Difference Between Crop and Plant

The main difference between crop and plant is that plants are multicellular photosynthetic eukaryotic life-forms belonging to kingdom Plantae while crops are plants grown in large quantities for food or other commercial purposes.

All crops are plants, but not all plants are crops. Plants grow naturally in the environment, but crops are usually harvested on a large scale so that humans can use them for various purposes.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a Crop 
     – Definition, Nature, Types
2. What is a Plant
    – Definition, Nature, Importance
3. What is the Relationship Between Crop and Plant
   – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Crop and Plant
    – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Crops, Plants, Food

What is a Crop

Crops refer to plants cultivated on a large scale commercially, especially fruits, vegetables and cereals. Food crops were the first crops to be cultivated through agriculture. Wheat, rice, potatoes, cassava, beans, and bananas are some examples of food crops. Then, the growth of civilization and agricultural development led to the growth of a variety of crops.  There are various types of crops as given below:  

Types of Crops

• Feed crops – cultivated for the consumption of livestock. Examples include alfalfa and oats.
• Fibre crops – these are important for the production of textile and paper. Hemp and cotton are two examples.
• Oil crops – harvested for use in cooking as well as for industrial use (oil paints, soaps, etc.) Corn, canola, sunflowers and soybeans are examples.
• Ornamental crops – these are important in horticulture and landscaping. Roses, tulips, carnations, dogwood and azalea are some examples.
• Industrial crops – people harvest these crops to use them for industrial purposes in factories. For example, rubber is an industrial crop people harvest for its latex.

Agriculture is one of the largest industries in the world. Millions of people around the world harvest crops for commercial purposes. Corn, sugar cane and rice are the three largest crops in the world.

What is a Plant?

Plants are the members of the kingdom Plantae, which include multicellular photosynthetic eukaryotic life-forms. Trees, shrubs, grasses, herbs, ferns, and mosses are all examples of plants. Plants typically grow in a permanent size, while absorbing water and necessary inorganic substances through their roots. Moreover, they synthesize nutrients in their leaves by the process of photosynthesis, using the green pigment chlorophyll. Photosynthesis is basically the use of sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water.

All energy used by living organisms on earth depends on green plants’ process of photosynthesis. Therefore, plants play a major role in maintaining life on earth. Moreover, all food chains in the environments begin with plants; in other words, plants are the primary producers in food chains.

Humans also depend on plants for food. In addition, humans also use plants as medicine, firewood, furniture, feedstock, and as raw materials for industries (clothes, oils, paper, resins, etc.)

Relationship Between Crop and Plant

• Crops fall under the category of plants.
• Therefore, all crops are plants, but not all plants are crops.

Difference Between Crop and Plant

Definition

Plants are multicellular photosynthetic eukaryotic life-forms belonging to kingdom Plantae, while crops are plants grown in large quantities for food or other commercial purposes.

Growth

Plants grow naturally in the environment, but crops are usually cultivated by farmers.

Importance

Crops are important as food and feedstock, used for the production of oil, fibre and as raw materials for industrial productions. All plants play a major role in the maintenance of life on earth.

Economic Benefits

Crops always have an economic benefit, whereas not all plants have an economic benefit or value.

Conclusion

Plants are the members of the kingdom Plantae, which include multicellular photosynthetic eukaryotic life-forms. Crops are plants cultivated on a large scale commercially. Plants grow naturally in the environment, but crops are usually harvested on a large scale so that humans can use them for various purposes. Moreover, all crops are plants, but not all plants are crops.

Reference:

1.“Crops.” National Geographic Society, 9 Oct. 2012, Available here.
2. Yopp, John H., et al. “Plant.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 3 Feb. 2020, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

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