Crop Science Research in Arid Regions

Crop Science Research in Arid Regions

Identification of yield-reducing factors using Comparative Performance Analysis (CPA) method in wheat fields (Case study: Abarkoh)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Amin Anagholi 1
Majid Nikkhah 2
Zohre Omidvari 3
1 Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), National Salinity Research Center, Yazd, Iran
2 Master of Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), National Salinity Research Center, Yazd, Iran
3 Agronomy Expert of Abarkooh Agricultural Service Center, Yazd Agricultural Jihad and Natural Resources Organization, Yazd, Iran
10.22034/csrar.2024.368709.1288
Abstract
Introduction: Feeding the Iran’s over than 90 million people has been recognized as one of the most important challenges of country in 2050; so we need to increase yields of crops in cultivated areas. Mostly the actual yields obtained by farmers are less than the potential yields of the region, due to management, climatic, nutrients, soil properties, weeds and/or other living and non-living stress factors. The differences between these potential yield levels and actual farmers’ yields define the yield gaps, and precise spatially explicit knowledge about these yield gaps is essential to guide sustainable intensification of agriculture. The goal of this experiment is finding of limiting factors that affected the wheat yield and then reduce the yield gap between potential and actual yields of farmers in the fields of Abarkooh city located in Yazd province.
Materials and Methods: Eleven wheat farms were selected with the coordination and consultation of agricultural service centers in different regions of Abarkooh counties. Soil samples were prepared from all farms before planting. All agricultural operations performed by farmers such as tillage methods, planting date, cultivars used, seed rate, cultivation area, crop rotation, fertilizers used and fertilization time, irrigation operations, pest and disease control, weeding and/or spraying herbicide and harvest methods were noted or measured. At the end of tillering phase and harvest time, soil was sampled and its nutrients, organic matter and salinity were determined. At harvest time, samples were taken from different parts of the field by one square meter plots and 10 plants were randomly selected to measure yield components. The farmer’s performance with the combine was also recorded based on the farmers’ claims and the approval of the local expert. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels were measured in grain, straw and soil after harvesting operation. Meteorological data were collected daily from the Abarkoh weather station. The potential yield of region was calculated using regression model and the difference between obtained yield and potential yield was considered as yield gap. Eighty percent of potential yield is also considered as exploitable yield. Using step-by-step regression, the most effective factors in yield reduction were identified and a suitable regression model was fitted for these variables against grain yield. Then, the degree of influence of each variable was determined using Comparative Performance Analysis.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the average yield obtained from these farms was 5040 kg/ha and the yield gap was 4659 kg/ha, of which 2721 kg can be attainable. The order of the importance of agricultural operations in reducing yield in the form of insufficient number of irrigations (24 percent), lack of crop rotation with pulses (18 percent), low consumption of nitrogen fertilizer (16 percent), the method of preparing the cultivation bed and plowing times (12 percent), lack of manure fertilizer consumption (12%), improper weed control (11%), improper planting date (4%) and insufficient nitrogen split (3%). The analyze of grain yield components also showed that the share of the number of spikes per square meter, number of seeds per spike, 1000 kernel weight and harvest index in yield reduction are 39, 24, 12 and 25% respectively.
Conclusion: Based on the results obtained , we can to define an optimal crop management : enough irrigation (10 times), rotation with legumes, use enough nitrogen fertilizer, use animal manure to increase soil organic matter, plowing in summer and autumn, weed control, proper planting date and Nitrogen split 3 times. Considering that management factors mentioned above have mutual effects on each other and cannot cause a significant yield increase alone, therefore, in order to have a successful agriculture, it is necessary to act on the basis of a suitable management package.
Keywords
Agronomic management
Potential yield
Production restriction factors
Yield gap
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  • Receive Date 09 November 2022
  • Revise Date 31 December 2022
  • Accept Date 01 January 2023