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North Dakota

CROP SEEDIDENTIFICATION GUIDE

Dean Aakre4-H Youth Specialist

Duane BerglundAgronomist

GCA671

The 4-H and FFA crops judging contest

tests participants’ skills in selecting good seed

for the purpose of producing crops

with good market quality.

Becoming a good crop judge starts with

identification of crops grown in North Dakota.

This guide will help you learn the physical traits

of seeds you may see in the contest.

North Dakota State UniversityFargo, North Dakota 58105

DECEMBER 2005

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Major Cereal Grains(grown for human food or animal feed)

Hard redspring wheatThe kernel isred in color andegg-shaped withblunt ends. It hasa grayish coloredbrush on the tip.The germ is shortand broad andsomewhat wrinkled.The crease is open and it has angular cheeks.

Durum wheatThe kernel has anamber color, andis larger and moretapered than hardred spring wheat.Kernels are longand pointed,usually lopsidedand boat-shaped.The germ is

protruding, oval and more pointed than in hardred spring wheat. The crease is tight. A brushis not present on most varieties.

Hard redwinter wheatThe color is red,similar to that ofspring wheat, butduller or creamier.Its shape often islonger and slightlynarrower than hardred spring wheat.The germ is similarto spring wheat but more oval in shape. Generally abrush is present. The crease is tight with full cheeks.

■ Crops JudgingContests

The 4-H and FFA crops judging event testsparticipants’ skills in selecting good seed forthe purpose of producing crops with goodmarket quality.

Crop judging participants evaluate cropsfor seed and factors affecting market quality,and identify crop and weed seeds and plants.

Becoming a proficient crop judge starts withidentification of crops grown in North Dakotaand the region. This guide will help you learnthe physical traits of seeds you may see ina contest.

Specific content and guidelines for NorthDakota 4-H and FFA crops judging contestsare available on the 4-H and FFA Web sites.

■ Identificationof North DakotaCrop Seeds

The first step in crop judging is to learn torecognize and identify many of the crops grownin the state. A short description, including seedcharacteristics and photograph of the followingcrop seeds will help you identify crops grownin North Dakota. They are placed into groupsbased on major uses. However, many cropshave a very diversified use and could beplaced in other groups.

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Two-rowed barleyThe shape is broadwith a flat back(duck-backed)and blunt ends.The crease isstraight and tight,and usually extendsout to the end.Plump and shortkernels (the result

of only two rows on a head) are usually broader andlarger than in six-row barley.

Six-rowed barleyKernel shape islonger and narrower,with more of a spiketooth taper at theend than in two-rowbarley.Two-thirdsof the kernel (theoutside two rows)are twisted, witha crooked crease.The crease is more open to the end.

OatThe color is white,yellow or tan andthe surface of thekernel is practicallysmooth. The awn,if present, is not bentor markedly twisted.The seed attachmentis round andrelatively small

compared to the large sucker-mouth-shapedattachment in wild oats. Kernels are long andsomewhat pointed at both ends, especially thetip end. The hull (the lemma and palea) is tightlyattached to the kernel and accounts for 25 to 35percent of its weight. The hulless kernel or groatcomprises the remainder of the kernel weight.

CornSeed is large, flatand dented in thetop. Color rangesfrom white, yellow,red to strawberry.Seeds may havea white cap.(Semi-dent, flint,sweet and pop cornwill not be includedin crop judging contests.)

RyeSeeds are similarto wheat in shapebut are longerand more slender.Color varies butusually is tan, brownor bluish-green.The germ is onthe pointed end.

TriticaleThis crop is a crossbetween wheatand rye. Seedsare similar to ryeor durum wheatbut are shrunkenand wrinkled inappearance.Color is usually atan or light brown.

Grain sorghumThe seeds are moreor less egg-shapedor oblong andsomewhat flat.They are about5/32 inch longand 1/8 inch wide.The color may bewhite, yellow, red orbrown. White seeds

may contain red or brown spots and red seeds maycontain red spots, usually due to injury.

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Oil Seed Crops(primarily used for oil extraction and feed use)

FlaxThe seeds are flatand have a smooth,shiny surface.They usually aredark brown or yellowin color. The seedsare somewhat lensshaped, althoughmore rounded at thebase than the tip.

SafflowerSmall hulled seed,light gray, tan orcream in color,often showing browndiscoloration nearpoint of attachment.Similar in shape tosunflower seed butonly half the size.

SoybeanSeeds vary in color,and vary in shapefrom nearly round tooval. They areusually smaller thanfield beans. The colorof the hilum (scar orspot on bean whereit was attached topod) varies fromblack to brown to tan or yellow and is a seedcharacteristic that is considered in identifyingvarieties.

Oilseed SunflowerSeeds have abroad base but taperto a pointed end.The color is usuallyblack or dark grey.An achene (shell)covers the nut-meator seed within.They are similarto wild sunflower,only much largerand dark in color.

CanolaSeeds are small, andround or sphericalin shape. Color willrange from a dullyellow, dark reddishbrown to black,depending onthe type.

CrambeSeeds are enclosedin a round hullor pod which isapproximately1/8-inch in diameter.A small point of thestem which attachedthe hull to theplant may protrudefrom the hull.

The round seeds are borne singly within each hull.The color of the hull ranges from dull silver to tan.The seed within ranges from olive green to tan tobrown in color.

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Other Food or Feed Crops

Non-oilseedsunflowerSeeds are quitesimilar to thoseof wild sunflower,only much larger.They have a broadbase but taper tothe top. The colorusually is black orgray with whitestripes. An outside achene (shell) covers the actualnutmeat which is the true seed.

Pinto beanSeeds are oval tokidney-shaped witha squared end.They may be mostany color or combi-nation – cream, tan,brown and mottled.The seed scar orhilum may be lightyellow in color.

Navy beanSeeds are ovalshaped with roundedends. Color is whiteto ivory. Navy beansare sometimesreferred to as peabeans or smallwhites.

Black beanSeeds are small,about the size ofa pea, oval and jetblack. Some varietieshave a shiny blackseed coat whileothers have a dullblack seed coat.

Field peaSeeds are smalland may be round,angular or wrinkled.They vary in colorbut are mostlyyellow or green.

LentilSeeds are “lens”shaped (round andrather flat). Color canbe tan, brown, olivegreen, black, orpurple-and-blackmottled. The seedsurface is generallysmooth, but on somelarge seeds may bewrinkled.

BuckwheatSeeds consist ofa three-sidedtriangular pericarp(hull) which enclosesone true seed.Seed color is tan,dark brown or black.Remnants of theflower sepals oftenadhere to the outsideof the pericarp.

Yellow mustardSmall round,irregular seed isa dull yellow color.Some shrunkenseed will result innon-uniformity ofseed size.

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SugarbeetSeed is highlyirregular in shape.The mature seed iscontained within amature reddish-brown to brown outerseed coat. There areboth multigerm andnon-germ seedtypes.

Proso milletSeeds are largerthan foxtail millet,glossy and from1/16 to 1/8 inch long.They vary in colorfrom yellow and graythrough red, brownand black. Seeds areround, but taper to apoint at both ends.

Small-Seeded Legumesand Grasses(primarily used for forage production)

AlfalfaSeeds vary in shapebut often are kidneyor mitt-shaped andare greenish-yellowto light brown incolor.

SweetcloverSeeds are moreheart-shapedthan alfalfa seeds,although they vary.The color of theseeds is yellowish-brown. The seed coatof yellow sweet cloverhas a mottled color.

SudangrassSeeds are enclosedin the lemma andpalea which aregreenish-yellow,tan or red in colorand tapering andpointed in shape;usually has raggedbreak at point ofattachment.

KentuckybluegrassSeeds are oblongand quite small,the lemma beingabout 1/8 inch long.They vary from lightto dark straw in colorwith a spot of darkerbrown at the base.Seed is very cottony

or cobwebby (hairy) at the base and has 5 ribs;the mid and outer ribs are silky-hairy toward thebase, the other ribs being smooth and prominent.

Reed canarygrassSeeds are egg-shaped, yellowto grayish brownin color, and slightlyhairy when firstcoming from theseed head, butrapidly becomingsmooth in handling.The seeds have awaxy appearance and are about 1/8 inch long.

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Foxtail milletSeeds are elongated,about 1/16 inch inlength and green toyellow or red in color.They are round atthe center, taperingto a point at eachend.

Russian wildryeSeeds are lance-shaped, beingbroadest below themiddle and taperingto a long pointedtip. They are eitherawnless or have ashort, weak awn thatis soft and papery.Seeds are about3/8 inch long, rough, and the lemma is usuallycovered with very short, bristly hairs.

CrestedwheatgrassSeeds areboat-shaped,straw-colored andabout 1/4 inchlong. The lemma(outer floret bract)sometimes narrowsabruptly into ashort awn, but awns

mostly are lacking. The lemma often is enrolled overthe palea (inner floret bract) and the palea is barbedon the edge.

SlenderwheatgrassSeeds are oblong,about 3/8 inchlong and are abright straw color.The seeds aresmooth and aredevoid of hairs ormay have a fewhairs across the tip.There are usually small appearing appendagesflanking the awn when it is present. The palea isdevoid of hairs but the stalk is hairy.

Smooth bromeThe seeds are large,flat, dark-coloredand light in weight.The lemma is purpletipped, about 7/16inch long, awnless,and has 5 to 7 ribs.It is rounded at thebase, hairless, andsome of the ribs are

somewhat rough, especially the midrib. The paperypalea is nearly as long as the lemma and has a hairyfringe on the margin.

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General rules and regulations for the

state 4-H and FFA crop judging contest

are available online at

www.ext.nodak.edu/4h

or from your county office of

the NDSU Extension Service.

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Visit North Dakota 4-H on-line at: www.ext.nodak.edu/4h/4-H.htm

County Commissions, North Dakota State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Duane Hauck, Director, Fargo, North Dakota. Distributedin furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. We offer our programs and facilities to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin,religion, gender, disability, age, veteran’s status or sexual orientation; and are an equal opportunity institution. This publication will be made available inalternative formats for people with disabilities upon request, (701) 231-7881.