Definition

Noun: A field crop is a plant cultivated on a large scale in open fields, primarily for agricultural or commercial purposes, excluding plants typically classified as fruits, vegetables, or those grown in orchards or gardens. These crops are usually harvested for their dry, bulk produce.

Usage

The term "field crop" is used to categorize and discuss the broad-scale cultivation of staple agricultural commodities. It distinguishes these plants from horticultural products like fruits and vegetables. - Farmers rotate their field crops, such as wheat and soybeans, to maintain soil health. - The economics of field crop production is heavily influenced by global commodity prices.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Field crop management": Refers to the integrated practices of soil preparation, planting, pest control, and harvesting for crops grown on extensive land.
  • Precision agriculture has revolutionized field crop management through GPS and data analytics.
• "Field crop residue": The plant material, like stalks and leaves, left in a field after the primary crop has been harvested.
  • Managing field crop residue is important for preventing soil erosion.

Variants and Related Words

• Cash crop (n): A crop grown specifically for sale to return a profit, rather than for personal use. Many, but not all, field crops are cash crops (e.g., cotton, tobacco).
• Staple crop (n): A food crop that is consumed routinely and in such quantities that it constitutes a dominant portion of a standard diet (e.g., rice, wheat, maize). Most staple crops are field crops.
• Forage crop (n): A plant grown specifically to be grazed by livestock or harvested as hay or silage (e.g., alfalfa, clover). This is a type of field crop.
• Row crop (n): A crop, such as corn, soybeans, or cotton, that is planted in rows with sufficient space to allow cultivation during the growing season. This is a common cultivation method for many field crops.

Synonyms

• Agricultural crop: A more general term for any plant cultivated on a farm.
• Commodity crop: Emphasizes the crop's role as a raw material traded in bulk on markets.

Antonyms

• Horticultural crop: Refers to fruits, vegetables, nuts, and ornamental plants, typically grown on a smaller scale than field crops.
• Orchard crop: A crop, primarily fruit or nuts, grown in an orchard setting (e.g., apples, oranges, almonds).
• Garden crop: Plants, typically vegetables or herbs, grown in a garden, often for personal use.

Noun

1. a crop (other than fruits or vegetables) that is grown for agricultural purposes
   • cotton, hay, and grain are field crops