engleski

Impact of precipitation and temperature on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields in Eastern Croatia

Wheat is following maize the most frequently field crop in Croatia. In the 2005-2007 period it was cultivated on 165721 ha/year or about 20% of arable lands. Majority of wheat cultivated areas (about 76 %) are situating in the eastern Croatian region. Considerable yield variations among years are mainly caused by weather characteristics, especially precipitation and temperature regimes. Fore xample, in three for wheat favorable growing seasons (MFS: years of harvest 1984, 1988 and 1989) mean yield of wheat in the eastern Croatia was 5.53 t/ha, while in thre less- favorable years (LFS: 1978, 1980 and 1982) it was 4.22 t/ha or for 24% lower. Precipitation (the data of Osijek Weather Bureau) during the growing season (a = October –June ; b = November + December) were higher in LFS (a =522 and 463 mm, b = 146 mm i 79 mm, for LFS i MFS, respectively). In the 1996-2007 period, differences of wheat yields in the region were in range from 3.62 to 5.00 t/ha. Precipitation in growing season (a = October-June ; b = November + December of the previous year: 3- year means in Osijek) were higher in the LFS, especially for November + December period (a =522 and 463 mm, b = 146 mm and 79 mm, for the LFS and MFS, respectively). Wheat yields in Vukovar- Syrmium and Osijek-Barannya Counties were for 12 % (mean 4.61 t/ha) higher than in Virovitica- Podravina and Brod-Posavina Counties (mean 4.12 t/ha). Although relation between wheat yields and weather characteristics (precipitation and mean air- temperatures) are complicated, there are indication that moderate and good distributed precipitation in combination with mild winter are more favorable for wheat growing than precipitation excess, especially in autumn, and more cold winters.

precipitation ; temperature ; wheat yield ; Croatia

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