Limiting Factors and Environmental Adaptability for Staple Crops in Kazakhstan

Danmeng Wang, Guoxi Gao, Ruolan Li, Shynggys Toktarbek, Nueryia Jiakula and Yongzhong Feng ()
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Danmeng Wang: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China
Guoxi Gao: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China
Ruolan Li: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China
Shynggys Toktarbek: College of Agronomy, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro-Technical University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Nueryia Jiakula: College of Pharmacy, Astana Medical University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Yongzhong Feng: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-15

Abstract: Population growth increases the threat to global food security. Kazakhstan, a major agricultural nation, has made significant contributions to world food security; however, a wide gap exists between its food yield and that of other major crop-producing countries. Increasing food productivity in Kazakhstan through enhancing the utilization of natural endowments under existing cropland conditions would help alleviate global food pressure. Therefore, we elucidated the factors restricting Kazakhstan’s food productivity and proposed reasonable countermeasures. We analyzed the food production structure based on yearbooks. Correlation and stepwise regression were conducted on crop yield potential factors. The states of Kazakhstan were classified by hierarchical cluster and agronomic characteristics were evaluated using normalized scores. Wheat (60.3%), barley (14.9%), and potatoes (16%) are the main food crops produced in Kazakhstan. The ideal regional environment-based geographical crop configuration is “Northern—Wheat, Southern—Barley and Wheat, and Western—Potatoes.” The key limiting factors of wheat yield are water shortage and soil alkalization, while for barley, it is soil alkalization. The current planting distribution in Kazakhstan is suboptimal. Water-saving irrigation and agricultural runoff, staple crop planting layout optimization, organic fertilizer promotion, drought-resistant crop variety cultivation, and agricultural technology training must be prioritized to overcome crop yield constraints in Kazakhstan.

Keywords: food security; Kazakhstan; yield gap; limiting factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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