Uses of PlantsPlant Science

Humans have 3 Basic Needs

1.Food

2.Clothing

3.Shelter

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Plants and Plant Products Used for Basic Needs

1. Food: fruits, vegetables, grains

2. Clothing: cotton, linen, wool

3. Shelter: lumber and wood products

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Direct vs. Indirect Plant Sources• direct plant sources: plants

and plant products used by humans

• indirect plant sources: humans use the animal and/or animal products that used plants or plant products

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3 Broad Areas of Plant Science

1. Agronomy: concerns field crops and their soil environment

2. Horticulture: the science of crops grown for food, comfort, and/or beauty

3. Forestry: the science of tree production for varioius products

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Agronomy

• cultivating field crops for food and fiber; includes:

– crop breeding and selection

– soil management

– pest control and management (weeds, insects, diseases, etc.)

– harvesting and marketing

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Ornamental Horticulture

• growing and using plants for their beauty

• Floriculture: the production and use of plants for their flowers and foliage

• Landscape horticulture: the production and use of plants for outdoor environments

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Food Crop Horticulture

• growing plants for food

• Olericulture: the study and science of producing vegetable crops

• Pomology: the science of fruit and nut production

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Forestry

• the science of producing trees for various products including:

– lumber, paper, and other wood products

– specialty products such as syrup, rosin, and oil

• natural forests can be managed for production and tree farms cultivate trees much like row crops

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Types of Crops Grain Crops

Fiber Crops

Fruit, Vegetable, and Nut Crops

Forage Crops

Ornamental and Turf Crops

Other Crops

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Grain Crops

• plants grown for their edible seeds or for the oil contained in their seeds and/or fruit

• examples:– corn, sunflower, soybeans

– wheat, oats, barley, rice

– rye, sorghum, linseed

– canola, peanut, cotton

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Fiber Crops

• plants grown for the fiber produced by their fruit, leaves, or stems

• examples:– cotton

– flax

– jute

– hemp

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Fruit, Vegetable, and Nut Crops

• plant crops grown mainly for food

• a few examples:

– apples, cherries, citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit), berries (blueberries, strawberries)

– tomatoes, onions, peppers

– pecans, walnuts

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Forage Crops

• grasses and legumes grown for animal feed

• examples:

– bermudagrass

– alfalfa

– corn

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Ornamental and Turf Crops• plants grown for beauty and

appearance

• includes:

– cut flowers

– shrubs

– ground cover grasses

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Other Crops

• specialty crops including:

– herbs and spices

– beverage crops (coffee, tea, and cocoa)

– medicinal crops

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Thank you for learning with us!

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