Textbook of Field Crops

The book is divided into two parts, kharif crops and rabi crops, covering as many as 48 crops. It contains the latest, authoritative and readily usable information about the cultivation techniques, varieties, nutrient/water/weed management along with specific climatic/soil requirements of all the crops. It is essentially a teaching and study material as it is written conforming to ICAR syllabus, strictly considering the limitations of the students and the teachers. Information on each crop is chosen in such a way that it is readily understandable by the undergraduate students and can be explained by the teachers in 22 weeks of a semester. Unnecessary detailing and research information has been avoided.

Photographic illustrations of the crops are given to enable the students to understand the morphology of the crop clearly. Related terms, concepts or recent advancements in each crop are highlighted in the box. For a group of related crops, model questions are also given to visualise the probable questions on each crop. An attempt has been made to include the latest statistics from FAO and other global and Indian sources.

Points to remember given at the end of each chapter enable the students to have a quick recap of the topic before examination. Further, many general topics, related to field crops, have been covered in eight separate brief chapters, to ensure that the students understand crop-related topics.


Contents:

Preface Acknowledgements

How to Use this Book?

Kharif Crops (For Course: Field Crop I)

Part 1: Kharif Cereals

1. Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

2. Maize (Zea mays L.)

Part 2: Kharif Millets

3. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

4. Bajra (Pennisetum typhoides L.)

5. Finger Millet (Elusine coracona Gaertn)

6. Barnyard Millet (Echinochloa frumentaceae L.)

7. Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.)

8. Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.)

9. Kodo Millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.)

10. Little Millet (Panicum sumatrense L.)

Part 3: Kharif Pulses

11. Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan L.)

12. Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.)

13. Black Gram (Vigna mungo)(L.) (Hepper)

14. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

Part 4: Kharif Oilseed Crops

15. Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

16. Sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.)

17. Soybean (Glycine max L.)

18. Castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Part 5: Kharif Fibre Crops

19. Cotton (Gossypium sp. L.)

20. Jute (Corchorus spp.)

21. Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.)

22. Mesta (Hibiscus cannabinus/subdariffa)

Part 6: Kharif Fodder Crop

23. Cluster Bean–Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonaloba L.)

24. Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum)

Rabi Crops (For Course: Field Crops II)

Part 7: Rabi Cereals

25. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

26. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

27. Oat (Avena sativa L.)

Part 8: Rabi Pulses

28. Chick Pea (Cicer arietinum L.)

29. Lentil (Lens culinaris M.)

30. Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

31. Moth Bean (Vigna aconitifolia)

32. Field Bean (Dolichos lablab L.)

33. French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Part 9: Rabi Oilseed Crops

34. Rapeseed & Mustard (Brassica spp.)

35. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

36. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)

37. Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Part 10: Sugar Crops

38. Sugarcane (Saccharum Officinarum L.)

39. Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

Part 11: Medicinal and

Aromatic Crops

40. Cymbopogon Genus

41. Citronella (Cymbopogon winteratus)

42. Isabgol (Plantago ovata and Plantago psyllium)

43. Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon flexuosus L.)

44. Mentha (Mint) (Mentha spp.)

45. Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini)

Part 12: Rabi Commercial Crops

46. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

47. Tobaccco(Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Part 13: Rabi Fodder Crops

48. Berseem (Trifolium alexandrium L.)

49. Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)

Part 14: Miscellaneous Information on Field Crops

50. Institutes/Organisations Related to Crop Research

51. Global Food Production Scenario

52. Food Grain Production in India

53. Importance of Pulses in India

54. Oilseeds Chemistry & Health Issues

55. Oilseed Production and Oil Availability Scenario in India and the World

56. Fodder Scenario In India

57. Production Constraints in Field Crops

58. Post-Harvest Processing of Food Crops

59. Biological Nitrogen Fixation

60. List of Crops, Their Scientific Names and Their Families