Download Field Crop Descriptions PDF | 441.93KB 10/12/2015 2:27:24 PM

28 , DESCRIPTIONS OF PlANTS POR FIELD CROP mENTIFICA'nON SECTION
L
RICE • EdIble GraIn
Rice is a warm-season aDDUal JI'aSS which am vuy from 18 inches to 70 inches in
height at maturity. 1be iofIoresceDce is a loose terminal panicle, 3 to 15 iDcbes loDg.
The plant tillers freely. usually beariDa 4 or 5 ClaJms, but may produce up to 50. Rice
has a hollow culm whldl allows movement' of air dowD into the plant whleb is
imponant in allowiD& the plant to exist in aD aquatic environment. LoWsfua has
averaged about Sso,OOO acres planted to rice in rec:eDt years.
2. SOYBEAN • on and PIotebt
The soybean plant is an erect warm..season .nnual DOl'IDally from 2 to -4 feet tall
1'be leaves consist of 31caflets. The amal1 flowers are DOrmally purple or white and
the seed pods are suaigbt, hairy and.nQrJD8lly comain from 3 to S seeds. Seods may
vary in color from cream to yellow to greeD, brown or black. The seeds of soybeaDs
are of exceptionally hiJb feed value, with some 30 to SO percent proteiD, 13 to 2S
percent oil and 14 to 24 percent carbOhydrates. Soybean acreage has averaged about
2.S million acres in Louisiana in recent years. It is a legume.
3. COlTON .. Fiber, on aDd Prote1a
Couon is grown as a warm-season anDual but is actually a perennial that is killed by
frost. The plant has erect stems and will vat)' from 2 to 7 feet in height. The leaves
are simple and its branches are arr8nged in a spiral. The fruit Is a leathery capsule
or boll with three to five cells. The fiber is contained in the bolls. The fibers are
derived from the outermost layer of cells afthe seed. Cotton acreage has averaged
about 600,000 in Louisiana in recent years.
4. CORN • Feed Grain
Com is a warm-season annual, monoeclous grass plant. Monoedous (which Hterally
means one bouse) refers to those plants with two distinct types of flowers (male and
female) found on the same plant. Male flowers (the tassel) are located at the top
of the plant. The female flowers are found in the ears. The stem of com may vary
from 2 to 20 feet tall in different typeS. The root system of com consists of the
seminal roots which grow downward at the time of seed sermiDation, coroual roots,'
which arise- from stem tissue. and aerial or brace roots which arise from nodes above
the soU surface. Louisiana has averased about 250.000 acres planted to com in
recent years.
.s. SUGARCANE • SUlar
Susarcane is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Orient. It is a
warm-season pereDDial grass and bas a 1011& jointed culm; usually called the stalk or
stem. A small portion of the stalk, known as the root stoCk, or rhizome, is
underground On the rest of the stalk, which·1s above ground. the leaves, buds. aDd
other vesetauve and reproductive structures develop. The stalks of Louisiana cane
are senerally 1 to 2 inches in diameter and 12 to 14 feet tall Stalks can be light­
dark green or purple to reddish in color. Near the node, a whitish waxy
29 substaDee called bloom is found. lbe stalks are jointed, with a bud and root band
at each node. It is from these buds that new plants arise when planted to a furrow.
Sugarcane does not produce a pauicle or flower naturally in Louisiana because of the
day length. Canes bred in Louisiaua have to be photoperiodlcally manipulated
before flowers or seed am. be produced.
IDuisiaD.a normally has about 250,000 acres of sugarcane yearly.
S. GRAIN SORGIWM • Feed Grain
The sorghum plant is a warm.-season coarse 8DDU8l grass with stems 2 to 15 (or
sometimes more) feet in heigbt. 'lbe culms are .made up of 7 to 18 or more nodes
and internodes. A·leaf is bome at each node; leaves are alternate and on opposite
sides of the $tem. The inflorescence (head) of sorghum is a panicle usually l'8DBing
from 3 to 20 inches in length and 2 to 8 inches in width. lbe seed y{lJ.jch are
produced on this head may be white, pink, yellOW, red, .buff. brown or reddish-brown.
Grain sorgbum acreage in Louisiana bas averaged about 300,000 acres per year
recently.
,."
7. WHEAT • Edible Grain, Feed Grain
The wheat plant is a cool..season ~ual grass with fiat- blades and a terminal spike
(head at the top of the plant). 111e culm of the mature wheat plant is a hollow,
jointed cylinder that comprises 3 to 6 nodes and intemodes. lbe stems of most
varieties are solid at the nodes, but :be intel1lodes are hollow. Stems are white to
yellow or in some vaneties, mostly pUIPIe in color. Total pIant height may vary from
2 to '5 feet. Wheat acreage has averaged about 200,000 in Louisiana in recent years.
8. OATS .. Feed Grain
The oat plant is a cool-season, annual grass with bollow stems, flat blades and a
panicle home at the top of the plant. Under normal conditions, the oat plant
produces 3 to 5 hollow culms (tillers). The culm usually bas 4 to 5 nodes and
internodes. The leaf blade averages about 10 inches in length and about 1/2 inch
in width. The roots are smaIl, numerous, fibrous. and densely coveted with fine
hairs. Louisiana has a limited acreage of oats averaging a~ut 11,000 per year.
9. StJNFLOWER • 011 .
is a tall warm-season lJUlual with large, rough..bahy Jeaves,
alternately.arranged on ,the stout, little-branched stem. The plant is usually S to 10
feet talL The flower is a distinctive head or disk 3 to 24 inches in diameter witb
The i'suDflower
ycillow ray florets. The seed· are creamy white to dark-brown and are often striped.
This crop is grown on a very limited acrease iu Louisiana.
10. SWEET SORGHUM - Ethanol, Sirup
Sweetsorpum is a natural pereonial but is grown as an annual in Louisiana as it is
ldlled by frost. The number of internodes varies with the va,rieties and individual
stalks. Stalks. of most varieties taper from the base toward the top. The diameter
of the last internode is the smallesL The interior of the stalk is. eomposed mainly of
30 soft pith that CODtaiDs the sweet juice. Sweet sorghum DOrmally produces several
tDlers. It is • wa.t'Dl-Se8SOD Jl'ISS.
11. RAPESEED • on Crop
Rapeseed is a cool'"sea50D. amma1 oil crop produced on a very limited acreage in
louisiana. It is characterised. by pabrous (hairless) leaves on mature plants whUe
leaves of)'OUDl plants are somewhat hairy. The flowers bave bript yeJlow or buff
petals. The seeds are purpJ.ish.black.
12. PEA.NTJTS • on and Protein
ne peanut is a low JI'OWiD& tufted BDDualleaume with yeUowisb flowers which turD
down after polliDatiOD. 1bis tumiD& down buries the dmdopiDg fruit in tho JfOUDd.
At maturity, the pods lI'e fibrous aDd contam 2 to 3 pea-Uko seeds which are red or
brown mcolor. 1bc leaves are piDDate1y compound with four leaflets. Peanut
acrease is very small in Louisiana ad has averaged about 250 acres in receDt years.
It is a warm-seasora pl8DL
13. ANNUAL RYEGRASS • Forap
Annual ryegrass is a c:ool-season, short lived bunch grass which grows erect to a
. height of 2 to 3 feet. The florets (flowers) of annual ryegrass are llOI'IDIllyBWDed
and '-the stems are cylindrical. The leaves are roDed in the bu~ and the plants are
yeUowish-green III color at the base.
.
Annual ryegrass is grown as a winter grass for pasture, hay, sUage and as a cover
crop.
14. TALL FESCUE -ForaI'
Tall fescue is a cool-season. aggressive, perennial bunch grass which grows to a
height of 3 to 4~ feet. Tho plant has shon creeping rhizomes which in older stands,
develop a uniform, thick sod. It produces an abundance of dark-green basalleayes
with leaf blades approximately 1/3 inch wide and 12 inches Ions. The leaf blades are
smooth OD the under surface, but rough to the touch on the upper surface because
of deeply ribbed veiDs. It is primarily a pasture and soU conserviDg plaut, but can be
cut for bay if properly managed.
15. DALLISGRASS - Forage
Dallisgrass is a lOlli-lived, warm-seasOD, deep rooted, pereDDIal grass which grows to
a heipt of 2 to 4 feet. It spreads ve.etatively and reproduces by seeds. The seed
head ccmtaiDs 3 to S racemes alODg the central &tOlD. Leaves are v.. inch wide, 4 to
10 inches IODI and are produced in abundance at the base of the plant. It forms a
loose sod under beavy srazin. which makes it an excelleIU grass to mix with lepmes
and other passes.
16. BERMUDAGRASS • Fora.
Bermudagrass is a wann-seasoD; creeping perennial, lOd-farmiD& twfgrass wbleb
propaptes by seed, l'IIDHfS aDd WlciergrOUDd rhizomes. The shon, flat leaves are
two raDked and are 1 to .. filches 1ODJ. At the base of each leaf is a prominent ring
or fringe of white hair. The seed beads are spikes, 3 to 8 in a duster-and grow from.
t
•
31 6 to 12 inches high. Spreading habits of this grass may vary from a fow incbes to 3
to 4 ft.
17. BAJlIAGRASS -Foap
Bahiagrass is a W8.I'JJl-sea5OD, dc!ISe, tufted perennial aod-fonDiDg
that arows
from 1 to 2~ feet tall Its numerous leaves • lenerally hairy on tlae margiDs and
usually flat • are Jess than Ji inch wide, up to 12 inches Joug 8Jld crowd to the base
of the plant Its stems produce 2- or 3--forked terminal seed heads with flat, shiny·
appearing spikelets. Babiagrass reproduces by seed and spreads vegativeJy by abort,
srass
heavy rhizomes.
18. JOHNSONGRASS • Fora., Pest
JohDsongrass is a waml-seasou, persistent pereDDial PUS'that grows from 3 to 6 feet
tall and spreads by seed and extensive underground stems or rhizomes. Its wide
leaves (up to 3/4 inch), have a thickened, light- colored·mid-vein. Because of its
extensive rhizomes and aggressive spreading habit it becomes a troublesome noxious
weed in cultivated crops. Johnsongrass is used for pasture and hay and produces
palatable forage if properly managed.
19. PEARL MILLET • Edible Graba, Feed Gratll, Forage
Pearl millet is an annual WanD""eason grass which usually ranges from 5 to 10 feet
or highe.. The stems are about one inch thick and the leaf bladlOilS are flat and up
to 3 feet in length and 2 to 3 inches wide. The head of pearl millet is a dense
panicle that is usually from 8 to 18 inches long and about 1 inch thick. Pearl millet
is grown on a very limited acreage in Louisiana. It is used quite extensively as a food
crop for wildlife.
10. . ALFALFA • Forage
Alfalfa is a deep·rooted, herbaceous, cool"season, perennial legume that grows to a
height of 2 to 3 feet. The leaves crowd the upper portion of the tbin, erect stems.
The purple or yellow flowers are borne in loose clusters at the ends of branches.
The seed pods. coiled in one to two turns, contain several small kidney-shaped seeds.
..
21. WHITE CLOVER .. Forage
White clover is a shallow-rooted perennial cool-season legume of many different
forms. Its solid, creeping stems - up to 15 inches long· root at the joints or nodes
where they touch the soil. The leaves which may vary widely in size and shape,
develop form the crown and at the joints of the stems.. Flower beads, composed of
from 20 to 40 individual white to pink-white florets, are borne on Jong stalks.
22. RED CLOVER • Forage
Red clover. an upright leafy legume,is the most widely grown of all true clovers. It
is a sbort..)ived percnDial with numerous, thicks bairy stems arising from a crown. Its
large velvety leaves are softly, hairy beneath and usually but not always marked
above with a characteristic light-eolor spot. Red clover has a deep taproot with
numerous side branches. The large colorful, egg-shaped, rose, purple or red flower
beads are borne on individual seed stems. It is a eool-season legume.
-~. "-~~===-"".
=====
--,,~~'-- -----~"
p
"-----"~"
--- 5'-----"
---""----.~
---
-
--~--
--
---~---.--­
32
23. SUB'l'ERRA.NEANCLOVER .. Forage
Subterranean clover is a cooJ-season. annuallegumc with slender, creeping stems 2
to 4 feet long. It. pOD this unique Dame because some of its I'ipeDiDJ seed beads
tum downward aDd push Into the soiL In ,enual appearance. this IcJWDe Is much
like large white clover, but has pubescent leaves. Its dusters of white 10 piDJc:ish­
wlDte flowers are home on the 1ermiDaJs of weak. c:JroophIJ stalks.
24. CRIMSON aDVER • Forqe
Crimson clover is aD upriJht, hairy, cool-season ammallegume wbicb arows to a
height of 1 to 3 feet. Its mrmerous baby Items branch from the base or crown. The
leaves - composed of 3 leaflets • are broadly oval at the tip. D8ITO\V at the base aDd
deDsely covered with hair. Each stem is terminated by • spike or eyUndrical. Joug­
pointed flower head composed of 75 to 125 florets. The cr.Imson-colored florets opcn
In suecesslon from the bottom to the top of the flowedDs head. The seeds form and
the plant elies durlDa the summer.
25. BERSEEM CLOVER • Forage
Berseem dover is an upright growina cool-season. annual, legume with obloDS
leaflets and hollow stems and produces self-sterile, yellowish white florets. Berseem
produces sbon taproots. The plant will obtain. beights of 15 to 20 inches.
26. HAIRY VETCH • Fonp
Hairy vetch is a cooJ-season, annuallegumc. It displays slender, somewhat weak
stems. Leaves are pinnately compound and terminate in tendrilS (slcnder thread-like
structures). The plant is pubescent (hairy) from wbich it derives itsnamc. Thc
flowers are lavender to purple and arranged in a raceme. Pods are eloDJated with
3 to 8 seeds. Seeds are spherical, dull black. variable in size (though smaller than
soybeans).
27. SINGLETARY PEA • Forap
Singletary pea is a weakS1emmed, re-seeding annual cool-season leaume with vines
up to 3 feet in length. The plant is similar in appearance to the prden' sweetpea;
the leaves have one pair of long. narrow leaflets and terminate with a coiled tendriL
Its lavendcr flowers are usually borne in pairS 011 eacbflower stalk. The seed pods
ueroush and cOvored with radler coarse, stiff hairs..
28. ARitoWLEAF CLOVER • Forale
ArTowleaf dover makes its early season JI'OWlh from a leafy rosette, later producing
braDching stems that c:urve upward to a length of 2 to S feeL The smooth, thick,
hollow stems are often red or purple. becoming bard near maturilJ. The leaflets arc
arrow-sbapeel from 1~ to S Inches in lensth with pronounced veins. Flower heads
can be larJe and made up of up to 170 individual florets.F1owetS are white but can
turn pink or even,purple. It is a cool-season. llDDUalleaumc.
33 29. COMMON LESPEDEZA • Forage
Common lespedeza is a slender. much-branched. leafy, warm-season annua11egume
which grows to a height of 4 to 24 inches. ThIs species sets its seeds in the leafaxils
along the fine stems. It has two types of flowers - showy pale purple to bluish ones,
and the small, more numerous ones inconspicuous because they lack petals.
30. ALYCECLOVER • Forage
Alyceclover is an erect or spreading annual or perennial plant up to S feet tall.
Stems arc thin. with leaves of ODe to three leaflets. Flowers are pink to orangisb in
color and arranged in ax1'Uary or terminal racemes. Pods are Y.z to 1 inch long with
4 to 7 joints. It is a warm-season legume.
ii