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The term that refers to the proportion of the crop that holds economic importance is the harvest index. This concept is crucial in agronomy as it quantifies the efficiency of a crop in converting its biological yield (the total mass of the crop produced) into a portion that can be harvested for economic benefit. The harvest index is calculated by dividing the economic yield (the weight of the crop harvested for sale) by the biological yield.

Understanding the harvest index helps agronomists and farmers assess crop performance and guide decisions regarding management practices. This indicator is especially valuable in comparing different species or varieties of crops, as a higher harvest index indicates more efficient conversion of resources into harvestable yield, leading to greater profitability and sustainability in agricultural systems.

In contrast, economic yield refers specifically to the quantity of a product that can be sold, while biological yield encompasses the total biomass produced by the crop, including parts that may not be economically valuable. Biomass generally refers to the total mass of living matter in a given area and is not limited to economic importance. Thus, the harvest index is the best choice for capturing the economic aspect of crop production.