Maize yield and rainfall on different spatial and temporal scales in Southern Brazil

This study aimed to establish relationships between maize yield and rainfall on different temporal and spatial scales, in order to provide a basis for crop monitoring and modelling. A 16-year series of maize yield and daily rainfall from 11 municipalities and micro-regions of Rio Grande do Sul State was used. Correlation and regression analyses were used to determine associations between crop yield and rainfall for the entire crop cycle, from tasseling to 30 days after, and from 5 days before tasseling to 40 days after. Close relationships between maize yield and rainfall were found, particularly during the reproductive period (45-day period comprising the flowering and grain filling). Relationships were closer on a regional scale than at smaller scales. Implications of the crop-rainfall relationships for crop modelling are discussed.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	BERGAMASCHI, H., WHEELER, T. R., CHALLINOR, A. J., COMIRAN, F., HECKLER, B. M. M.
Other Authors:	Homero Bergamaschi, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS; Timothy Robert Wheeler, The University of Reading; Andrew Juan Challinor, The University of Reading; Flávia Comiran, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS; Bruna Maria Machado Heckler, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS.
Format:	Artigo de periódico biblioteca
Language:	English eng
Published:	2008-01-14
Subjects:	rainfall, water deficit, critical period, deficit hídrico, modelagem, período crítico., Chuva, Zea Mays., crop models.,
Online Access:	http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/126141
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