What Are Cereal Crops?
Surprisingly, the foods human beings eat the most are grass. Rice, corn, oats and other cereals are grass crops. Human beings can't digest the grass stems like other animals can, but they survive on the seed. Cereal grains were the first agricultural attempts by early man, and people still enjoy them today. Does this Spark an idea?
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Cereal Crops
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Cereal crops are grains, members of the grass family, which usually have long, thin stalks. The seeds of these plants, which include wheat, rice, corn, barley, rye and oats, are the main food for human beings around the world. Different cultures depend on different cereal grains, depending on where they live and what grows well there. With the exception of deep desert and the polar ice caps, grains grow everywhere on earth.
Rice
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Rice is the main food crop for 1.6 billion people around the world. There are 7,000 varieties of this grain, which has been grown for 5,500 years. Ninety percent of all rice is grown in Asia, where it is a dietary staple. Rice needs boggy wetlands to grow. Rice is also used in the cuisines of other cultures, such as South and Central American. Rice is often steamed or boiled, and its mild taste mixes well with other flavors. Rice may also be ground into a flour.
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Corn
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Corn is a staple food crop in South and Central America. It is also a basis of diet in the United States, where many foods contain corn syrup and other corn derivatives. American Indians were able to grow corn even in the Southwest U.S. deserts. Corn has been grown in Central America for more than 5,000 years. Corn, which grows well in mild climates, is often eaten directly from the cob, or the kernels removed from the cob. Corn may be dried and ground into a meal that is used to make cakes, breads and tortillas.
Oats
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Oats are a cereal grain that grows well in colder, wetter climates. Popular in European countries, this hearty grain is often used to make a hot breakfast cereal and is ground into flour for making cakes and bread. Oats are a good source of fiber and are an important part of the diet of many cultures.
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References
- Photo Credit basmati rice image by Carpenter from Fotolia.com
