Vegetable oil yielding crops

1. Mustard:- 

Botanical Name:- Brassica campestris

Family:- Cruciferae or Brassicaceae

Introduction:-

> It is an herb and is grown as an oil seed crop mainly in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar and Assam. 

> The oil content is 32 to 40%. 

> Erucic acid is the characteristic fatty acid of mustard oil. 

> The oil is extracted by expression or solvent.

Economic Botany:-

> The oil is used for cooking and burning. 

> It is also used in ayurvedic medicines as liniment or for massage in paralytic diseases and in gum diseases.

> It is used in tanning process. 

> The oil cake is used as cattle feed and as a fertilizer.

2. Groundnut:- 

Botanical Name:- Arachis hypogaea

Family:- Papilionaceae

Introduction:-

> Groundnut, a native to Brazil, is an important source of oil. 

> It is a low growing herb of tropical and sub-tropical regions. 

> The crop is largely grown in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan. 

> The oil is expressed from seeds both by hydraulic presses and expellers. 

> Oil content of seeds varies from 40 to 50%. 

> It is also rich in phosphorus and vitamins. 

> Oil contains mainly oleic acid.

Economic Botany:-

> It is predominantly used for culinary purposes. 

> It is used for the manufacture of vegetable ghee by hydrogenation. 

> The oil is used as a laxative and emollient. 

> It is also used in soap making, in leather dressings, furniture creams and in making shaving creams, cold creams, candles etc. 

> The oil cakes are used as feed for animals and as a manure.