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Biophysical and management factors causing yield gap in soybean in the subtropics of Brazil
Author(s) -
Tagliapietra Eduardo Lago,
Za Alencar Junior,
Streck Nereu Augusto,
Balest Darlan Scapini,
da Rosa Solon Lemos,
Bexaira Kelin Pribs,
Richter Gean Leonardo,
Ribas Giovana Ghisleni,
da Silva Michel Rocha
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.1002/agj2.20586
Subject(s) - sowing , yield (engineering) , subtropics , yield gap , agronomy , humid subtropical climate , limiting , water use efficiency , environmental science , biology , crop yield , chemistry , irrigation , ecology , materials science , medicine , pathology , metallurgy , mechanical engineering , engineering
Little is known about the relationships between soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] maturity grouping and the yield‐limiting factors in the subtropics. This information can be used to estimate soybean potential yield (Yp) and the water‐limited yield (Yw) and to optimize current soybean management practices to improve yield and resource use efficiency. The objectives were (a) to estimate the Yp, Yw, and yield gaps (YGs) of soybean in subtropical Brazil and (b) to identify the biophysical and management factors which potentially explain the YG. The CSM CROPGRO model that was calibrated with data collected between 2011 and 2019 was used to estimate the influence of sowing date and maturity group (MG) on yield potentials and water efficiencies. Yield varied from 6.1 to 7.2 Mg ha −1 and from 2.5 to 5.1 Mg ha −1 between buffer zones (BZs) for Yp and Yw, respectively. The YG caused by water deficit (YGw) ranged from 26% (1.8 Mg ha −1 ) to 62% (4.1 Mg ha −1 ) of the Yp and the YG caused by management (e.g., sowing date, MG, final density) ranged from 9% (0.6 Mg ha −1 ) to 39% (2.7 Mg ha −1 ) of the Yp. The main management factor of the YG was sowing date. The potential yield was higher in the early MGs, showing greater water use efficiency in MG ≤ 5.5 (9.6 kg ha −1 mm −1 ) than in high MGs (MG ≥ 5.6). Findings from this study can be used by agronomists in subtropical regions to optimize soybean yields.