Crop Characteristics Activity

Crop Characteristics Activity

Objective:

Students apply their knowledge of food origins and plant biology to analyze data from the USDA plant database and innovative crop development programs at Colorado State University.


Directions:

1.) Visit the webpage at:  http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=rpmRUxNsvk0vfLRaIpaTWIw


2.) Create a data table in your science notebook with rows labeled: "Drought tolerance, fertility requirements, minimum frost free days, soil description, and cold hardiness"

3.) Click on the examples for corn, wheat, rice, pecans, berries, and grapes. Scan the pages for relevant information in each of your row descriptions from step #2.


4.)  Fill in your data table with information you collect from the USDA website and any other website with information about fruits, nuts, and grains.

5.)  FIND YOUR OWN:  Pick 1 plant from Activity 8 packet or one crop you are interested in. Add its information to your table.



ANALYSIS QUESTIONS:

1. Which plants required the most number of frost free days?
2. Did any plants have a high mortality rate? Who might be interested in this kind of information?
3. Is cold hardiness and 'frost free days required' a similar category? Should one of those rows be combined or eliminated?
4. Which data categories showed similarities for the grain crops?
5. Are the grain crops annual plants or perennial plants?
6. Are the berries and grapes annuals or perennials?
7. What information could be found about the 'Specialty Crops' Project at CSU?  If you need to use the website to answer this question: http://www.specialtycrops.colostate.edu/scp_exp_demo/small_fruit.htm