Determination and Assessments the Yield Gap Between the Wheat Yield and Potential Yield in Turkey

Abstract

Knowing the current and the potential production amount of wheat is essential to meet the growing needs. Yield is determined by many factors. The main factors that limit the potential yield are genetic characteristics, and climatic factors such as rainfall and radiation, and management. Wheat is mostly grown in non-irrigated areas in Turkey. The most significant factors that limit dry agriculture wheat production yield in the Mediterranean climatic type are rainfall and its distribution in the growing season. A steady increase in yield is observed in Turkey in recent years. Average annual wheat production is 20.6 million tons. The potential production in this work is determined as 54 million tons. The gap is about 33 million ton. The actual production is 39% of the potential production. The average yield of the Growing Season Rainfall (GSRF) 500 mm areas is 2.2 t ha-1, and the potential yield is 8.8 t ha-1. The gap between the actual yield and potential yield is quite large. The current yield between the areas (GSRF 500 mm) is very small. So it is difficult to explain the gap just because of the rainfall.