Analyzing the rainfed wheat yield gap in Northwest Iran
Wheat is one of the major crops in Iran, covering more than 36% of the total croplands and more than 70% of rainfed farmlands. However, the trend of crop yield in the past decades does not show promising performance and the average yield of rainfed wheat in Iran is as low as 1250 kg ha−1. Therefor...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Farming System |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S294991192400056X |
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| author | Arash Mohammadzadeh Yaser Azimzadeh Ramin Lotfi Esmail Zadhasan Khoshnood Alizadeh Hamid Hassaneian Khoshro |
| author_facet | Arash Mohammadzadeh Yaser Azimzadeh Ramin Lotfi Esmail Zadhasan Khoshnood Alizadeh Hamid Hassaneian Khoshro |
| author_sort | Arash Mohammadzadeh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wheat is one of the major crops in Iran, covering more than 36% of the total croplands and more than 70% of rainfed farmlands. However, the trend of crop yield in the past decades does not show promising performance and the average yield of rainfed wheat in Iran is as low as 1250 kg ha−1. Therefore, quantifying the rainfed wheat yield gap, and determining its causes and importance could help wheat self-sufficiency in Iran. Boundary line analysis (BLA) and regression tree (RT) models were employed to analyze the yield gap and find out the influencing factors. For this purpose, an on-farm survey was conducted in 210 rainfed winter wheat fields in East Azerbaijan province during the 2020–21 cropping season. Data were collected from local experts and farmers concerning crop yield and related management practices. Actual farmers’ yields were 1095 kg ha−1. BLA showed a significant yield gap ranging from 1755 to 2186 kg ha−1 (61.5–66.6% of attainable yield) and determined the attainable yield of 3072 kg ha−1. The BLA indicated that, among the quantitative independent variables, nitrogen fertilizer and planting density management were the important managerial practices responsible for the yield gaps. Additionally, the pronounced differences in crop yield across various rotation systems and varieties highlight their critical role in realizing crop attainable yield as the qualitative independent variables. By the regression tree (RT) model, the yield gap was determined about 65%. Crop rotation, crop variety, and sowing date were determined as key factors influencing the rainfed wheat yield gap. Findings showed that the combination of BLA and RT methods can be used effectively to quantify the crop yield gap and its influencing factors. Regarding the large yield gap, there is a good opportunity to obtain higher yields by optimizing managerial practices/inputs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3c2b89aab7204ebfa19cb874f86dc790 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2949-9119 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Farming System |
| spelling | doaj-art-3c2b89aab7204ebfa19cb874f86dc7902025-01-04T04:57:31ZengElsevierFarming System2949-91192025-01-0131100126Analyzing the rainfed wheat yield gap in Northwest IranArash Mohammadzadeh0Yaser Azimzadeh1Ramin Lotfi2Esmail Zadhasan3Khoshnood Alizadeh4Hamid Hassaneian Khoshro5Dryland Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Maragheh, Iran; Corresponding author.Dryland Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Maragheh, IranDryland Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Maragheh, IranDryland Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Maragheh, IranWest Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Urmia, IranDryland Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Maragheh, IranWheat is one of the major crops in Iran, covering more than 36% of the total croplands and more than 70% of rainfed farmlands. However, the trend of crop yield in the past decades does not show promising performance and the average yield of rainfed wheat in Iran is as low as 1250 kg ha−1. Therefore, quantifying the rainfed wheat yield gap, and determining its causes and importance could help wheat self-sufficiency in Iran. Boundary line analysis (BLA) and regression tree (RT) models were employed to analyze the yield gap and find out the influencing factors. For this purpose, an on-farm survey was conducted in 210 rainfed winter wheat fields in East Azerbaijan province during the 2020–21 cropping season. Data were collected from local experts and farmers concerning crop yield and related management practices. Actual farmers’ yields were 1095 kg ha−1. BLA showed a significant yield gap ranging from 1755 to 2186 kg ha−1 (61.5–66.6% of attainable yield) and determined the attainable yield of 3072 kg ha−1. The BLA indicated that, among the quantitative independent variables, nitrogen fertilizer and planting density management were the important managerial practices responsible for the yield gaps. Additionally, the pronounced differences in crop yield across various rotation systems and varieties highlight their critical role in realizing crop attainable yield as the qualitative independent variables. By the regression tree (RT) model, the yield gap was determined about 65%. Crop rotation, crop variety, and sowing date were determined as key factors influencing the rainfed wheat yield gap. Findings showed that the combination of BLA and RT methods can be used effectively to quantify the crop yield gap and its influencing factors. Regarding the large yield gap, there is a good opportunity to obtain higher yields by optimizing managerial practices/inputs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S294991192400056XRainfed systemAttainable yieldYield limiting factorsTriticum aestivum L. |
| spellingShingle | Arash Mohammadzadeh Yaser Azimzadeh Ramin Lotfi Esmail Zadhasan Khoshnood Alizadeh Hamid Hassaneian Khoshro Analyzing the rainfed wheat yield gap in Northwest Iran Farming System Rainfed system Attainable yield Yield limiting factors Triticum aestivum L. |
| title | Analyzing the rainfed wheat yield gap in Northwest Iran |
| title_full | Analyzing the rainfed wheat yield gap in Northwest Iran |
| title_fullStr | Analyzing the rainfed wheat yield gap in Northwest Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analyzing the rainfed wheat yield gap in Northwest Iran |
| title_short | Analyzing the rainfed wheat yield gap in Northwest Iran |
| title_sort | analyzing the rainfed wheat yield gap in northwest iran |
| topic | Rainfed system Attainable yield Yield limiting factors Triticum aestivum L. |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S294991192400056X |
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