Evaluation of the Potential Effects of Drought on Summer Maize Yield in the Western Guanzhong Plain, China

Drought and uneven distribution of precipitation during stages of crop growth exert a severe reduction on crop yield. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the impact of drought on crop yields. In this study, data from a two-year (2016 and 2017) field experiment were used to calibrate and evaluate the parameters of the Decision Support System for the Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) model. The evaluation model was then employed to analyze the impact of potential drought on the yield of summer maize (Zea maysL.) over different growth stages for 46 years (1970-2015). The simulated summer maize flowering and harvest date differed by three and one days of the observed in 2017. The d-index value and the normalized root-mean-square error (nRMSE) of the simulated and measured values were 0.90 and 3.72%, 0.95 and 10.21%, and 0.92 and 13.12%, for summer maize yield, soil water content, and leaf area index, respectively. This indicates that the parameters of the DSSAT model were extremely reliable and that the simulation results were better. The yield reduction of summer maize was concentrated within the range of 0-40% from 1970 to 2015, and the two-stage yield reduction was higher than the one-stage yield reduction. The highest probability of yield reduction occurs if drought occurs during jointing and heading stages. Irrigation is therefore recommended during jointing stage or heading stage. If local irrigation conditions permit, irrigation can be carried out both at the jointing and heading stages. This study provides a theoretical basis for drought resistance management and scientific irrigation of summer maize in the western Guanzhong plain.