Sustainability Assessment of Banana (Musa spp.) Yield Gap Reduction through Value Chain Development Interventions in Smallholder Farming Systems in Manicaland, Zimbabwe

This study evaluated the effectiveness of donor supported agricultural value chain development projects in sustainably narrowing yield gaps for banana smallholder farmer producers in Manicaland, Zimbabwe. The study used a mixed methods research design that relied on farmers records for the quantitative analysis and focus group discussion and in-depth interviews for key experts for the qualitative aspects. A mix of regression analysis, t-tests, Pearsons’s correlation and analysis of variance statistical methods were used for the quantitative analysis while thematic response analysis was used for the qualitative engagements. The findings showed that by the end of the activity, the project had successfully narrowed the banana yield gaps to 18.66 tons per hectare working with a potential yield base of 40 tons. However, 5 years after the project closure the yield gap had fallen to 24.7 tons indicating a lack of sustainability of yield gap reduction. However, the yield gap slump does not override the fact that farmers on average were still able to sell approximately 5 tons per every 6 months after 5 years from the project closure which is beyond any poverty threshold. This suggests genuine upward economic mobility. Additionally, in analyzing what factors had the greatest influence on yield gap reduction, the access to fertilizer ranked highest where genetics, irrigation and improved agronomy followed in that respective order. The study further showed that farmers who receive value chain development support whilst at an already commercialized state tend to maintain productivity thresholds higher in comparison to those who are at a pre commercial state. This is evidenced by the fact that the pre commercial farmers had a yield reduction of 30.83 percent after 5 years of the project closure whereas the former realized a productivity growth of 7.84%. In conclusion, whilst the intervention was successful in transitioning farmers out of poverty, more investment should be made towards transitioning smallholder farmers to integrated soil fertility management practices and improvement of agronomic efficiency through stronger on field collaboration between research institutions, the government and development institutions.

Modelling the crop yield gap with a remote sensing-based process model:A case study of winter wheat in the North China Plain

Understanding the spatial distribution of the crop yield gap(YG)is essential for improving crop yields.Recent studies have typically focused on the site scale,which may lead to considerable uncertainties when scaled to the regional scale.To mitigate this issue,this study used a process-based and remote sensing driven crop yield model for winter wheat(PRYM-Wheat),which was derived from the boreal ecosystem productivity simulator(BEPS),to simulate the YG of winter wheat in the North China Plain from 2015 to 2019.Yield validation based on statistical yield data revealed good performance of the PRYM-Wheat Model in simulating winter wheat actual yield(Ya).The distribution of Ya across the North China Plain showed great heterogeneity,decreasing from southeast to northwest.The remote sensing-estimated results show that the average YG of the study area was 6400.6 kg ha^(–1).The YG of Jiangsu Province was the largest,at7307.4 kg ha^(–1),while the YG of Anhui Province was the smallest,at 5842.1 kg ha^(–1).An analysis of the responses of YG to environmental factors showed no obvious correlation between YG and precipitation,but there was a weak negative correlation between YG and accumulated temperature.In addition,the YG was positively correlated with elevation.In general,studying the specific features of the YG can provide directions for increasing crop yields in the future.

Towards sustainable intensification of apple production in China—Yield gaps and nutrient use effi ciency in apple farming systems

China is in a dominant position in apple production globally with both the largest apple growing area and the largest export of fresh apple fruits. However, the annual productivity of China＇s apple is significantly lower than that of other dominant apple producing countries. In addition, apple production is based on excessive application of chemical fertilizers and the nutrient use efficiency （especially nitrogen） is therefore low and the nutrient emissions to the environment are high. Apple production in China is considerably contributes to farmers＇ incomes and is important as export product. There is an urgent need to enhance apple productivity and improve nutrient use efficiencies in intensive apple production systems in the country. These can be attained by improved understanding of production potential, yield gaps, nutrient use and best management in apple orchards. To the end, priorities in research on apple production systems and required political support are described which may lead to more sustainable and environmental-friendly intensification of apple production in China.

Quantifying the spatial variation in the potential productivity and yield gap of winter wheat in China

Despite the improvement in cultivar characters and management practices, large gaps between the attainable and potential yields still exist in winter wheat of China. Quantifying the crop potential yield is essential for estimating the food production capacity and improving agricultural policies to ensure food security. Gradually descending models and geographic infor- mation system （GIS） technology were employed to characterize the spatial variability of potential yields and yield gaps in winter wheat across the main production region of China. The results showed that during 2000-2010, the average potential yield limited by thermal resource （YGT） was 23.2 Mg ha-1, with larger value in the northern area relative to the southern area. The potential yield limited by the water supply （YGw） generally decreased from north to south, with an average value of 1.9 Mg ha-1 across the entire study region. The highest YGw in the north sub-region （NS） implied that the irrigation and drainage conditions in this sub-region must be improved. The averaged yield loss of winter wheat from nutrient deficiency （YGH） varied between 2.1 and 3.1 Mg ha-1 in the study area, which was greater than the yield loss caused by water limitation. The potential decrease in yield from photo-thermal-water-nutrient-limited production to actual yield （YGo） was over 6.0 Mg ha-1, ranging from 4.9 to 8.3 Mg ha^-1 across the entire study region, and it was more obvious in the southern area than in the northern area. These findings suggest that across the main winter wheat production region, the highest yield gap was induced by thermal resources, followed by other factors, such as the level of farming technology, social policy and economic feasibility. Furthermore, there are opportunities to narrow the yield gaps by making full use of climatic resources and developing a reasonable production plan for winter wheat crops. Thus, meeting the challenges of food security and sustainability in the coming decades is possible but will require considerable changes in water and nutrient management and socio-economic policies.

Reducing maize yield gap by matching plant density and solar radiation

Yield gap exists because the current attained actual grain yield cannot yet achieve the estimated yield potential. Chinese high yield maize belt has a wide span from east to west which results in different solar radiations between different regions and thus different grain yields. We used multi-site experimental data, surveyed farmer yield data, the highest recorded yield data in the literatures, and simulations with Hybrid-Maize Model to assess the yield gap and tried to reduce the yield gap by matching the solar radiation and plant density. The maize belt was divided into five regions from east to west according to distribution of accumulated solar radiation. The results showed that there were more than 5.8 Mg ha^(–1) yield gaps between surveyed farmer yield and the yield potential in different regions of China from east to west, which just achieved less than 65% of the yield potential. By analyzing the multi-site density experimental data, we found that the accumulated solar radiation was significantly correlated to optimum plant density which is the density with the highest yield in the multi-site density experiment(y=0.09895 x–32.49, P<0.01), according to which the optimum plant densities in different regions from east to west were calculated. It showed that the optimum plant density could be increased by 60.0, 55.2, 47.3, 84.8, and 59.6% compared to the actual density, the grain yield could be increased by 20.2, 18.3, 10.9, 18.1, and 15.3% through increasing plant density, which could reduce the yield gaps of 33.7, 23.0, 13.4, 17.3, and 10.4% in R(region)-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5, respectively. This study indicates that matching maize plant density and solar radiation is an effective approach to reduce yield gaps in different regions of China.

Yield gap and resource utilization efficiency of three major food crops in the world——A review

Yield gap analysis could provide management suggestions to increase crop yields,while the understandings of resource utilization efficiency could help judge the rationality of the management.Based on more than 110 published papers and data from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO,www.fao.org/faostat) and the Global Yield Gap and Water Productivity Atlas (www.yieldgap.org),this study summarized the concept,quantitative method of yield gap,yield-limiting factors,and resource utilization efficiency of the three major food crops (wheat,maize and rice).Currently,global potential yields of wheat,maize and rice were 7.7,10.4 and 8.5 t ha^(–1),respectively.However,actual yields of wheat,maize and rice were just 4.1,5.5 and 4.0 t ha^(–1),respectively.Climate,nutrients,moisture,crop varieties,planting dates,and socioeconomic conditions are the most mentioned yield-limiting factors.In terms of resource utilization,nitrogen utilization,water utilization,and radiation utilization efficiencies are still not optimal,and this review has summarized the main improvement measures.The current research focuses on quantitative potential yield and yield gap,with a rough explanation of yield-limiting factors.Subsequent research should use remote sensing data to improve the accuracy of the regional scale and use machine learning to quantify the role of yield-limiting factors in yield gaps and the impact of change crop management on resource utilization efficiency,so as to propose reasonable and effective measures to close yield gaps.

A new feasible method for yield gap analysis in regions dominanted by smallholder farmers, with a case study of Jiangsu Province, China

In the regions where crops were mostly produced by smallholder farmers, the analysis of yield gap is difficult due to diverse cultivars, crop managements and yield levels. In order to find an effective method that can reasonably verify the yield gap and the limiting cultivation factors in narrowing yield gaps in areas that are dominanted by smallholder farmers, we worked out a method consisting five progressive procedures as follows: questionnaire investigation of farmer cultivation regime, identification of yield levels and yield gaps, generalization of key cultivation measurements, reconstruction of representative maize populations, and process-based analysis of yield gap. A case study was carried out in Jiangsu Province, China, in which maize is mostly produced by smallholder farmers. A questionnaire investigation of 1 023 smallholder farmers was carried out firstly, then the frequency distribution of maize yield was simulated by an normal distribution function, and then the covering range and average value of the basic yield, farmer yield and high-yield farmer yield levels were calculated out from the equation. Hereby, the yield gaps 1, 2 and 3 were calculated along with the record highest yield from literature and experts, which were 2 564, 2 346 and 2 073 kg ha^(–1), respectively. Moreover, with the covering range of each yield level, the suveyed farmers belonging to each yield level were grouped together and then their major cultivation measures were traced and generalized. With the generalized cultivation measures, representative maize populations of the four yield levels were reconstructed, and thereby clarifing lots of characters of the populations or single plant of each population with processbased analysis of the reconstructed populations. In this case, the main factors causing the yield gap were plant density, fertilizer application rate, logging caused by hurricane, and damages caused by pests. The case study primarily indicated that this five-step method is feasible and effective in yield gap study, especially in smallholder farmers dominant regions.

The effect of solar radiation change on the maize yield gap from the perspectives of dry matter accumulation and distribution

The uneven distribution of solar radiation is one of the main reasons for the variations in the yield gap between different regions in China and other countries of the world.In this study,different solar radiation levels were created by shading and the yield gaps induced by those levels were analyzed by measuring the aboveground and underground growth of maize.The experiments were conducted in Qitai,Xinjiang,China,in 2018 and 2019.The maize cultivars Xianyu 335 (XY335)and Zhengdan 958 (ZD958) were used with planting density of 12×10^(4) plants ha^(–1) under either high solar radiation (HSR)or low solar radiation (LSR,70%of HSR).The results showed that variation in the solar radiation resulted in a yield gap and different cultivars behaved differently.The yield gaps of XY335 and ZD958 were 8.9 and 5.8 t ha^(–1) induced by the decreased total intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (TIPAR) of 323.1 and 403.9 MJ m^(–2) from emergence to the maturity stage,respectively.The average yield of XY335 was higher than that of ZD958 under HSR,while the average yield of ZD958 was higher than that of XY335 under LSR.The light intercepted by the canopy and the photosynthetic rates both decreased with decreasing solar radiation.The aboveground dry matter decreased by 11.1% at silking and 21% at maturity,and the dry matter of vegetative organs and reproductive organs decreased by 9.8 and 20.9%at silking and by 12.1 and 25.5% at physiological maturity,respectively.Compared to the HSR,the root weights of XY335 and ZD958 decreased by 54.6 and 45.5%,respectively,in the 0–60 cm soil layer under LSR at silking stage.The aboveground and underground growth responses to different solar radiation levels explained the difference in yield gap.Selecting suitable cultivars can increase maize yield and reduce the yield gaps induced by variation of the solar radiation levels in different regions or under climate change.

Potato yield gaps across the rainfed Yin-mountain Hilly Area of China

Yin-mountain Hilly Area is one of the ideal regions for potato （Solanum tuberosum） production in China. However, potato yield is severely limited as a result of rain-fed crop mode due to water deficiency, as well as an inadequate farming practices. In this study, yield gaps were determined by using attainable yield （Ya） as a benchmark under optimized management practices, i.e., micro-ridge and side planting with plastic-mulching （MS）, and flat planting with plastic-mulching （PM）. The yields under MS and PM modes are defined as Yal and Ya2, respectively. Under the same field with MS and PM modes but different densities and fertilizer usages and so on, it was defined as simulated farmers＇ practices. The yield of simulated farmers＇ practices （Yfl） reached 57.3 and 69.6% of Yal and Ya2, respectively, while the average yield of 298 randomly surveyed farmers （Yf2） reached only 37.0 and 47.8% of Yal and Ya2 for rain-fed potato, respectively. The gaps of water use efficiency exhibited similar pattern. Further analysis shows that improper measures in rainwater conservation and accumulation, and other management practices contributed to 18.5, 18.2, and 42.6% of yield gap between Yal and Yf2. Improper nutrition management, including overuse of nitrogen and the deficiency of phosphorus andpotassium supplication, was one of the important reasons of yield gap. The results indicate the possibilities of increasing rain-fed potato yields by optimized water and fertilizermanagements in the Yin-mountain Hilly Area.

The priority of management factors for reducing the yield gap of summer maize in the north of Huang-Huai-Hai region, China

Understanding yield potential, yield gap and the priority of management factors for reducing the yield gap in current intensive maize production is essential for meeting future food demand with the limited resources. In this study, we conducted field experiments using different planting modes, which were basic productivity(CK), farmer practice(FP), high yield and high efficiency(HH), and super high yield(SH), to estimate the yield gap. Different factorial experiments(fertilizer, planting density, hybrids, and irrigation) were also conducted to evaluate the priority of individual management factors for reducing the yield gap between the different planting modes. We found significant differences between the maize yields of different planting modes. The treatments of CK, FP, HH, and SH achieved 54.26, 58.76, 65.77, and 71.99% of the yield potential, respectively. The yield gaps between three pairs: CK and FP, FP and HH, and HH and SH, were 0.76, 1.23 and 0.85 t ha^(–1), respectively. By further analyzing the priority of management factors for reducing the yield gap between FP and HH, as well as HH and SH, we found that the priorities of the management factors(contribution rates) were plant density(13.29%)>fertilizer(11.95%)>hybrids(8.19%)>irrigation(4%) for FP to HH, and hybrids(8.94%)>plant density(4.84%)>fertilizer(1.91%) for HH to SH. Therefore, increasing the planting density of FP was the key factor for decreasing the yield gap between FP and HH, while choosing hybrids with density and lodging tolerance was the key factor for decreasing the yield gap between HH and SH.

Determination of soybean yield gap and potential production in Iran using modeling approach and GIS

Increasing crop production is necessary to maintain food security for the growing global population.Reducing the gap between actual and potential yield is one of the important ways to increase yield per unit area.Potential yield and the yield gap of soybean were determined for Golestan Province,Iran,using Soybean Simulation Model (SSM-i Crop2) and Geographical Information System (GIS).Information from 24 weather stations and soil data of the region were used.Yield gap and production gap were calculated at county and province levels.The average actual yield of soybean in this province was2.28 t ha^(–1) while the province’s potential yield was 4.73 t ha^(–1),so the yield gap was estimated 2.44 t ha^(–1).Thus,there is a great potential for increasing soybean yield in Golestan,which is possible through improving crop management of soybean in farmers’fields.The average water productivity of soybean was estimated to be 0.81 kg m^(–3).Spatial distribution of water productivity in soybean farms showed that the highest and the lowest water productivities (0.99 and 0.44 kg m^(–3)) were in western and eastern regions of the province,respectively,in accordance to vapour pressure deficit.It was concluded that soybean production in the province could increase by 66%(from 109 970 to 182 170 tons) if 80% of the current yield gap could be removed.

Effects of different agricultural treatments on narrowing winter wheat yield gap and nitrogen use efficiency in China

Under the limited cultivated land area and the pursuit of sustainable agricultural development,it is essential for the safety of grain production to study agricultural management approaches on narrowing the winter wheat yield gap and improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in China.In this study,DSSAT-CERES-Wheat Model is used to simulate winter wheat yield under different agricultural treatments,and we analyze yield gaps and NUE with different management scenarios at regional scales and evaluate the suitable approaches for reducing yield gap and increasing NUE.The results show that,the potential of narrowing yield gap ranges 300–900 kg ha^(–1) with soil nutrients increase,400–1 200 kg ha^(–1) with sowing date adjustment and 0–400 kg ha^(–1) with planting density increase as well as 700–2 200 kg ha^(–1) with adding nitrogen fertilizer.Contribution rates of management measures of soil nutrients,sowing date adjusting,planting density,and nitrogen fertilizers are 5–15%,5–15%,0–4%,and 10–20%,respectively.Difference in nitrogen partial productivity ranges 3–10 kg kg^(–1) for soil nutrients,1–10 kg kg^(–1) for sowing date adjusting,1–5 kg kg^(–1) for planting density increase,and–12–0 kg kg^(–1) for adding nitrogen fertilizers,respectively.It indicates that four treatments can narrow yield gap and improve the NUE in varying degrees,but increasing nitrogen fertilizer leads to the decrease of NUE.

Identifying the limiting factors driving the winter wheat yield gap on smallholder farms by agronomic diagnosis in North China Plain

North China Plain(NCP) is the primary winter wheat production region in China, characterized by smallholder farming systems. Whereas the winter wheat average yield of smallholder farmers is currently low, the yield potential and limiting factors driving the current yield gap remain unclear. Therefore, increasing the wheat yield in NCP is essential for the national food security. This study monitored wheat yield, management practices and soil nutrient data in 132 farmers’ fields of Xushui County, Baoding City, Hebei Province during 2014–2016. These data were analyzed using variance and path analysis to determine the yield gap and the contribution of yield components(i.e., spikes per hectare, grain number per spike and 1 000-grain weight) to wheat yield. Then, the limiting factors of yield components and the optimizing strategies were identified by a boundary line approach. The results showed that the attainable potential yield for winter wheat was 10 514 kg ha^–1. The yield gaps varied strongly between three yield groups(i.e., high, middle and low), which were divided by yield level and contained 44 farmers in each group, and amounted to 2 493, 1 636 and 814 kg ha^–1, respectively. For the three yield components, only spikes per hectare was significantly different(P<0.01) among the three yield groups. For all 132 farmers’ fields, correlation between yield and spikes per hectare(r=0.51, P<0.01), was significantly positive, while correlations with grain number per spike(r=–0.16) and 1 000-grain weight(r=–0.10) were not significant. The path analysis also showed that the spikes per hectare of winter wheat were the most important component to the wheat yield. Boundary line analysis showed that seeding date was the most limiting factor of spikes per hectare with the highest contribution rate(26.7%), followed by basal N input(22.1%) and seeding rate(14.5%), which indicated that management factors in the seeding step were the most important for affecting spikes per hectare. For desired spikes per hectare(>6.598×10^6 ha^–1),the seeding rate should range from 210–300 kg ha^–1, seeding date should range from 3th to 8th October, and basal N input should range from 90–180 kg ha^–1. Compared to these reasonable ranges of management measures, most of the farmers’ practices were not suitable, and both lower and higher levels of management existed. It is concluded that the strategies for optimizing yield components could be achieved by improving wheat seeding quality and optimizing farmers’ nutrient management practices in the NCP.

Yield gap and production constraints of mango (Mangifera indica) cropping systems in Tianyang County, China

Mango is an important cash crop in the tropics and subtropics. Determining the yield gap of mango and production constraints can potentially promote the sustainable development of the mango industry. In this study, boundary line analysis based on survey data from 103 smallholder farmers and a yield gap model were used to determine the yield gap and production constraints in mango plantations in the northern mountain, central valley and southern mountains regions of Tianyang County, Guangxi, China. The results indicated that the yield of mango in three representing regions of Tianyang County,Northern Mountains, Central Valley and Southern Mountains, was 18.3, 17.0 and 15.4 t ha^–1 yr^–1, with an explainable yield gap of 10.9, 6.1 and 14.8 t ha^–1 yr^–1, respectively. Fertilization management, including fertilizer N, P2O5 and K2O application rates, and planting density were the main limiting factors of mango yield in all three regions. In addition, tree age influenced mango yield in the Northern Mountains(11.1%) and Central Valley(11.7%) regions. Irrigation time influenced mango yield in the Northern Mountains(9.9%) and Southern Mountains(12.2%). Based on a scenario analysis, the predicted yield would increase by up to 50%, and fertilizer N use would be reduced by as much as approximately 20%. An improved understanding of production constraints will aid in the development of management strategy measures to increase mango yield.

Yield Gap Analysis of Wheat in Rice-wheat Rotation Regions of Anhui Province,China

The present study was planned to analyze the yield gap of wheat and its production constraints in order to explore the approaches for narrowing the yield gap of wheat in different wheat-rice rotation regions of Anhui Province. The production status and limiting factors of wheat in three rice-wheat rotation regions which are named Region Ⅰ,Region Ⅱ and Region Ⅲ were surveyed by using participatory rural appraisal method. The personnel,who were engaged in wheat production in rice-wheat rotation regions of Anhui Province,mainly ageing from 41 to 60,accounted for 79% of the total personnel in the regions. There were significant differences in yield of wheat which was planted after rice in Anhui. The yield was ranging from 8 907. 00 to 2 700. 00 kg/ha from north to south with an average of 4 978. 5 kg/ha,and the rank of overall average yields at province level was Region Ⅰ( 5 685. 60 kg/ha) > Region Ⅱ( 5 600. 10 kg/ha) > Region Ⅲ( 3 048. 60 kg/ha). The average yield gap of wheat in wheat-rice rotation regions at province level was up to 2 637. 00 kg/ha,and the extreme yield gaps per hectare in the same region were 2 778. 00 kg( Region Ⅰ),2 502. 00 kg( Region Ⅱ) and 1 575. 00 kg( Region Ⅲ) respectively. The objective constraints were Fusarium head blight and pre-harvest sprouting;the subjective constraints were variety selection and layout,poor sowing quality and low seedling quality;social constraints were high cost,low market price and poor efficiency;and ecological constraints were poor soil texture,soil infertility and poor water-and-fertilizer retention. The yield gap of wheat in rice-wheat rotation regions can be effectively reduced by improving yield potential of low-and-medium-yielding fields. Selecting appropriate wheat varieties and layout,constructing disease forecast system,improving agricultural machinery and social service organizations of plant protection,and strengthening scientific training as well as technological training of new agricultural operators and agricultural machinery technicians are the core means to narrowing the yield gap of wheat in rice-wheat rotation regions at province scale.

Yield Gap of Stress Tolerant Rice Varieties Binadhan-10 &Binadhan-11 in Some Selected Areas of Bangladesh

Binadhan-10 & Binadhan-11 are climate smart stress tolerant high yielding rice varieties (yield > 4 t&#8901;ha&#8722;1) have saline tolerant EC up to 12 ds/m and submergence tolerant up to 20 - 25 days capacity. The present study was an attempt to analyze the yield gap of stress tolerant varieties Binadhan-10 & Binadhan-11 in some selected areas of Bangladesh. The objectives of the study were: 1) to estimate the yield gap of Binadhan-10 &-11 growers among the study areas;2) to identify the factors affecting the yield of these variety;and 3) to suggest some policy guidelines to minimize the yield gap. The study was conducted in eight Binadhan-10 & Binadhan-11 growing areas in Bangladesh. In this study, four districts namely Satkhira, Khulna, Barishal, and Cox’s Bazar were used for Binadhan-10 and Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur and Sunamgonj were taken for Binadhan-11. It is based on primary level data from eight sub-districts among the study areas. A total of 240 farmers were randomly selected (30 from each location) to collect the data with a pre-designed questionnaire. Farmer were grouped according to saline affected and not-affected for saline tolerant variety Binadhan-10 and not affected, affected (1 - 10 days) and highly affected (10 - 20 days) for submergence tolerant rice variety Binadhan-11 to identify existing yield gap. Tabular as well as Zandstra method were applied for analysis the data. The study also found factors affecting the gap and some policy guidelines to minimize the gap.

Production potential and yield gaps of summer maize in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region

Crop potential productivity is a key index of scientifically appraising crop production and land population-supporting capacity. This study firstly simulated the potential and waterlimited yield of summer maize in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei （BTH） region using WOFOST model with meteorological data of 40 years, and then analyzed yield gaps between the actual and potential yield based on statistical data at county level. The potential and water-limited yield of summer maize in the BTH region is 6854–8789 kg/hm2 and 6434–8741 kg/hm2, and the weighted average for whole region is 7861 kg/hm2 and 7185 kg/hm2, respectively. The simulated yields gradually decrease from northeast to southwest with changes in climatic conditions particularly temperature and precipitation. Annual variation of potential yield is higher in the central and southern parts than the northeastern part. Compared to potential yield, the water-limited yield has higher coefficient of variation （CV）, because of precipitation effects. The actual yield of summer maize was 2537–8730 kg/hm2, regionally averaged at 5582 kg/hm2, about 70% of the potential yield, implying that the region has room to increase the yield by improving crop management and irrigation systems.

PLANT DENSITY,IRRIGATION AND NITROGEN MANAGEMENT:THREE MAJOR PRACTICES IN CLOSING YIELD GAPS FOR AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY IN NORTH-WEST CHINA

Agriculture faces the dual challenges of food security and environmental sustainability.Here,we investigate current maize production at the field scale,analyze the yield gaps and impacting factors,and recommend measures for sustainably closing yield gaps.An experiment was conducted on a 3.9-ha maize seed production field in arid north-west China,managed with border and drip irrigation,respectively,in 2015 and 2016.The relative yield reached 70%in both years.However,drip irrigation saved 227 mm irrigation water during a drier growing season compared with traditional border irrigation,accounting for 44%of the maize evapotranspiration(ET).Yield variability under drip irrigation was12.1%,lower than the 18.8%under border irrigation.Boundary line analysis indicates that a relative yield increase of 8%to 10%might be obtained by optimizing the yield-limiting factors.Plant density and soil available water content and available nitrogen were the three major factors involved.In conclusion,closing yield gaps with agricultural sustainability may be realized by optimizing agronomic,irrigation and fertilizer management,using water-saving irrigation methods and using site-specific management.

盾构壁后注浆窜浆模型试验及发生条件研究

全断面围岩管片壁后注浆因向开挖面方向的窜浆现象会引起盾尾空隙注浆不饱满,管片上浮、错台及开裂,螺机喷涌等事故常有发生,已经引起广泛重视。通过设计自制壁后注浆液窜浆模型装置进行试验,分析浆液性质、缝隙厚度、注浆压力差对是否发生窜浆及窜浆量的影响,并探讨了不发生窜浆的临界条件。结果表明:(1)浆液压力与窜浆距离呈线性衰减,当浆液稠度较低时,窜浆量与缝隙厚度、浆液稠度呈近似线性正相关、与浆液的剪切屈服应力呈近似线性负相关,窜浆距离与注浆压力差呈近似线性正相关;当浆液稠度增大时,以上关系将逐渐转化为非线性关系;(2)通过极差分析表明浆液的窜浆量受盾壳与岩层间缝隙厚度影响最大,注浆压力与开挖面压力差影响其次,最后是浆液本身的性质;(3)建立了窜浆临界分析模型和计算公式,得到了窜浆发生条件和判别方法,可用于指导稳定围岩地层中盾构掘进时浆液的配制。

稻油系统周年产量差及形成因素探究: 以湖北省武穴市为例

明确农户水平稻油系统的产量差及进一步增产的限制因素对保障我国粮油安全具有重要作用。本研究以我国典型稻油系统生产区湖北省武穴市为研究对象,采用作物模型与田间调查相结合的方法评估了该地区稻油系统周年产量差,并使用单因素方差分析和条件推断树综合比较了农户在土壤条件和管理措施上的差异,以探究该地区限制稻油系统产量进一步增长的主要栽培因素及可行的增产途径,为因地制宜地缩小产量差提供新思路。结果表明:(1)武穴市水稻季和油菜季的潜在产量分别为11.79 t hm^(-2)和4.43 t hm^(-2),按照水稻和油菜籽粒的能量当量换算系统周年能量后,稻油系统的最高周年潜在能量为284 GJ hm^(-2)。水稻季和油菜季的平均实际产量分别为8.11 t hm^(-2)和1.82 t hm^(-2),系统平均实际周年能量为165 GJ hm^(-2)。该地区稻油系统的平均周年相对产量差(产量差与潜在产量的比值)为42%,其中油菜季(59%)比水稻季(31%)具有更大的产量提升空间。相较于湖北省和长江流域的平均水平,武穴市稻油系统周年潜在能量相近,而周年实际能量分别低13%和5%,导致该地区的产量差相对较大,其中分别有83%和61%的农户相对产量差大于湖北省和长江流域平均水平。(2)该地区周年产量较低的农户具有以下主要特征:土壤为沙壤土,耕层较浅;水稻季虫草害防治效果差,水稻季肥料做底肥一次施用且轻施氮、钾肥;油菜季重施肥料,且油菜机收损失较大。(3)武穴市89%的农户选择种植常规稻品种黄华占,其实际产量已达到该品种潜在产量的90%左右;种植油菜品种的种类较多且产量差异较大。综上,武穴市稻油系统仍具有较大的增产空间;缩小当地稻油系统产量差的技术措施包括:适当深耕提高土壤生产力;油菜季选择当地适宜的高产油菜品种;水稻季加强推广高产优质杂交稻品种,重点关注增加水稻用种量,提高直播密度和播种时的封闭除草,系统周年施肥管理上应降低油菜季而提高水稻季的肥料用量,水稻季仅施底肥的农户适当增施追肥等。