مدتهاست یک پرسش کلیدی ذهن من به عنوان یکی از هزاران پژوهشگر بخش کشاورزی با نزدیک به بیست سال سابقه اجرایی، آموزشی و پژوهشی را به خود معطوف کرده. ممنون خواهم شد چنانچه نظرات ارزشمند خود را در این رابطه در بخش نظر دهید مرقوم فرمایید:
چرا علیرغم فعالیت های بی شمار تحقیقاتی در حوزه کشاورزی، شکاف (Gap) بین عملکرد پتانسیل (Potential Yield) و عملکرد واقعی (Actual Yield) محصولات کشاورزی روز به روز بیشتر می شود؟
زمانیکه این سوال را در گروه پلنت استرس طرح کردم ، پاسخ های بسیا جالب و کاربردی از سوی دانشمندان سراسر جهان داشت که در زیر گوشه ای از آنها را می آورم.
The Key question
It has long been a key question in my mind as one of the thousands of researchers with nearly twenty years experience in agriculture, education and research . I would be grateful if your valuable comments in this regard. Despite numerous research activities in the field of agriculture, the gap between the actual Yield and potential Yield of agricultural products is increasingly, Why?
Take a look here please
Payman Hassibi
Associate professor of Crop Physiology at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz (Jundi Shapur), Iran
Top Contributor in Plant Stress Group
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34 comments Jump to most recent comment
Luis Carlos
Luis Carlos Ramos
Plant Geneticist & Lawyer
Dear Payman, Would you please substantiate your say "the gap between the actual Yield and potential Yield of agricultural products is increasing"? This seems to be against plant breeding achievements... Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 23 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
Sanal
Sanal Kumar P.
Rice Breeder at RASI SEEDS
I think the gap between actual yield (field) and potential yield is reducing or current rice hybrids have touched its potential. We are searching new breeding techniques to raise the potential in rice hybrids. Please comment. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 23 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
Alfredo
Alfredo Romero
Comunicador y gestor de conocimiento - Jubilado en INIA
Agricultural research so far has been highly productive, only when translation of results and outcomes keep their character of public goods.Today, most of agricultural research is financed by the bioindustrial complex, whose vested interests are constraining any innovation thsat don`t allow marketing and profits. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 23 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
Charl
Charl du Plessis
Fertilizer Consultant and Crop Specialist
Payman - Depend on how potential yield is defined ? Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 23 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
Wajid
Wajid Mahboob
Junior Scientist (Plant Physiologist) at Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
you can say we are unable to get potential yield and its because of no. of factor including production technology, crop husbandry, environmental factors, biotic and abiotic stresses. we can control everything ideally in lab but can,t under field conditions. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 23 days ago Parvaneh Emami, Payman Hassibi and 1 other like this
Charl
Charl du Plessis
Fertilizer Consultant and Crop Specialist
Wajid - 100% correct or the new high yielding cultivars are less robust under different and changing climatic conditions. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 23 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
Payman Hassibi
Associate professor of Crop Physiology at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz (Jundi Shapur), Iran
Dear Luis, I'm living in a third world country and semi-arid region. I should specify the purpose of the question. I do not have any conflict with crop breeders and what you said is absolutely true Delete 22 days ago
Abraham
Abraham Blum
Curator, Plantstress.com
Top Contributor
Farmer yield can be anywhere between the ceiling and the floor. Where investments were made in research, science has been successful in raisng both ceiling and floor - documented. The yield point where a singular farmer finds himself depends on his capacity (inputs, education, social culture, etc), weather, soil quality, biotics, government aid (irrigation capacity, education, ag extension, safe environment, etc'), social culture and even politics. Hence, whether the "gap" is increasing or not depends on the farmer and the suport he receives from his 'environment' in its widest context. The knowledge needed for reaching the present ceiling is at hand. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 22 days ago Payman Hassibi, Mike Netz and 2 others like this
Charl
Charl du Plessis
Fertilizer Consultant and Crop Specialist
Why is it not possible for every batsman to hit a century in every game ? Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 22 days ago R.Easwaramurthy [RE], Payman Hassibi like this
Payman Hassibi
Associate professor of Crop Physiology at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz (Jundi Shapur), Iran
Thank you all my dear friends, please give me the benefit of your valuable comments Delete 22 days ago
Volker
Volker Kleinhenz
Agronomist at SunEdison
"Agricultural Sciences" and "Rural Development" share many similar nor identical goals. What often goes unnoticed is that both are very expensive processes for all partners involved. To overcome financing issues, scientists/development agencies invent and dramatize "new" areas of work. What was formerly (before and until the 1990s) known as "overcoming seasonal stress" is now known as "climate change mitigation". It appears that more and more scientists are getting deeper and deeper into some mudslinging, populist journalism rather than objective research. One key question for agricultural scientists is: How far can I go with this? Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 21 days ago Payman Hassibi, Charl du Plessis and 1 other like this
Dr. Modala
Dr. Modala Venkateswarlu
Scientist-C at Seribiotech Research Laboratory, Kodathi, Carmelaram Post, Bangalore-560035, India
The present narrow genetic based high yielding varieties are not capable to sustain the adaptability to fluctuating climate changes taking place due to global warming. One of the answer will be to introgress adaptability from wild relatives. More emphasis should be given to high throughput phenotyping along with HT genotyping in this next generation genomics era. Dr. Modala Venkateswarlu Scientist-D Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 20 days ago Charl du Plessis, Payman Hassibi like this
Shirin
Shirin ghazian
PhD in crop physiology
In my opinion we should investigate the problem as a regional case. In Iran for example, at least two strong impediments are noticeable. First: farmers don't trust in scientific achievements or sometimes are not able to carry out them in rural production systems. The second is our deficiency studies. Most of study cases are not applicable due to wrong topic selections or modified results. For example in student cased the topic select base on university properties and preference, student financial and scientific abilities and laboratory equipments rather than local needs and desires of farmers. In agricultural and resources research centers, making more income is the criterion. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 20 days ago Mehrshad Barary, Payman Hassibi and 3 others like this
shahadat hossain
shahadat hossain shovon
Regional Coordinator at BRAC Uganda
Yield gap largely depends on agronomic practices. In developing countries we are not able to maintain good agronomic practices due to socioeconomic condition and lack of extension activities. We should not slinger mud to each other. Research should be oriented according to farmers practices. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 19 days ago Mehrshad Barary, Payman Hassibi and 1 other like this
Muhammad
Muhammad Sabar
Assistant Botanist (Rice) at Rice Research Institute, Kaka Shah Kaku
Yield is not only the genetic contribution but is influenced by environment significantly. Environments never means only soil, wheather or cultural practices but dominated by social and financial factors. Govt policies (financial support to growers) and ensured provision of inputs at the required time plus marketing / price surity can play an important role in achieving the potential yields. More over, in the same locality one grower (progressive) is getting almost potential yield while the neighbouring grower is getting half reflects the interest, awareness of the grower in farming and its social position too. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 19 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
Mehrshad
Mehrshad Barary
Assistant Professor, Ilam University
I have a similar feeling about the influence of agricultural researches on increasing crop production. I mean the progress is not as good as the past. We see many researches with the same topics with no impact on increasing crop yield. Many people have focused only on publications ignoring the usefulness of their researches in increasing crop yield. I believe that we need new directions in agricultural researches with concentrating more on increasing yield and yield stability to produce and feed increasing population in the future. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 18 days ago Charl du Plessis, Payman Hassibi and 1 other like this
Gul Sanat
Gul Sanat Shah
Plant breeder at PAEC
There are two main reasons for crops yield gapes. First is social and financial which is truly elaborated by Muhammad Sabar. Second is scientific which is elaborated very well by Shirin. In Pakistan, the scientific achievements trend is badly damaged by our so called scientists through HEC by implementing each and every benefit link to only with impact factor. Here no body bothers how you have received impact factor but there should be more impact factor in your hand each year to get productivity allowance. Similarly, in universities, tenure track system (TTS) has destroyed almost real education. Ph.D. allowance is generating Ph.D. holders like weeds and then they act as weeds in scientific community. Thus almost everybody is struggling to get Ph.D. degree for getting allowance. It mean, we have brought practical scientific achievements to an end in our country and kept scientists busy in earning impact factor, TTS and Ph.D. degree. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 18 days ago Mike Netz, Payman Hassibi and 1 other like this
prakash
prakash venkateshgowda
Sr. Scientist at Bioseed Research India a DCM Shriram Ltd. Group
There is clear difference between actual yield and potential yield, the yield projected by breeder or manufacturer of High Yielding Hybrid Seeds (HYHS) when put under real field conditions, the yield depends on where and who is growing (developed /developing country farmer) and the region. During the crop production season, the changes in agroclimatic conditions affects on growth and yield. Ex; In present north India wheat growing regions, due to warm weather unfavorable conditions, the wheat yield is far less than the yield at10 years back. So. may be new breeds from new technology can help to makeup the difference. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 18 days ago Payman Hassibi, Kapil Mohan Sharma like this
Kapil Mohan
Kapil Mohan Sharma
Student at M.Sc.(Horti.) Fruit Science (2013-15) of Navsari Agricultural University
The researchers at the institutional level or the breeder's field are growing the crop at very maintained condition. The vigilance taken on the crop during research was very high compared to what happened in the farmers field. Secondly, the actual practices that the breeder have followed on his/her farm which also contributed in the maintenance of the yield was not known to the farmer, leaving him/her to grab the exact potential of the crop. Even though a consultancy services are provided by many of the companies/institutes regarding their cultivars and the package of practices to be followed, there seems to be a gap between the seed producer and the actual grower. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 17 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
Charl
Charl du Plessis
Fertilizer Consultant and Crop Specialist
"Depend on how potential yield is defined and how actual yield is defined" Trail plots can produce up to 20% more if it is compared to the average yield in the same field/farm. Under these conditions the difference in yield can not be contributed to climate but to in field variation and cultivation practices (timing). By evaluating yield maps high producing fields will show less variation than poor fields.This is not always related to the nutrient status of the soil but more to soil physical properties. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 14 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
Parvaneh
Parvaneh Emami
Master of plant breeding
I think your question is general, every one can answer it in the personal aspect, from politic to breeding, education, soil ...., and all of them can be correct, but as my field Importantly, there was no yield penalty with this gene, maybe recently our protects can't improve the real production, but it dose not mean the end investigation, it means need of incorporation more knowledge for new recourse Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 13 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
Charl
Charl du Plessis
Fertilizer Consultant and Crop Specialist
Parvaneh - Yes I agree but if there are no definition we have to keep on with a meaningless exchange of ideas and perceptions. In practice it is a matter of evaluating the available cultivars if they are not cost effective they will not be accepted by the farmers. As far as plant breeders this is purely up to their own priorities, future goals and the financial implications. Every person should act with responsibility in his own working environment. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 13 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
Parvaneh
Parvaneh Emami
Master of plant breeding
yes, indeed today specialization is unavoidable, but daily, we need more information than before , and this shows imperfect knowledge and maybe need new communication, thanks dear Plessis Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 13 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
Charl
Charl du Plessis
Fertilizer Consultant and Crop Specialist
Parvaneh - I believe a new way of communication will become more important because information needs some interpretation before it become knowledge.This is not always a pure science.Sometimes we need to trust our own interpretation until science come up with an explanation. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 13 days ago Parvaneh Emami, Mehrshad Barary and 1 other like this
Payman Hassibi
Associate professor of Crop Physiology at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz (Jundi Shapur), Iran
Thanking all ِdear participants in the technical discussion. So far this issue has been well explored certainly, but I would like to learn more about practical solutions in developing countries. Delete 12 days ago
Gul Sanat
Gul Sanat Shah
Plant breeder at PAEC
Developing countries have no solution for such problems under current leadership because they have no clear systems due to weak or imposed leadership. The solution is not linked with science but it is purely management and we all know the poor management in developing countries. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 12 days ago Payman Hassibi, Mehrshad Barary like this
Charl
Charl du Plessis
Fertilizer Consultant and Crop Specialist
Gul - we have to accept our working conditions because the farmers income will be determined under these conditions. This is exactly why all the fancy genetics and products will almost ad no value Like Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 11 days ago
R.Easwaramurthy
R.Easwaramurthy [RE]
Agriculturist
It is purely environmental factors,as Wajid put it ,that limit a crop or favour its potential. One must remember that maximising the productivity is the one intention of every farmer whether he is in a developing country or in God's own country,for him every cent in his field is important and every plant is valuable,but a certain parameters he can control and on those stochastic weather factors? He has no chance,and that in fact sometimes widen or narrow the gap of potential and actual yield . Like (1) Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 11 days ago Charl du Plessis likes this
Gul Sanat
Gul Sanat Shah
Plant breeder at PAEC
Dear Charl D. The question is not about accepting our working conditions. The question by Payman H. was to find the practical solution for yield gapes in developing country. My view is that the yield gap in developing countries is not linked to science. As I am plant breeder and certainly will find solution to breeding related matter. But yield gap in developing countries is not due to the unavailability of high yielding genotypes but is purely on farmer side because they are not getting reasonable price for their produce if they use inputs and technology to get high yield of their crop. My view may be easy to understand by those who are working in developing countries and ready to accept reality and involved in applied science. Like Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 10 days ago
R.Easwaramurthy
R.Easwaramurthy [RE]
Agriculturist
Gul Sanat,it is easy to generalise and point finger at farmers.I dont think it is not the case when it comes to crop management.They cannot afford to loose their crops just because the inputs are costly and the practices are laboursome,because crops are for their existence.It is the so called "high yielding genotypes" that behave most errotically with inconcistancy in yields in relations to biotic and abiotic stress. It is unfortunate that the so called many high yielding crops,there is an uncertainty you cannot predict when it becomes sensitive to hot weather,a brief rainy days, a particular pest or disease attack and that is the reality. Like (1) Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 10 days ago Charl du Plessis likes this
Igor
Igor Kostenyuk
Vice President, Research and Development
Dear Participants, let me put my 5 cents in. I've been in Academia plant biology research for nearly 40 years (plant genetics, somatic hybridization, secondary metabolism, postharvest physiology and genetics etc.). Several years ago I've jumped into private industry, bio-energy related. On many-many occasions, I tried to build a bridge between Academia scientists (very good ones, by the way), breeders and actual farmers. From the very start, I was stunned by a huge gap that exists between "lab rat" environment and "live" agriculture. The obvious fact that any plant (either crop variety or medicinal plant, virtually anything) behaves in the open field so much differently compared to greenhouse environment is not well taken by the army of researchers. They create and proudly report in publications and patents "high accumulation/production" of whatever by whatever plant, turns out to be tested ONLY in greenhouse. And never in the open field! And the difference could be about the same as the difference between two biological species. So, field test/research should be a must! Otherwise, so many "open end" potentially very valuable studies are "hanging" out there. Like (2) Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 10 days ago Mehrshad Barary, Charl du Plessis like this
Charl
Charl du Plessis
Fertilizer Consultant and Crop Specialist
Gul Sanat - I will try to explain. I believe that farmers will take a decisions to plant a crop because there is a demand for the end product and because the basic resources are available to cultivate the crop. The price for the product on the farm will be different from the price in the market. Sometimes products are purely planted for own and local consumption with almost no input because it is not available. In most of the cases they do not have the capital available to buy the necessary product necessary for commercial farming (if it is available in their country). The price is determined by the price people are prepared to pay no matter where you are farming. Profit will be determined by the price of the end product minus the input cost and effort. Although we know what to do it is limited by the money available in the economy and the price people are prepared to pay for the end product. In the background of the above reasons I made my remark about accepting the working conditions.To answer the question about practical solutions it will only be possible if people earn more money or work in cities were they become more dependent on food from the farmers. Like Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 10 days ago
Bozena
Bozena Sera
Teacher at University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
There is a summary of book named Contribution to Agricultural Experimentation (in czech language with english abstract for each chapter) Agricultural experimentation is over 173 years old. The basic question is whether our contemporary methods really describe the world around us or if everything is the result of a degree (level) of contemporary knowledge. The strength of experimentation methods is determined by the current level of knowledge in the scientific field. Experiments are often burdened with many errors (sampling, origin of the plants, stress of the environment, light, atmospheric composition). A worker in crop production cannot do without current knowledge of basic ontogenetic stages of plant development and growth phases. Results of experiments and conclusions can be loaded by either ignorance of these issues or by incorrectly prepared experiments. The truth is probably both. The basic aim of the book is in no way a criticism, but an attempt to point out some pitfalls and mistakes of experimental techniques. The presented information is obtained from the literature, from our own and foreign results, and conclusions are also given of the discussions at various conferences (ESA, domestic), where workshops discussed reasons of quite different conclusions from some laboratories that have the same aim, the same material in the same stages of growth and development, but their results are different. Last but not least, there is also a summary of the experiences as well as that of a number of colleagues from various departments in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is a kind of penetration of "sets" of all the comments and opinions, i.e. those with which most participants and discussants always agreed. The publication does not include selected chapters from crop production or of crop physiology; presented chapters are the work of authors who have agreed on that point – frequent experimental errors in practice. Here is possible to find research-type chapters, chapters from your own measurements and data, but also a chapter with the character of texts for agricultural schools. At first glance, it might seem that this book is disparare. Certainly, there are works of various authors, who work in various academic environments, are specialists in various fields, and are used to writing in different styles. The unifying factor is the experimental errors and their subsequent elimination. The growth and developmental phases that are important for the evaluation of important plant characteristics and effects of stress on plants are evaluated. Attention is drawn to the circumstances that cause errors in the field and laboratory experiments, which can lead to hasty or incorrect conclusions. Attention is also focused on the difficulties of measurement and evaluation of selected parameters and crop yield formation, furthermore focusing on the importance of the root system and the properties of seeds that can strongly influence the vegetation and experimental results. In this case, it is still a neglected issue of the integrity of plants on our part. Another goal is to point out the need for measuring important properties of plants in a physiologically correct stage of growth and development, the importance of the properties of seeds for subsequent growth and development, the impact of stress on the seeds’ properties and through the seed traits on the plant properties – especially on the roots, because plant roots are the most sensitive part of plants. Like (1) Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 9 days ago Mehrshad Barary likes this
Ted
Ted Wilson
Professor, Center Director, Jack B. Wendt Endowed Chair at Texas A&M University
Both commercial crop yields and yield potentials measured in experimental plots continue to increase. Over the past 50 years alone, commercial yields of rice in Texas (U.S.) have increased by a rate of about 2.1%/year. Comparable increases have occurred for a number of other crops. The average yield of rice in Texas, where I work, is now in excess of 8,000 lbs (12% moisture)/ac or 9.0 tonnes /ha. However, a few of the best growers achieve yields that exceed 16,000 lbs/ac (18.0 tonnes/ha). In contrast, a number of growers also achieve less than 6,000 lbs/ac (6.7 tonnes/ha). 30 years ago, a 6,000 lb/ac crop was considered to be very good. Increasing costs of inputs result in production costs on average exceeding U.S. $1,000/ac in Texas. For the long haul, smart growers are those who will continue to excel by determining how to tailer management so as to achieve yields that are economical. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 9 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
Ted
Ted Wilson
Professor, Center Director, Jack B. Wendt Endowed Chair at Texas A&M University
Both commercial crop yields and yield potentials measured in experimental plots continue to increase. Over the past 50 years alone, commercial yields of rice in Texas (U.S.) have increased by a rate of about 2.1%/year. Comparable increases have occurred for a number of other crops. The average yield of rice in Texas, where I work, is now in excess of 8,000 lbs (12% moisture)/ac or 9.0 tonnes /ha. However, a few of the best growers achieve yields that exceed 16,000 lbs/ac (18.0 tonnes/ha). In contrast, a number of growers also achieve less than 6,000 lbs/ac (6.7 tonnes/ha). 30 years ago, a 6,000 lb/ac crop was considered to be very good. Increasing costs of inputs result in production costs on average exceeding U.S. $1,000/ac in Texas. For the long haul, smart growers are those who will continue to excel by determining how to tailer management so as to achieve yields that are economical. Unlike Reply privately Flag as inappropriate 9 days ago Payman Hassibi likes this
عضو هیات علمی دانشکده کشاورزی دانشگاه شهید چمران اهواز هستم و این وبلاگ را برای به اشتراک گذاشتن تجربیات شخصی در زمینه علوم زراعت و فیزیولوژی گیاهان زراعی با دانشجویان و دانش پژوهان علاقه مند و همچنین ذکر نکاتی ادبی و اخلاقی برای اشاعه فرهنگ آموزش رایگان برای همه ایرانیان ایجاد کرده ام. مطمئنا این وبلاگ دارای کاستی های فراوانی است که امیدوارم با در نظر گرفتن نظرات ارزشمند شما آن را روز به روز بهبود بخشم.