engleski

Survey of maize growing in Croatia

The used arable land covering in Croatia 882752 ha (average 2008-2012) or 15.60% of the state territory or 34% of used arable land. Main field crops (average 2008-2012) are maize for grain (302266 ha and winter wheat (168433 ha). In general, annual yield variations are very considerable, particularly in the recent period. These variations are mainly result of weather characteristics. Climate changes, especially precipitation and temperature regimes, have often adverse influences on field crop yields. Aim of this study was survey of maize growing in Croatia for the period from 1971 to 2013 with emphasis on weather characteristic impacts on maize yields. In the period 1971-1990 decade values of maize yield in Croatia have increasing trend However, considerable variation of yield among years were observed, mainly as affected by weather impacts particularly precipitation quantities and their distribution. This trend of yield variation was continued in the next analyzed period until 2013 (Table 2). The harvested area of maize in Croatia in the 1971-1990 were about half million hectares and after this period were decreased to level about 0.3 million hectares. Weather characteristics are important factor of yields of field crops. There is estimation that about 30% variations of global average yields for the world’s six most widely grown crops (wheat, rice, maize, soybeans, barley and sorghum) are result of growing season precipitation and temperature variations. Production of these crops accounts for over 40% of global cropland area, 55% of non-meat calories and over 70% of animal feed. Two growing seasons (2010 and 2012) are typical examples of climate trend characterized deviation of precipitation and temperature regimes in short period at the same areas. The growing season 2012 was very unfavorable because of drought and high temperatures, especially in August. Under unfavorable environmental conditions of 2012 yields of maize in the countries of the region were considerably lower than in more favorable the 2010 growing season as follows: for 38% in Serbia and Hungary, for 40% in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for 49% in Romania and for 53% in Serbia. Irrigation in the critical periods of drought stress is direct management practice for improvement of field crops yields under drought stress conditions. As affected by irrigation, maize yields in the experiment conducted on Agricultural Institute Osijek were increased for 20%, while under drought conditions of three growing seasons (2007, 2011 and 2012) yield increases were 32%, 36%, and 47%, respectively. Also, by adequate soil and crop management practice, for example by liming and adequate fertilization, is possible to alleviate negative impacts of environmental conditions on yields of main field crops. Soil improvement by liming was also useful management practice, because in two experiments maize yields (4-year average) were increased up to 26%.

maize ; Croatia ; weather characteristics ; yield ; harvested area

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