Abstract
Smallholder maize growers are experiencing significant yield gaps due to sub-optimal agricultural practices. Adequate agricultural inputs, particularly nutrient amendments and best management practices, are essential to reverse this trend. There is a need to understand the cause of variations in maize yield, provide reliable early estimates of yields, and make necessary recommendations for fertilizer applications. Maize yield prediction and estimates of yield gaps using objective and spatial analytical tools could provide accurate and objective information that underpin decision support. A study was conducted in Rwanda at Nyakiliba sector and Gashora sector located in Birunga and Central Bugesera agro-ecological zones, with the objectives of (1) determining factors influencing maize yield, (2) predicting maize yield (using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) approach), and (3) assessing the maize yield gaps and the impact on food security. Maize grain yield was significantly higher at Nyakiliba (1.74 t ha−1) than at Gashora (0.6 t ha−1). NDVI values correlated positively with maize grain yield at both sites (R2 = 0.50 to 0.65) and soil fertility indicators (R2 = 0.55 to 0.70). Maize yield was highest at 40 kg P ha−1 and response to N fertilizer was adequately simulated at Nyakiliba (R2 = 0.85, maximum yield 3.3 t ha−1). Yield gap was 4.6 t ha−1 in Nyakiliba and 5.1 t ha−1 in Gashora. Soil variables were more important determinants of social class than family size. Knowledge that low nutrient inputs are a major cause of yield gaps in Rwanda should prioritize increasing the rate of fertilizer use in these agricultural systems.
Highlights
The main goal of agricultural crop management in a country is to guarantee food resources for its population
We show that the maize yield gap is explained by various factors associated with input nutrients and social-economic, and that the extent of yield gap is location specific
The maize yield gap was estimated to be in the range of 57% in Nyakiliba where the response of maize grain yield to N fertilizer was adequately simulated and additional N inputs are required to reach the optimum of 4.6 t/ha
Summary
The main goal of agricultural crop management in a country is to guarantee food resources for its population. Food security requires coordinated action of a cross section of stakeholders in the food production chain. The largest proportion of agricultural production in developing countries comes from smallholder farmers and projections indicate the trend is likely to remain the same for at least the 30 years (Thornton and Herrero 2001). In the case of Rwanda, efforts are invested in promoting the crop intensification programme with the aim of increasing agricultural productivity of high potential food crops (maize, rice, wheat, cassava, Irish potato, and beans) for ensuring food security and self-sufficiency (Kathiresan 2011). Agricultural productivity has been growing in recent years, translating into improved food security and household income (Kathiresan 2012)
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