Starchy root crop of cassava

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Cralztz) is a starchy root crop which is an essential food eaten mainly by developing countries. The root tuber and leaves are edible and serve as source of nutritional food for about 500 million people and more worldwide.

Its cultivation provides significant income to small producers around the world. Cassava tubers as well as its by-products are sold everywhere without difficulty.

Cassava is the third most important source of calories in the tropics after rice and maize. Its processed products contain an important proportion of carbohydrates (mainly starch) and minerals.

This shrub, growing to around 1 to 4 meters in height, is cultivated for its tubers and leaves. The tubers are rich in starch. The stems are used as planting material.

Cassava leaves contain protein, vitamins (A and C), and a lot of mineral salts. Cassava is cultivated both as food (for human and animals) and as industrial raw material. The most important industrial utilizations of cassava are ethanol, starch, biofuel, flour, biscuits, bread, jelly, thickening agents, gravies, custard powders, babies’ food, glucose, and confectioneries.

The major cassava planting season is mainly during the rainy season from April to November. Generally, the crop needs a warm and humid climate to grow with temperatures averaging 25-27ºC.

The tropical lowlands with altitude below 150 m with annual rainfall from 500 mm to 5,000 mm are most suitable for higher root yield. Because the plant is resistance to prolong drought it is able to thrive in regions where annual rainfall is low or where seasonal distribution is irregular.

The crop is also able to grow on poor and degraded soil because it can withstand low pH, high level of exchangeable aluminum and low concentration of phosphorus in the soil matrix.

During growth, the shrubs produce several tuberous roots as reserves made of up to 35% starch which may reach up to 1 m in length and together may weigh up to 40 kg. Cassava produces small, regular female and male flowers in small clusters.

Cassava is usually processed immediately after it is taken from the ground because it is highly perishable. Spoiling starts within 48 to 72 hours after harvest. A mature cassava root (hereafter referred to as 'root') may range in length from 15 to 100 cm and weigh 0.5 to 2.5 kg. Circular in cross-section, it is usually fattest at the proximal end and tapers slightly towards the distal portion.
Starchy root crop of cassava

Crop of buckwheat

Buckwheat belongs to the family Polygonaceae. Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) has been a crop of secondary importance in many countries.

It has persisted through centuries of civilization and enters into the agricultures of nearly every country where cereals are cultivated. Buckwheat is a plant cultivated for its grain-like seeds and also used as a cover crop. Despite the name, buckwheat is not related to wheat, as it is not a grass.

This plant makes an aromatic flower and subsequently the buckwheat groats which are small trianglep0shaped grain-like seeds covered by a hard shell.

In the United States the two buckwheat varieties are the common and Tartary types. The color can be anywhere from a tan-pink hue to brown. Buckwheat so also sold as roasted kasha, which is known for its subtler flavor.

Tartary buckwheat is known in various localities under such names as Duckwheat, Rye buckwheat, Marino, Mountain, Siberian, Wild Goose, Hull-less and Bloom-less.

The seed of buckwheat is cooked like rice or made into flour for the preparation of noodles, pancakes, porridge, cakes and biscuits.
Crop of buckwheat

Palm oil tree (Elaeis guineensis)

Oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) is a monocot of the order of Arecales and belongs to family Palmae and subfamily Cocosideae.

Since 2006, the palm oil has overtaken soybean to become the most important oil crop in the world.

In East Asian countries, palm oil is the major feedstock for biodiesel. The period from 1995-2010, palm oil production more than tripled to 46.7 million MT, with Indonesia 47% and Malaysia 38% as the main producers.

USDA estimates that world palm oil production for  2014/2015 will be 63.29 million MT.

Palm oil is used for cooking, margarine, vanaspati, shortenings, detergents and cosmetics. It is also used in pharmaceuticals industry as a source of carotenes.

Oil palm trees are capable of producing palm oil all year round, rather than during just one or two harvests.

Oil palm wood is growing in value, especially with high demand from the United States, and even the cuttings and discarded fruit husks can be used in biofuel.

The oil palm is an unbranched evergreen tree, reaching a height of 18-30 m and having a stout trunk with diameter of 22-75 cm and covered with leaf bases.

Optimal plant density is 145 trees/hectare with a distance of 10m between trees.
Palm oil tree (Elaeis guineensis)