Crop

– **Production**:
– World production of primary crops was 9.5 billion tonnes in 2021.
– Four crops (sugar cane, maize, wheat, rice) contribute to half of global primary crop production.
– Cereals accounted for the largest share of crops produced in 2021.
– The value of primary crops production increased from USD 1.8 trillion in 2000 to USD 2.8 trillion in 2021.
– Factors contributing to increased production include irrigation, pesticides, fertilizers, and better farming practices.

– **Globally Important Crops**:
– Rice and wheat are the top contributors to human food supply globally.
– Regionally important crops include roots & tubers in Africa and sorghum and millet.
– The most important crops by produced weight globally are not specified.

– **Methods of Cropping and Popular Crops in the U.S.**:
– Various cropping methods include mono cropping, crop rotation, and mixed intercropping.
– Mono cropping involves growing one specific crop year-round.
– Relay cropping can increase crop output and solve resource conflicts.
– In the U.S., corn is the largest crop produced, followed by soybeans.
– The inner states of the U.S. are popular regions for growing corn and soybeans.

– **Sources**:
– The article incorporates text from the World Food and Agriculture – Statistical Yearbook 2023 by FAO.

– **Further Reading**:
– Wikimedia Commons has media related to crops.
– The book “Breeding Field Crops” by David A. Sleper and John M. Poehlman provides insights into crop breeding.