000			04045nab|a22003737a|4500
001			66657
003			MX-TxCIM
005			20231201203236.0
008			20221s2022||||mx |||p|op||||00||0|eng|d
022			_a0308-521X
022			_a1873-2267 (Online)
024	8		_ahttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103804
040			_aMX-TxCIM
041			_aeng
100	1		_aDevkota, M. _9973
245	1	0	_aOpportunities to close wheat yield gaps in Nepal's Terai : _bInsights from field surveys, on-farm experiments, and simulation modeling
260			_bElsevier BV., _c2024. _aUnited Kingdom :
500			_aPeer review
520			_aCONTEXT. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is among the most important staple food crops in the lowland Terai region of Nepal. However, national production has not matched the increasing demand. From a South Asian regional perspective, average productivity is low with high spatial and temporal variability. OBJECTIVES. This study determines entry points for closing yield gaps using multiple diagnostic approaches, i.e., field surveys, on-farm experiments, and simulation models across different wheat production environments in the Terai region of Nepal. METHODOLOGY. Yield and production practice data were collected from 1745 wheat farmers' fields and analysed in tandem with over 100 on-farm experiments. These were complemented by long-term simulation modeling using the APSIM Next Generation to assess system production behavior over a range of climate years. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. On-farm survey data suggests that yield and profit gaps under farmers' management (difference between the most productive (top 10th decile) and average wheat fields) were 1.60 t ha−1 and 348 USD ha−1 in the Terai region. The potential yield gap (difference between simulated potential yield and surveyed population mean) estimated was 4.63 t ha−1, suggesting ample room for growth even for the highest-yielding fields. Machine learning diagnostics of survey data, and on-farm trials identified nitrogen rate, irrigation management, terminal heat stress, use of improved varieties, seeding date, seeding method, and seeding rate as the principal agronomic drivers of wheat yield. While fields in the top 10th decile yield distribution had higher fertilizer use efficiencies and irrigation and seeding rates with similar overall production costs as average-yielding farmers. Our results suggest a complementary set of agronomic interventions to increase wheat productivity among lower-yielding farms in the Terai including advancing the time of seeding by 7–10 days on average, increasing nitrogen fertilizer by 20 kg ha−1, and alleviating water stress by applying two additional irrigations. SIGNIFICANCE. Although wheat yields in the Terai are among the lowest in the region, biophysical production potential is high and remains largely untapped due to sub-optimal agronomic management practices rather than intrinsic agroecological factors. Data from this study suggests that incremental changes in these practices may result in substantial gains in productivity and profitability.
546			_aText in English
597			_aPoverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs _bExcellence in Agronomy _bTransforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia _cResilient Agrifood Systems _dUnited States Agency for International Development _dCGIAR Trust Fund _uhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/134892
650		7	_aAgronomic practices _2AGROVOC _96202
650		7	_aSustainable intensification _2AGROVOC _91355
650		7	_aGenotype environment interaction _2AGROVOC _91133
650		7	_aWheat _2AGROVOC _91310
650		7	_aYield gap _2AGROVOC _91356
651		7	_2AGROVOC _93932 _aNepal
700	1		_aDevkota, K.P. _91351
700	1		_aPaudel, G.P. _91353 _8R1705561 _gSustainable Intensification Program
700	1		_aKrupnik, T.J. _9906 _8INT3222 _gSustainable Agrifood Systems
700	1		_aMcDonald, A. _9883
773	0		_tAgricultural Systems _gv. 213, art. 103804 _dUnited Kingdom :Elsevier BV., 2023. _x0308-521X _wG444466
942			_cJA _n0 _2ddc
999			_c66657 _d66649