Mississippi state and county level yield gap in corn production

ORCID

Bheemanahalli: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9325-4901

MSU Affiliation

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Plant and Soil Sciences; Department of Agricultural Economics

Creation Date

2025-11-19

Abstract

Continuous corn (Zea mays L.) yield increases are required to promote economic development and support a larger population. Reducing the existing yield gaps is a potential strategy to accomplish this goal. The objective of this study was to evaluate yield trends, and gaps at different production levels in Mississippi using data from 2012 to 2021. Production levels considered were Mississippi yield contest (Yc), Mississippi State University hybrid testing trials under irrigation (Yp) and dryland (Yw), and actual yield (Ya) from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Since 2012, Yc, Yp, and Ya are stagnant, and Yw has a nonsignificant positive trend. Averaged over 10 yr, a yield gap of 5.6 Mg ha−1 between Yc and Ya, 4.1 Mg ha−1 between Yp and Ya, and 2.0 Mg ha−1 between Yw and Ya were noted at state level. Existing yield gap underlines current production limitations and necessitates adoption of improved agronomic practices. Core Ideas In the last 10 yr, contest yield, potential yield, and actual yield in Mississippi have been stagnant. State level yield gap ranges between 2.0 to 5.6 Mg ha-1 at different levels. Washington County showed the lowest (25.9%) and Lee County (48.8%) the highest yield gap in Mississippi.

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Publication Title

Agricultural and Environmental Letters

Publisher

Wiley

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20092