Odd One Out — Wheat, Rice, and Barley are cereals (grasses); Pea is a legume (pulse). Identify the odd crop and justify.

Introduction / Context:
Basic agricultural botany separates cereals (Poaceae grasses) from legumes (Fabaceae). Three options are cereals; one is a leguminous pulse.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Wheat, Rice, Barley: cereals (monocot grasses) grown for starchy grains.
• Pea: legume (dicot), valued for protein-rich seeds.

Concept / Approach:
Classify by plant family and primary macronutrient yield (starch vs protein) to identify the outlier.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Wheat → cereal.Rice → cereal.Barley → cereal.Pea → legume/pulse → outlier.

Verification / Alternative check:
Nitrogen fixation is common in legumes (root nodules), not cereals; this ecological trait further distinguishes pea.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Wheat, Rice, Barley: all cereals with similar agronomy and end-uses as staple grains.

Common Pitfalls:
Using “human staple” as a criterion—both cereals and pulses are staples; the family/nutrient class is the correct discriminator.

Final Answer:
Pea