Grain: Difference between revisions
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In botany, the term is synonomous with [[caryopsis|caryopses]], the fruits of members of the grass family, but in agronomy and commerce, seeds or fruits from other families are also called grains if they resemble caryopses. For example, amaranth is sold as "grain amaranth" and amaranth products may be described as "whole grain."<ref>For example, see the website of Arrowhead Mills, http://www.totaldiscountvitamins.com/product/17489/?r=df-become</ref> The pre-Hispanic civilizations of the Andes had grain based food systems, but in the higher elevations, none of the grains were cereals.<ref>"All three native grains are broad-leaved plants rather than grasses like wheat, rice, corn, and the other conventional cereals." Office of International Affairs, National Academies. 1989. Lost Crops of the Incas: Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation. National Academy Press |
In botany, the term is synonomous with [[caryopsis|caryopses]], the fruits of members of the grass family, but in agronomy and commerce, seeds or fruits from other families are also called grains if they resemble caryopses. For example, amaranth is sold as "grain amaranth" and amaranth products may be described as "whole grain."<ref>For example, see the website of Arrowhead Mills, http://www.totaldiscountvitamins.com/product/17489/?r=df-become</ref> The pre-Hispanic civilizations of the Andes had grain based food systems, but in the higher elevations, none of the grains were cereals.<ref>"All three native grains are broad-leaved plants rather than grasses like wheat, rice, corn, and the other conventional cereals." Office of International Affairs, National Academies. 1989. Lost Crops of the Incas: Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation. National Academy Press |
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Washington. D.C. p. 24.[[http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1398&page=124]]</ref> |
Washington. D.C. p. 24.[[http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1398&page=124]]</ref> |
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Harvested, dry grain has advantages over other [[staple food]]s such as the starchy fruits (e.g., [[plantain]],[[breadfruit]]) and roots/tubers (e.g., [[sweet potato]], [[cassava]], [[yam]]) in being easy to store, handle and transport. In particular, these qualities have allowed mechanical harvesting, shipping of grain by rail or surface, long-term storage in grain silos, large-scale milling or pressing and [[industrial agriculture]] in general. Thus, major commodity exchanges deal with soybean, rice, wheat, maize, canola and other grains but not in vegetables, tubers or many other crops. <ref> For example, see the commodities website of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, [http://www.cmegroup.com/trading/commodities/]</ref> |
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== Classification == |
== Classification == |
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Revision as of 19:08, 9 July 2010
Grains are small, hard, dry seeds (with or without hull or fruit layers attached) harvested for human food or animal feed [1] Agronomists also call the plants producing such seeds grains or grain crops.
Grains and Cereals
In botany, the term is synonomous with caryopses, the fruits of members of the grass family, but in agronomy and commerce, seeds or fruits from other families are also called grains if they resemble caryopses. For example, amaranth is sold as "grain amaranth" and amaranth products may be described as "whole grain."[2] The pre-Hispanic civilizations of the Andes had grain based food systems, but in the higher elevations, none of the grains were cereals.[3]
Harvested, dry grain has advantages over other staple foods such as the starchy fruits (e.g., plantain,breadfruit) and roots/tubers (e.g., sweet potato, cassava, yam) in being easy to store, handle and transport. In particular, these qualities have allowed mechanical harvesting, shipping of grain by rail or surface, long-term storage in grain silos, large-scale milling or pressing and industrial agriculture in general. Thus, major commodity exchanges deal with soybean, rice, wheat, maize, canola and other grains but not in vegetables, tubers or many other crops. [4]
Classification
Cereal grains
Cereal crops are all members of the grass family[5] Cereal grains contain much starch, a carbohydrate that provides dietary energy.
- Warm-season (C4)cereals
- Cool-season (C3) cereals
Pseudocereal grains
Starchy grains from broadleaf (dicot)plant families
Grain legumes or pulses
Members of the (pea family). Pulses have higher protein than most other plant foods. They may also contain starch or oil. Most widely grown include:
- soybean
- Common bean
- Chickpea
- Lima bean
- Runner bean
- Pigeon pea
- Lentil
- Field pea or Garden pea
- Lupin
Oilseeds
Grains grown primarily for the extraction of their edible oil. Vegetable oils provide dietary energy and some essential fatty acids. They can be used as fuel or lubricants.
- rapeseed (including canola)
- India mustard
- black mustard
- Other families
Historical Impact of Grain Agriculture
Grains--being small, hard and dry--can be stored, measured, and transported more readily than other kinds of food crops, such as fresh fruits, roots and tubers. The advent of grain agriculture allowed excess food to be produced and stored easily for the first time which could have led to both the creation of the first permanent settlements and the division of society into classes. Kings, priests and soldiers could easily measure and "tax" a portion of a farmers grain crop, allowing the non-farming classes to pursue activities other than farming, hunting or gathering full-time.[6]
References and Notes
- ^ Babcock, PG., ed. 1976. Webster's Third New International Dictionary. G. & C. Merriam Co. Springfield Massachusetts.
- ^ For example, see the website of Arrowhead Mills, http://www.totaldiscountvitamins.com/product/17489/?r=df-become
- ^ "All three native grains are broad-leaved plants rather than grasses like wheat, rice, corn, and the other conventional cereals." Office of International Affairs, National Academies. 1989. Lost Crops of the Incas: Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation. National Academy Press Washington. D.C. p. 24.[[1]]
- ^ For example, see the commodities website of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, [2]
- ^ JG Vaughan, C Geissler, B Nicholson, E Dowle, E Rice. 1997. The new Oxford book of food plants. Oxford University Press.
- ^ Wessel, T. 1984. The agricultural foundations of civilization. Journal of Agriculture and Human Values 1:9-12
See also
