Blog 1 - Classification & Categorisation

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Blog 1 - Classification & Categorisation 

Crops can be divided under many different names. The common name of a crop is the one we use in our everyday language. But to avoid confusion or overlapping names crops also have a scientific name. This also helps to detect family relations. There are different layers of crop classification. 
(See figure 1 for the classifications of the pecan tree).

The scientific name of a crop is the genus + species + the abbreviation of the person who named the crop.
In the case of the pecan tree the scientific name is Carya Illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch
                                                         
Figure 1 Pecan tree classification (Piktochart); (Pecan Tree (Carya illinoinensis), 2017)

Besides the classification of a crop, a crop can also be categorised for its uses. In the case of the pecan it can be categorised as a pulse crop. Pulses are legumes that are grown for their high-protein seeds. Naturally, the pecan tree can also be categorised as a protein crop. 
                                                       
As known, nuts also contain oil, therefore, pecans could also be considered an oil crop. One could also use the shells of the pecans as a bioenergy source, which could give it the extra classification of a bioenergy crop. (Revermann, 2017). 

History

The pecan tree is the only major nut tree native to North America. It was found in Central and East North-America and in the river valleys of Mexico. (McEachern , 2017).

The history of the pecan tree traces back to 1528 when the trees where mentioned in writings of Cebeza de Vaca when he shipwrecked on Galveston Island. This island is located in front of the Texas coast. He recorded three things about the nuts; they were delicious, grew along the river banks and bear biannually. They were eaten by the local Indians. (McEachern , 2017).

In 1846 a plantation above New  Orleans was the first to successfully graft pecans using the cleft graft and new progress was made in the pecan grafting the following decennia. In the 1870’s buffalo and pecans were traded day to day on the streets in Texas. In 1876 E.E. Risien started a pecan farm where he selected, propagated, named, and selling outstanding nursery trees. From the seedling trees on Risiens farm came the `Western’ which is the most planted pecan cultivar in the world. (McEachern , 2017). From the 1880’s nurserymen in the states of Texas and Louisiana started propagating on a commercial level. (History of Pecans, 2017).

Nowadays, pecan farms can be found mainly in the Southern states in the United States. Georgia is the largest producer of pecans and accounts for about 1/3th of the total US production. (Pecans, 2017). 


Figure 2 The pecan producing states of the United States of America (Piktochart);(Welcome to U.S. Pecans, 2017). 


Bibliography

History of Pecans. (2017, 09 05). Retrieved from I love pecans: http://www.ilovepecans.org/pecans-101/history-of-pecans/
McEachern , G. R. (2017, 09 05). A Southwest Pecan History. Retrieved from http://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/pecans/documents/10%20McEachern%20Writeup
Pecan Tree (Carya illinoinensis). (2017, 09 05). Retrieved from The Alex Files: https://www.alexfiles.com/pecan-tree/
Pecans. (2017, 09 05). Retrieved from UGA extension: http://extension.uga.edu/topic-areas/fruit-vegetable-ornamentals-production/pecans.html
Revermann, S. (2017, 09 05). Uses for Pecan Shells. Retrieved from Leaf: https://www.leaf.tv/articles/uses-for-pecan-shells/
Welcome to U.S. Pecans. (2017, 09 05). Retrieved from US pecans: http://uspecans.org/

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