Crop Husbandry | Jamb(UTME) Agriculture

General Crop Husbandry

1. Crop Husbandry involves the cultivation, management, and harvesting of crops for food, fiber, and other purposes.
2. Common and Scientific Names of crops allow for accurate identification and classification of plants.
3. Gross Morphology refers to the outward appearance of crops, including the structure of leaves, stems, roots, and flowers.
4. Anatomy of Storage Organs includes the study of internal structures like roots, stems, and tubers that store food and nutrients for the plant.
5. Methods of Propagation include sexual (seed-based) and asexual (cuttings, grafting, etc.) techniques to multiply plants.
6. Husbandry Practices involve practices like soil preparation, irrigation, fertilization, pest control, and crop rotation.
7. Harvesting refers to the collection of mature crops, often dependent on the type of crop and its ripening stage.
8. Processing and Storage techniques include drying, milling, canning, freezing, and refrigeration to extend shelf life and reduce waste.
9. Common Diseases and Pests include fungal infections, bacterial diseases, insects, and nematodes that threaten crop health.
10. Economic Importance refers to the contribution of crops to the economy through food production, export, and industrial uses.
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Group 1: Cereals (e.g., Maize, Guinea Corn, Rice)

11. Common Names: Maize, guinea corn, rice, barley, wheat.
12. Scientific Names: Zea mays (maize), Sorghum bicolor (guinea corn), Oryza sativa (rice).
13. Gross Morphology: Maize has tall, grass-like plants with broad leaves; rice has a semi-erect growth form; guinea corn has a bushy appearance with fibrous roots.
14. Storage Organs: Cereal grains like maize and rice store starch in their endosperm.
15. Methods of Propagation: Typically propagated by seeds, requiring proper care in seedbed preparation.
16. Husbandry Practices: Includes tilling, fertilizing, watering, and controlling pests such as armyworms and aphids.
17. Harvesting: Maize and rice are harvested once the kernels are dry and firm; guinea corn is harvested when the seeds are mature.
18. Processing: Maize is milled into flour; rice is husked and polished; guinea corn is often ground into flour for porridge.
19. Common Diseases and Pests: Maize weevil, rice blast, and sorghum shoot fly.
20. Economic Importance: Cereals provide a major source of carbohydrates and are critical staples for food security worldwide.
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Group 2: Legumes (e.g., Cowpea, Groundnut, Soybean)

21. Common Names: Cowpea, groundnut (peanut), soybean, lentils, chickpeas.
22. Scientific Names: Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), Arachis hypogaea (groundnut), Glycine max (soybean).
23. Gross Morphology: Cowpea has long, climbing vines; groundnut grows as a low-spreading plant with pea-like flowers; soybean is a bushy plant with trifoliate leaves.
24. Storage Organs: Legumes store protein in their seeds, which are rich in amino acids.
25. Methods of Propagation: Legumes are typically propagated by seed and often benefit from inoculation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
26. Husbandry Practices: Includes preparing the soil, sowing seeds at the right depth, managing weed growth, and irrigation.
27. Harvesting: Groundnuts are harvested after the leaves turn yellow, while cowpeas are harvested when the pods are dry.
28. Processing: Groundnuts are roasted or ground into peanut butter; soybeans are processed into oil, tofu, or soy milk.
29. Common Diseases and Pests: Bean weevil, root rot, aphids, and leaf spots.
30. Economic Importance: Legumes are crucial for improving soil fertility, providing protein, oil, and enhancing food security.
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Group 3: Tubers (e.g., Yam, Cassava, Sweet Potatoes)

31. Common Names: Yam, cassava, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, taro.
32. Scientific Names: Dioscorea spp. (yam), Manihot esculenta (cassava), Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato).
33. Gross Morphology: Yams have large, starchy tubers with vine-like growth; cassava has woody stems with edible roots; sweet potatoes have trailing vines and storage roots.
34. Storage Organs: Tubers store starch and carbohydrates, which provide energy for the plant during dormancy.
35. Methods of Propagation: Tubers are usually propagated by planting tuber cuttings, sprouting or vine cuttings.
36. Husbandry Practices: Includes preparing planting holes, ensuring adequate drainage, and applying fertilizers and organic matter.
37. Harvesting: Yams and cassava are harvested after 6–12 months; sweet potatoes are harvested when the leaves start to yellow.
38. Processing: Cassava is processed into flour, chips, or starch; sweet potatoes can be boiled, baked, or processed into chips.
39. Common Diseases and Pests: Cassava mosaic disease, yam beetles, and root rot in sweet potatoes.
40. Economic Importance: Tubers are a vital source of calories, particularly in tropical regions, and serve as both food and industrial products.
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Group 4: Vegetables and Spices (e.g., Tomatoes, Eggplant, Pepper, Onions, Okra, Cabbage, Amaranthus)

41. Common Names: Tomatoes, eggplant, pepper, onions, okra, cabbage, amaranthus, spinach.
42. Scientific Names: Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), Solanum melongena (eggplant), Capsicum spp. (pepper), Allium cepa (onion), Abelmoschus esculentus (okra), Amaranthus spp. (amaranth).
43. Gross Morphology: Tomatoes have fleshy fruits; peppers are small, bell-shaped or elongated fruits; onions grow in bulbous clusters; okra has tall, branching plants.
44. Storage Organs: Vegetables typically store water, sugars, and some nutrients in their roots or fleshy fruits.
45. Methods of Propagation: Most vegetables are propagated by seeds, but some like onions and garlic are propagated by bulbs or cloves.
46. Husbandry Practices: Includes regular watering, applying organic mulch, pest control, and selective harvesting.
47. Harvesting: Vegetables like tomatoes and peppers are harvested when ripe, while leafy vegetables like amaranth are harvested before full maturity.
48. Processing: Vegetables are often consumed fresh but can also be canned, frozen, or dried for long-term storage.
49. Common Diseases and Pests: Aphids, caterpillars, fungal infections (e.g., downy mildew), and blight.
50. Economic Importance: Vegetables and spices are essential sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, contributing to health and nutrition.
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Group 5: Fruits (e.g., Citrus, Pineapple, Pawpaw)

51. Common Names: Citrus (orange, lemon, lime), pineapple, pawpaw (papaya), banana, apple.
52. Scientific Names: Citrus sinensis (orange), Ananas comosus (pineapple), Carica papaya (pawpaw).
53. Gross Morphology: Citrus fruits grow on trees with leathery leaves and fragrant flowers; pineapple is a tropical herb with a spiky crown; pawpaw has large, soft, edible fruits.
54. Storage Organs: Fruits store sugars, vitamins, and water in their flesh or pulp.
55. Methods of Propagation: Most fruits are propagated by seeds, cuttings, or grafting.
56. Husbandry Practices: Involves regular pruning, fertilization, pest control, and protection against strong winds.
57. Harvesting: Fruits are harvested when fully ripe, with some (like citrus) requiring specific seasonal harvesting.
58. Processing: Fruits are eaten fresh or processed into juices, jams, or dried products.
59. Common Diseases and Pests: Fruit flies, aphids, citrus canker, and fungal diseases like powdery mildew.
60. Economic Importance: Fruits are rich in vitamins, sugars, and antioxidants, contributing to health and providing significant economic value through trade.
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Group 6: Beverages (e.g., Cocoa, Kola, Coffee)

61. Common Names: Cocoa, kola nut, coffee, tea, hibiscus.
62. Scientific Names: Theobroma cacao (cocoa), Cola acuminata (kola), Coffea arabica (coffee).
63. Gross Morphology: Cocoa grows as small trees with large, leathery leaves and colorful pods; coffee grows on bushy plants with glossy leaves and red berries.
64. Storage Organs: The seeds of these plants are the key storage organs, storing energy for germination.
65. Methods of Propagation: Coffee is propagated by seeds, while cocoa is typically propagated by seeds or grafting.
66. Husbandry Practices: Includes shading, fertilizing, and managing pests like coffee borer beetles and cocoa pod borer.
67. Harvesting: Cocoa and coffee beans are harvested when ripe, which is typically once the pods are fully matured.
68. Processing: Cocoa beans are fermented, dried, and processed into chocolate products; coffee is roasted and ground.
69. Common Diseases and Pests: Cocoa pod rot, coffee rust, and coffee borer beetles.
70. Economic Importance: Beverages like coffee and cocoa are among the most traded commodities worldwide, vital for global economies and cultures.
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Group 7: Oils (e.g., Oil Palm, Coconut, Shea Butter)

71. Common Names: Oil palm, coconut, shea butter, sunflower, safflower.
72. Scientific Names: Elaeis guineensis (oil palm), Cocos nucifera (coconut), Vitellaria paradoxa (shea butter).
73. Gross Morphology: Oil palm has large, feather-like fronds; coconut grows tall with large, fibrous fruit; shea butter comes from small trees with long leaves and dense branches.
74. Storage Organs: The seeds or nuts store oil, which is extracted for culinary and industrial uses.
75. Methods of Propagation: Oil palm and coconut are propagated by seeds, while shea trees can be propagated by seed or root suckers.
76. Husbandry Practices: Includes planting, fertilizing, weeding, irrigation, and pest management.
77. Harvesting: Oil palm is harvested when fruits mature; coconuts are harvested after they ripen on the tree.
78. Processing: Oil is extracted from the seeds or nuts through mechanical or chemical methods.
79. Common Diseases and Pests: Coconut weevil, oil palm weevil, and fungal infections like phytophthora.
80. Economic Importance: Oil crops are vital for food production, biofuels, cosmetics, and manufacturing.
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Group 8: Latex (e.g., Para Rubber, Gum Arabic)

81. Common Names: Para rubber, gum arabic, latex.
82. Scientific Names: Hevea brasiliensis (para rubber), Acacia senegal (gum arabic).
83. Gross Morphology: Para rubber trees are tall with large leaves; gum arabic comes from acacia trees with small, feathery leaves.
84. Storage Organs: Rubber trees store latex in their sap, which is harvested for processing.
85. Methods of Propagation: Rubber trees are propagated by seed, cuttings, or grafting.
86. Husbandry Practices: Involves tapping the rubber trees for latex and ensuring proper care to maintain tree health.
87. Harvesting: Latex is harvested by tapping the bark of mature trees.
88. Processing: Latex is processed into rubber for industrial use.
89. Common Diseases and Pests: Rubber tree blight, weevils, and fungal infections.
90. Economic Importance: Latex is a critical raw material for the rubber industry, with wide applications in automotive, medical, and manufacturing sectors.
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Group 9: Fibres (e.g., Jute, Cotton, Sisal Hemp)

91. Common Names: Jute, cotton, sisal, hemp, flax.
92. Scientific Names: Corchorus olitorius (jute), Gossypium hirsutum (cotton), Agave sisalana (sisal).
93. Gross Morphology: Jute plants are tall with long, narrow leaves; cotton plants are bushy with large, cotton-producing bolls; sisal grows as a rosette of thick leaves.
94. Storage Organs: Fibres are stored in the stem or leaves and are harvested for their strength and versatility.
95. Methods of Propagation: Cotton is propagated by seed; jute and sisal can be propagated by seeds or root cuttings.
96. Husbandry Practices: Includes proper spacing, irrigation, and pest control to maximize fibre yield.
97. Harvesting: Fibres are harvested by hand or mechanically, depending on the crop.
98. Processing: Fibres are spun into thread and woven into fabric or used for ropes, sacks, and other products.
99. Common Diseases and Pests: Cotton bollworm, jute leaf curl, and fungal diseases.
100. Economic Importance: Fibres like cotton and jute are critical for textiles, packaging, and industrial use.
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Group 10: Sugars (e.g., Sugarcane, Beet)

101. Common Names: Sugarcane, sugar beet.
102. Scientific Names: Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane), Beta vulgaris (sugar beet).
103. Gross Morphology: Sugarcane has tall, grass-like stalks; sugar beet grows in the ground with large, fleshy roots.
104. Storage Organs: Sugar is stored in the stalks of sugarcane and in the root of the sugar beet.
105. Methods of Propagation: Sugarcane is propagated by cuttings, while sugar beets are grown from seed.
106. Husbandry Practices: Includes proper irrigation, fertilization, and protection from pests.
107. Harvesting: Sugarcane is harvested when mature and processed into sugar; sugar beet is harvested when the root reaches optimal size.
108. Processing: Sugarcane juice is extracted and refined; sugar beets are processed to extract sucrose.
109. Common Diseases and Pests: Sugarcane borer, beetles, and rust.
110. Economic Importance: Sugarcane and sugar beet are major sources of sugar, which is used in food, beverages, and biofuel production.

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