Crop Systems

Question 1

What are the two types of crop?

Answer 1

• subsistence: crops that are grown for consumption by the grower
• cash: harvested and sold by the people growing them

Question 2

What is intercropping?

Answer 2

Where more than one species is grown together.

Question 3

Where abouts is most cropping conducted in Australia?

Answer 3

It is conducted along the great dividing range on the eastern side of Australia as well as along the southern coast all the way to Perth

Question 4

Why are crops so important to Australian agriculture?

Answer 4

Because crops alone make up more than half of all the money generated by agricultural production in Australia

Question 5

What are the climate classifications of a crop?

Answer 5

• Tropical
• sub-tropical
• temperate

Question 6

What are the seasonal classifications of a crop?

Answer 6

Annual/perennial

Question 7

What are the storability classifications of a crop?

Answer 7

Perishable/non-perishable

Question 8

What are the classifications by use?

Answer 8

Food crop/ industrial crop

Question 9

What are the classifications of crop protection?

Answer 9

Protected/non-protected

Question 10

Characteristics of summer field crops in SA?

Answer 10

• sub-tropical species, tolerant to high temps, frost sensitive.
• sown in spring, harvested in Autumn
• watered by trickle, sprinkler, furrow or flood irrigation
• main crops include maize rice and cotton

Question 11

Characteristics of winter field crops in SA?

Answer 11

• temperate species, tolerant to frost during vegetative stage, sensitive to high temp
• sown in Autumn, harvested in spring
• can be irrigated but not common
• main crops are wheat barley oats

Question 12

What are the characteristics of manually harvested perennial crops in SA?

Answer 12

• temperate and subtropical species
• summer, Autumn and winter harvest
• all irrigated
• perishable and semi-perishable fruit

Citrus apples and berries

Question 13

What are some characteristics of machine harvested perennial crops in SA?

Answer 13

• temperate crops
• Autumn harvest
• all irritated
• perishable and non-perishable

Wine grapes, almonds and olives

Question 14

What is protected cropping?

Answer 14

Protected cropping is partially or completely protecting a crop from one or more environmental factors. Generally the plants that are protected are high value crops and protection methods range from shade cloths to enclosed greenhouses

Question 15

What are the three crop families?

Answer 15

• grasses
• legumes
• brassicas

Question 16

Characteristics of poaceae (grass)

Answer 16

• monocotyledon
• Sumer and winter crops

Characteristics:

• one cotyledon
• parallel venation
• fibrous roots
• flowers in petals of three

Species: wheat, barley, triticale

Question 17

Characteristics of fabaceae(legumes)

Answer 17

• has nodules on roots that contain rhizobium bacteria which fix nitrogen
• nitrogen fertiliser isn’t required
• singer and winter crops

Characteristics:

• two cotyledons
• leaves with a network of veins
• tap root
• flowers with petals in groups of 4-5
• root nodes

Species: lupins, faba bean, soybeans

Question 18

Characteristics of brassicaceae (brassicas)

Answer 18

Characteristics:

• two cotyledons
• leaves with a network of veins
• tap root
• flowers with petals in groups of 4-5

Species: canola, Indian mustard, kale

Question 19

What is a crop?

Answer 19

Crops are plants that are planted, managed and harvested by humans