Effect of within-season daily rainfall distribution on maize crop yields

Abstract

It is well known that major changes in global food systems are needed when agriculture must meet the challenge of feeding a growing population and at the same time minimize global environmental impacts. Both these aims require optimal crop yields. This need applies crucially to staple foods, such as maize, and in developing parts of the world, such as much of Africa. Within-season rainfall will affect crop yields, and this paper, using simulations, investigates the effects of varying within-season daily rainfall distributions on potential maize yields. The results show that within-season distributions can affect maize yields in low-rainfall seasons, but yields are also dependent on the use of fertilizer. In average and above average rainfall seasons, within-season variance has little effect on maize yields. If within-season distributions affect crop yields in low-rainfall seasons, as shown here, then this finding could be important for understanding the impacts of possible changes in climate.