 74 Kcal/100 gms.
4. Ripe mangoes are mostly eaten fresh.
5. Mangoes are used in preparation of Jam, Jelly and Squash.
7. Banana:
Botanical name: Musa paradisiaca Var sapientum
Family: Musaceae
Local name: Kadali; Kela
Banana is one of the most important and most widely grown of all tropical fruits. It is consumed throughout the world even though it is cultivated only in the tropical countries. It is one of the oldest fruit known to the mankind. The cultivated bananas ire broadly classified into two groups: the dessert varieties (called banana) are eaten raw, while the more starchy types are consumed after cooking (called plantains).
In India, banana is cultivated in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa and West Bengal.
Cultivation of Banana:
Banana plants require warm, humid and rainy climates for its growth. Planting is done between June and July or between November and February. The important varieties of banana are – Champa, Patkapura, Basrai, Poovam, Bhusabali, Chakkerakeli, etc.
Description of the plant:
1. Banana is a perennial tallest herb with adventitious root system.
2. The trunk (pseudostem) is formed of tightly rolled (closping) spiral leaf bases.
3. Pseudostem is errect, unbranched, cylindrical and 20 – 25 feet height.
4. Leaves are large, with thick midrib, parallel, pinnate venation.
5. Inflorescence is compound spadix and flowers are enclosed in a large coloured bract known as spathe.
6. Base carries unisexual female flowers and apex carries male flowers.
7. Flowers are irregular, epigynous, six stamens (one sterile and five fertile), tricarpellary, inferior and fleshy indehiscent berry fruit.
Economic Use:
1. Ripe banana is highly nutrititious. It has 70% moisture, 27% carbohydrates, 2.2% proteins, vitamin B complex and minerals.
2. Unripe banana is consumed as vegetable.
3. On several occasion food is served on banana leaves.
4. Spadix and pseudostem also used as vegetables.
Leaves are used as cattle feed.
Banana fruit can control intestinal disorder, nephrititis and hypertension.
8. Wood Apple:
Botanical name: Aegle marmelos
Family: Rutaceae
Local names: Bela, Bel, Shriphal, Bilwapatra
The wood apple is cultivated for its fruit as well as a sacred plant for its trifoliate leaves, which are offered to Lord Shiva.
Description of the plant:
1. It is perennial deciduous tree, upto 8 metre in height with straight sharp thorns.
2. Leaves are trifoliate, aromatic, and alternate.
3. Flowers are yellowish white, hermaphrodite, hypogynous, numerous stamen, polycarpellary, superior.
4. Fruit is Amphisarca. Edible part is inner fleshy layer of pericarp and placenta.
Economic Use:
1. Tree is held sacred by the people.
2. Its wood pulp is used for making wrapping paper.
3. Its root, bark, leaves, ripe and unripe fruits and flowers are used in Ayurvedic medicines.
4. Its fruit contain gum, pectin, reducing sugars, oil with marmelosin (volatile oil) and small amount of tanic acid.
5. The root are sweet, astringent, bitter and useful in diarrhoea, dysentery, dyspepsia, stomachal gia, cardioplamus, seminal weakness, uropathy, vomiting, intermittent fever, swelling and gastric irritability in infants.
6. The leaves are useful in opthalmia, deafness, diabetics, asthma.
7. The ripe fruits are astringent, sweet, aromatic, cooling, febriguge, laxative and tonic, and are good for the heart and brain, in dyspepsia.