Yield and Production Gaps in Rainfed Wheat, Barley, and Canola in Alberta.

Tejendra Chapagain,Allen Good

doi:10.3389/fpls.2015.00990

Tejendra Chapagain, Allen Good

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00990

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Abstract

Improving crop yields are essential to meet the increasing pressure of global food demands. The loss of high quality land, the slowing in annual yield increases of major cereals, increasing fertilizer use, and the effect of this on the environment all indicate that we need to develop new strategies to increase grain yields with less impact on the environment. One strategy that could help address this concern is by narrowing the yield gaps of major crops using improved genetics and management. The objective of this study was to determine wheat (Triticum spp. L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and canola (Brassica napus L.) yields and production gaps in Alberta. We used 10 years of data (2005–2014) to understand yield variability and input efficiency at a farmers’ specified level of management, and the yield potential under optimal management to suggest appropriate pathways for closing yield gaps. Significant management gaps were observed between attainable and actual yields of rainfed wheat (24%), barley (25%), and canola (30%). In addition, genetic gaps (i.e., gaps due to genetic selection) in wheat, barley, and canola were 18, 12, and 5%, respectively. Genetic selection with optimal crop management could increase yields of wheat, barley, and canola significantly, with estimated yield gains of 3.42, 1.92, and 1.65 million tons, respectively, each year under rainfed conditions in Alberta. This paper identifies yield gaps and offers suggestions to improve efficiency in crop production.

Highlights

Improving crop yields is essential to meet the increasing demand for food driven by the increasing population and income growth in the 21st century
Miminizing yield gaps in major crops by using optimal management practices may lead to improvements in production, while offering both environmental benefits and economic value
Attainable, maximum attainable, irrigated, and the highest yield recorded for rainfed wheat, barley, and canola in Alberta are shown in Table 4, along with the wheat yield data from Australia, China, and the UK

Summary

Introduction

Improving crop yields is essential to meet the increasing demand for food driven by the increasing population and income growth in the 21st century. One strategy that could address this concern is by quantifying the production capacity of farmland to identify ways to increase the yield of major crops (Patrignani et al, 2014). This can be achieved by using high yielding management practices (Yang et al, 2008), and closing yield gaps between farmers’ actual yield and potential yield (Cassman et al, 2003; Licker et al, 2010; Tilman et al, 2011; Mueller et al, 2012). Assessing the yield gaps in major field crops can help us understand yield variability, yield potential, and the input efficiency of major crops and may indicate appropriate pathways for improving agricultural efficiencies (Fischer et al, 2009; Carberry et al, 2013; Van Ittersum et al, 2013).

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