The effect of precipitation on the yield of maize (Zea mays L)

The effect of weather and precipitation on maize yield has been examined by analyzing 14 years of yield of the hybrid Pioneer 3732 SC. Years have been characterized by climatic parameters. Precipitation from the harvesting of pre-crop till the sowing of maize and that during the growing season, and the average monthly temperatures during the growing season and the average temperature for the entire growing season have been analyzed. The dependent variables used were the grain yields of 1-hectare fertilized and unfertilized treatments. Upon examining the correlation between the factors the precipitation during the growing season and the average monthly temperatures were found to be (weekly) negatively correlated. The average temperature of the growing season and the grain yield are negatively correlated. At the same time the precipitation both from the harvesting of the pre-crop till the sowing and that during the growing season are positively correlated with the grain yield. The grain yield response to 1 mm of winter precipitation was 29 kg, and to the precipitation of the growing season it was 18 kg, on average the grain yield response was 23 kg ha(-)1. It results in 39.8 kg ha(-1) dry matter with 15 % grain moisture content and 50 % harvest-index. Consequently during the 14 years on average 251 g precipitation was available for the production of 1 g dry matter (DM).