Botanical Names of Important Crops

Kharif Crops:

Kharif crops are grown during the monsoon season in India, typically from June to September. Some key Kharif crops include:

• Paddy (Oryza sativa)
• Maize (Zea mays)
• Jowar (Sorghum bicolor)
• Bajra (Pearl millet) (Pennisetum typhoides, Pennisetum glaucum)
• Groundnut (Arachis hypogea)
• Sesame (Til) (Sesamum indicum)
• Cotton (Gossypium spp.)
• Sunhemp (Crotalaria juncea)
• Moong (Vigna radiata)
• Urd (Vigna mungo)
• Soybean (Glycine max)

Rabi Crops:

Rabi crops are sown in winter (around October-November) and harvested in spring (around March-April). Common rabi crops include:

• Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
• Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
• Gram (Cicer arietinum)
• Mustard (Brassica spp.)
• Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)
• Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)
• Berseem (Trifolium alexandrium)

Botanical Names of Important Crops:

Cereal Crops:

Cereal crops are primarily cultivated for their seeds, which are rich in carbohydrates and protein. Examples include:

• Rice: Oryza sativa
• Wheat: Triticum aestivum
• Maize: Zea mays
• Sorghum (Jowar): Sorghum bicolor
• Bajra (Pearl millet): Pennisetum typhoides
• Barley: Hordeum vulgare
• Ragi (Finger millet): Eleusine coracana – known for being beneficial for diabetes patients.
• Cheena (Proso millet): Panicum miliaceum
• Barnyard millet (Sawan): Echinochloa frumentacea
• Kodo millet: Paspalum scrobiculatum – also known as “Coarsest Arikalu.”

Pulse Crops:

Pulses are rich in proteins and are commonly grown in rotation with cereals to enhance soil fertility due to their nitrogen-fixing properties:

• Gram (Chickpea): Cicer arietinum
• Lentil: Lens esculenta
• Pea: Pisum spp.
• Arhar (Redgram, Pigeon pea): Cajanus cajan
• Greengram (Moong): Vigna radiata
• Blackgram (Urd): Vigna mungo
• Cowpea: Vigna sinensis
• Soybean: Glycine max

Oilseed Crops:

Oilseed crops are grown for their oil-rich seeds, which are an important source of edible oils:

• Groundnut (Peanut): Arachis hypogea
• Sesame (Til): Sesamum indicum
• Castor: Ricinus communis
• Rapeseed & Mustard: Brassica spp.
• Linseed (Flax): Linum usitatissimum
• Safflower: Carthamus tinctorius
• Sunflower: Helianthus annus

Fibre Crops:

Fibre crops are used for producing textiles, ropes, and other products:

• Cotton: Gossypium spp.
• Jute: Corchorus capsularis (White Jute) and Corchorus olitorius (Tossa Jute)
• Sunhemp (Banaras Hemp): Crotalaria juncea
• Mesta: Hibiscus spp.

Forage Crops:

Forage crops are grown primarily to feed livestock:

• Oat: Avena sativa
• Napier Grass (Elephant Grass): Pennisetum purpureum
• Berseem (Egyptian Clover): Trifolium alexandrium
• Lucerne (Alfalfa): Medicago sativa
• Guar: Cyamopsis tetragonoloba

Sugar Crops:

Sugar crops are cultivated for the extraction of sugar:

• Sugarcane: Saccharum officinarum
• Sugarbeet: Beta vulgaris

Root and Tuber Crops:

These crops are starchy and are an important part of diets globally:

• Potato: Solanum tuberosum
• Sweet Potato: Ipomoea batatas
• Cassava/Tapioca: Manihot utilissima
• Yams: Dioscorea spp.
• Cocoyam: Colocasia esculenta
• Elephant foot yam: Amorphophallus campanulatus
• Chinese Potato: Coleus parviflorus
• Arrowroot: Maranta arundinaceae