Meteorological fluctuations define long-term crop yield patterns in conventional and organic production systems.

ABSTRACT: Variability in meteorological patterns presents significant challenges to crop production consistency and yield stability. Meteorological influences on corn and soybean grain yields were analyzed over an 18-year period at a long-term experiment in Beltsville, Maryland, U.S.A., comparing conventional and organic management systems. Precipitation and temperature variables explained much of the yield variability, with precipitation and heat stress during the late vegetative and early reproductive phases of crop growth accounting for the majority of yield variability in all crops and management systems. Crop yields under conventional and organic management followed similar periodic patterns, but yields were 31% and 20% lower in organic than conventional corn and soybean, respectively. The effi

SUBMITTER: Teasdale JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5429610 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature