Relationship between Distance to Flow Accumulation Lines and Spatial Variability of Irrigated Maize Grain Yield and Moisture Content at Harvest

摘要

Analysis of yield variability factors is an important issue in order to obtain information that allows thedelineation of areas with stable yield patterns for application of precision agriculture techniques. The objectiveof this study was to evaluate the spatial and temporal variability of yield and grain moisture content at harvestwith their distance to flow accumulation lines, based on 3-yr data of centre-pivot irrigated maize crop inSouthern Portugal. Yield data were collected over the period from 2002 to 2004 and divided into data setsrelating to nine classes of distances to flow accumulation lines. Based on these data sets, the relation betweenyield and grain moisture content at harvest with distance to flow accumulation lines was analysed. Resultsshow that there is an increase in yield with the decrease of distance to flow accumulation lines, both in yearswith normal or above-normal applied irrigation water. In situations where insufficient irrigation water wasapplied, grain moisture content at harvest shows an increase as distance to flow accumulation lines decreases,but in years in which more irrigation water was applied, less grain moisture content at harvest near the flowaccumulation lines was observed.