Dryland maize yield potentials and constraints: A case study in western Kansas

This case study used crop modeling to analyze dryland maize yield potential, farmers ’ yield potential, and actual farm yields from 1990 to 2015 in three counties in western Kansas (i.e., Thomas, Greeley, and Finney in the U.S. Great Plains region). The calibrated APSIM-Maize model along with actual yields was used to estimate yield gaps attributed to the agronomic factors. AbstractWater-limited environments account for half of the earth's land surface, and dryland agriculture acreage is projected to expand due to climate changes. Examining typical dryland yield potentials and yield improvement measures is crucial for developing future dryland crop production systems. This case study used crop modeling to analyze dryland maize yield potential (YPd), farmers ’ yield potential (YPf), and actual farm yields (Ya) from 1990 to 2015 in three counties in western Kansas (i.e., Thomas, Greeley, and Finney in the U.S. Great Plains region). The calibrated APSIM-Maize model along with actual yields was used to estimate yield gaps attributed to: (a) agronomic factors (YG1 = YPd − YPf) and (b) socioeconomic constraints (YG2 = YPf − Ya). Observed climate conditions during maize-growing seasons showed warming, brightening, and drying trends for all three counties in western Kansas from 1990 to 2015. Our results showed that the current actual farm yields (Ya) in western Kansas represented only 34%, 32%, and 28% ofYPd in Thomas, Greeley, and Finney counties, respectively, indic...
Source: Food and Energy Security - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research