There is a diminishing pattern of average rainfall from east (1000 mm) to west (600 mm) in the maize areas of Argentina. The crop is exposed to water deficits during flowering which cause yield reductions and variability across years. Even in the 6th Region, where the highest production and yields per hectare are obtained, there is a 50% probability of at least a 50 mm water deficit during the critical period of flowering. Severe rainstorms are common in most of the year, causing runoff and erosion. This and the intense use of soils hamper the infiltration and retention of water, making high yields extremely dependent on timely rains and farmers averse to risking investment in nitrogen fertilization. This study assesses maize yield losses in Argentina due to drought and their economic importance. Different crop strategies, including irrigation and fertilization, were simulated by the CERES-Maize model using the climatic data for 20 years and edaphic information for the main regions. It was concluded that the average annual yield loss caused by drought in Argentina was 1.2 million tons of maize, with an economic value of 150 million U.S. dollars.

Spanish

9801|AGRIS 9702

Jose Juan Caballero

CIMMYT Publications Collection