Methodology of Analyzing Maize Density Loss in Smallholder’s Fields and Potential Optimize Approach

Zhichao An, Chong Wang, Xiaoqiang Jiao, Zhongliang Kong, Wei Jiang, Dong Zhang, Wenqi Ma and Fusuo Zhang
Additional contact information
Zhichao An: National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Chong Wang: National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Xiaoqiang Jiao: National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Zhongliang Kong: National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Wei Jiang: National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Dong Zhang: National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Wenqi Ma: College of Resources and Environmental Science, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
Fusuo Zhang: National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: Increasing plant density is a key measure to close the maize ( Zea mays L.) yield gap and ensure food security. However, there is a large plant density difference in the fields sown by agronomists and smallholders. The primary cause of this phenomenon is the lack of an effective methodology to systematically analyze the density loss. To identify the plant density loss processes from experimental plots to smallholder fields, a research methodology was developed in this study involving a farmer survey and measurements in a smallholder field. The results showed that the sowing density difference caused by farmer decision-making and plant density losses caused by mechanical and agronomic factors explained 15.5%, 5.5% and 6.8% of the plant density difference, respectively. Changing smallholder attitudes toward the value of increasing the plant density could help reduce this density loss and increase farm yields by 12.3%. Therefore, this methodology was effective for analyzing the plant density loss, and to clarify the primary causes of sowing density differences and plant density loss. Additionally, it was beneficial to identify the priorities and stakeholders who share responsibility for reducing the density loss. The methodology has wide applicability to address the sowing density differences and plant density loss in other areas to narrow crop yield gaps and ensure food security.

Keywords: agronomic practice; farmer decision-making; mechanical precision; plant density difference; risk awareness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/6/480/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/6/480/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:6:p:480-:d:560753

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().