Difference Between Cereals And Pulses

Cereals and pulses are the two major kinds of staple food crops cultivated worldwide to meet the population’s nutritional needs. Food grains refer to both cereals and pulses as a whole. Some examples of cereals and pulses include wheat, rice, corn, and dry beans. Most pulses consist of dried seeds. Cereals are carbohydrate-rich products, whereas pulses are known for their high protein content.

Differences Between Cereals And Pulses

Differences Between Cereals and Pulses are as follows:

Characteristic	Cereals	Pulses
Type of Plant	Grass	Leguminous plant
Taxonomical Classification	Plantae>Poales> Poaceae	Plantae>Fabales>Leguminosae
Nutrient Value	Cereals are known for their high carbohydrate, minerals, fats, and oil content.	Pulses are known for their high protein, fiber, and other micronutrient content.
Fiber Content	Low fiber content	High Fiber content
Growth conditions or growth seasons	Highly dependent on geographical conditions and seasons, wheat and barley are winter-season (rabi crop) crops because they need a cold environment, and maize and sorghum are summer-season (Kharif- crop) because they need a warm and humid environment.	Highly dependent on geographical conditions and seasons are cultivated in the Kharif, Rabi, fiber, and Zaid seasons of the Agricultural year.
Animal Feed	Less utilized as animal feed	Commonly used to feed poultry
Examples	Wheat, Barley, Maize, Sorghum, corn, and oats	Bengal Gram, Pigeon Pea, Kidney Beans, etc.

What Are Cereals?

The family Poaceae is very much known for its grass plants, with high carbohydrates, minerals, fats, and oil content. In India, the major cereals cultivated are wheat, corn, barley, oats, and sorghum. These crops have become the major staple food for many countries due to their high nutritional values.  Furthermore, they come up with a lower cost of production as compared to the other edible products available in the market.

Classification of Cereals

• Kingdom- Plantae
• Order: Poales
• Family: Poaceae 

Factors Affecting Cereal Production

The production of cereals largely depends upon geographical and climatic conditions, which vary with the change in latitude and altitude.  These conditions act as a barrier to the production of these crops for different countries and also make their seasonal crops. For example, in India, wheat and barley is a winter-season (Rabi crop) crop because it needs a cold environment, whereas maize and sorghum are summer-season (Kharif- crop) because they need a warm and humid environment. 

Statistical Data on Cereals

Here’s a list of a few statistical snippets related to Cereals:

• World’s largest Wheat producer- China
• World’s largest Maize producer- United States of America
• World’s largest Sorghum-producer- United States of America
• World’s largest Barley-producer- European Union

Uses of Cereals

These are majorly used as raw materials for the preparation of different types of foods that vary from country to country and culture to culture. A few of these are listed below:-

• It is used as a staple food in many countries and a major ingredient of food items like bread, pasta, etc.
• Cereals are used to feed livestock and poultry.
• Cereals like wheat and barley are used in the brewery industry.
• Biofuel production involves the usage of maize to produce ethanol.
• Oats are used in various countries as breakfast snacks

What do you understand by the term ‘Pulses’?

The family Leguminosae, also known for legume plants, consists of 12 different crops, such as dry beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc. They are known for their high protein and fiber and low-fat content. In India, the major pulses cultivated are Bengal Gram (Desi Chick Pea / Desi Chana), Pigeon Peas (Arhar / Toor / Red Gram), Green Beans (Moong Beans), Chick Peas (Kabuli Chana), Black Matpe (Urad /Mah /Black Gram), Red Kidney Beans (Rajma), Black Eyed Peas (Lobiya), Lentils (Masoor), White Peas (Matar).

Classification of Pulses

• Kingdom-Plantae
• Order-Fabales
• Family-Leguminosae

Factors Affecting the Production of Pulses

The production of pulses largely depends on the geographical and climatic conditions of the country. Pulse cultivation is also beneficial for the soil since the leguminous crops have the ability to fix the nitrogen gas in the soil, which makes the soil more fertile for the next season’s crop in the field. Hence, it reduces the dependency on artificial or market-based fertilizers. Furthermore, pulses add great economic value to the country’s GDP due to the large demand for pulses in the international market. 

Statistical Data On Pulses

Here’s a list of a few statistical snippets related to Pulses:

• World’s largest Bengal Gram producer- India
• World’s largest Pigeon Peas producer- India
• World’s largest Green Beans producer- China
• World’s largest Chick Peas producer- India
• World’s largest Black Matpe producer- India
• World’s largest Red Kidney Beans producer- India

Uses of Pulses

 A few of the uses of pulses are listed below:-

• Pulses are rich sources of protein, fiber, and vitamins. They are used to make multiple food recipes.
• Roasted pulses are often used as healthy snack options.
• Pulses are used to feed livestock as these contain high protein content which is essential for growth.
• Pulses are often planted in fields to replenish the content of the nitrogen in the soil.

FAQs on Cereals and Pulses

1. What are cereals?

Answer:

Cereals are grains known for high carbohydrates, minerals, fats, and oils content. Rice, Wheat, Maize are examples of Cereals.

2. To which family and kingdom do the cereals belong to? 

Answer:

All the cereals belong to the family Poaceae and Kingdom Plantae.

3. What are the different types of cereals known worldwide? 

Answer:

Cereals can be broadly categorised into 7 different types as wheat, maize, rice, barley, oats, rye and sorghum. 

4. Which nutrients are found in pulses?

Answer:

Pulses are known for their high high protein, fibre, and other micronutrient content. They are the rich source vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, they are abundant in Potassium, Phosphorous, Iron, Zinc, Magnesium, folate etc. 

5. What are the different types of pulses known worldwide?

Answer:

Maize and Sorghum are both Kharif crops as they are grown in summer season.