Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
Volume 16, Issue 5, Pages -Publisher
IOP Publishing Ltd
DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/abf9c9
Keywords
predictions; maize; forecasts; agriculture; rainy season onset; Ethiopia
Funding
- National Science Foundation [1545874]
- Office Of Internatl Science &Engineering
- Office Of The Director [1545874] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study quantifies the yield gap associated with suboptimal maize planting times using a process-based crop model over a 36 year historical period across Ethiopia. The results indicate a strong potential for yield gains in drier regions as well as reductions in interannual variance countrywide, while regions with reliably sufficient precipitation show only minimal gains. Integrating onset forecasts into agricultural decision-making is crucial for agricultural extension efforts.
For countries dependent on rainfed agriculture, failure of the rainy season can lead to serious consequences on the broader economy. Maize, a common staple crop in these countries, often expresses significant interannual variability, given its high sensitivity to water stress. It is traditionally planted at rainy season onset to maximize the growing season and potential yield; however, this risks planting during a 'false onset' that can damage the crop or require replanting. Rainy season onset forecasts offer some promise in reducing this risk; however, the potential for increasing yield has not been explicitly quantified. This study quantifies the yield gap associated with suboptimal maize planting times using a process-based crop model over a 36 year historical period across Ethiopia. Onset-informed and forecast-informed approaches are compared with a baseline approach, and results indicate a strong potential for yield gains in drier regions as well as reductions in interannual variance countrywide. In contrast, regions with reliably sufficient precipitation illustrate only minimal gains. In general, integration of onset forecasts into agricultural decision-making warrants inclusion in agricultural extension efforts.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available