This document analyzes wheat yield gaps in Central Asia through case studies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It finds that irrigated wheat yields could be increased 1.5 times through optimal irrigation and nitrogen application. Rainfed wheat yields could increase 1.6 times through early sowing, supplementary irrigation, busy fallow periods, crop residue retention, water harvesting, and optimal nitrogen application. Closing yield gaps requires improved varieties, crop rotations, optimal sowing dates, leaching to control salinity, and applying nitrogen after rainfall.
Central Asia wheat yield gaps reduced through improved practices
1. Assessment of wheat yield
gap in Central Asia
Case studies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
Bogachan Benli, Aziz Nurbekov, Tulkun Yuldashev and
Ram Sharma
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas
CentralAsiaClimateSmartAgricultureWorkshop,12-14July2016,Bishkek,Kyrgyzstan
5. Wheat Yields in Central Asia
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
kg/ha
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Source: FAO STATS, 2014
6. Questions
1. What are the improved soil, crop and
water management practices to
sustainably meet the increasing
demand?
2. What are the yield gaps of wheat crop
in Central Asia
8. Methodology - Selected sites
Country Province Site
Kazakhstan Kyzylordinskaya Shieli
Kazakhstan Kustanayskaya Kustanay
Kazakhstan Sever-Kazakhstanskay Astana
Kazakhstan North Kazakhstan Petropavlovsk
Kazakhstan Atyrauskaya Makat
Kazakhstan Jambylslkaya Sarysu
Kazakhstan Yujno-kazachstanskaya Suzak
Kazakhstan Vostochno-kazachstanskaya Zaysan
Kazakhstan Zapadno-kazachstanskaya Zelyenov
Kazakhstan Severo-kazachstanskaya Bulayev
Kazakhstan Almatinskaya Raimbek
Kyrgyzstan Chui valley Alamudun
Tajikistan Bokhtar Khatlon provinve
Uzbekistan Syrdarya province Akaltyn
Uzbekistan Khorezm province Urgench
Uzbekistan Karakalpakstan Chimbay district
Uzbekistan Bukhara Peshku district
Uzbekistan Bukhara Karakul district
9. Methodology – Activities
Farmers Yield
Survey, National Agricultural
Research Centers (1991-2015)
Research Yield
Review of Existing Studies
Potential Yield
CropSyst (Crop, soil and
irrigation management)
Identification of the
causes of gaps
Management
options to reduce
the gaps
10. Model Calibration and validation
0
4
8
12
16
0 4 8 12 16
AGB
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
0
2
4
6
8
0 2 4 6 8
Yield
0
50
100
150
200
0 50 100 150 200
N-uptake
• CropSyst Model
• 2005-2008 (3 years data)
• Amir Temur Farmer’s
Association (101m asl),
Urgench, Uzbekistan
• Effect of water and
nitrogen fertilizer use on
winter wheat
11. Irrigated High Salinity – Kyrgyzstan Bishkek - Daniyar
-
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
Farmers Yield
(Kg/ha)
Research Results
(Kg/ha)
Potential Yield
(Kg/ha)
2007-08 2008-09
Farmers yield
Research results – 47%
Potential yield – 181%
Yield
Gap
Farmers Practices
• Planting date: Sep -Dec; Mainly Cotton & Wheat Rotation
• Salinity problems
• Inefficiency with Irrigation, Fertilizer, Herbicide Rate
Research Results (Sommer et al, 2013)- 115 mm of IRR and N90&P60
Optimum IRR (180 – 270 mm) and N90 application
12. Irrigated Medium Salinity – Uzbekistan Khorezm
-
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
Farmers Yield (Kg/ha) Research Results (Kg/ha) Potential Yield (Kg/ha)
2005-06 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
Farmers yield
Research results – 7%
Potential yield – 39%
Yield
Gap
Farmers Practices
• Planting date: Sep -Dec; Mainly Cotton & Wheat Rotation
• No Land levelling
• Hydro Module Zone Approach in Irrigation
Research Results (Ibrohimov et al, 2009)- 600 mm of IRR and N240
Optimum IRR (250 – 275 mm. And 240kg N application)
13. Irrigated Low Salinity – Uzbekistan Bukhara Peshku
-
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
Farmers Yield (Kg/ha) Research Results (Kg/ha) Potential Yield (Kg/ha)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
Farmers yield
Research results – 44%
Yield
Gap
Farmers yield
Research results – 19%
Potential yield – 30%
Farmers Practices
• Planting date: Sep -Dec; Mainly Cotton & Wheat Rotation
• No Land levelling
• Hydro Module Zone Approach in Irrigation
Research Results (Anvar, 2010)- 300 mm of IRR and N300
Optimum IRR (200-340 mm) and N333 application
14. Rainfed High Salinity – Tajikistan Bokhtar Khatlon
-
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
Farmers Yield (Kg/ha) Research Results (Kg/ha) Potential Yield (Kg/ha)
2007-08 2008-09
Yield
GapFarmers yield
Research results – 110%
Potential yield – 152%
Farmers Practices
• Drought and salt tolerant varieties are missing
• Low efficiency in fertilizer application
• Salinity problems
Research Results (Sommer et al, 2013)- 80 mm IRR at sowing (November)
Early sowing (October) + 50 mm IRR & 50 mm at flower
15. Rainfed Medium Salinity – Kazakhstan Atyrauskaya Makat
Farmers Practices
• Wheat – Fallow rotation
• Planting date is ranging one month (May-June)
• Low fertilizer and herbicide applications
• Drought tolerant varieties are missing
• Low efficiency in tillage operations
Research Results (Aybatsha and Tsigankov V.I. 2009)-(Planting in May + P150)
Early sowing + 50 mm IRR + Optimum N30 application
Busy Fallow &Water Harvesting & No till & Crop Residues
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
Farmers Yield (Kg/ha) Research Results (Kg/ha) Potential Yield (Kg/ha)
1999 2000 2001
Farmers yield
Research results – 53%
Potential yield – 159%
Yield
Gap
16. Rainfed Low Salinity – Kazakhstan Vostochno Zaysan
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
Farmers Yield (Kg/ha) Research Results (Kg/ha) Potential Yield (Kg/ha)
2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003
Farmers yield
Research results – 16%
Potential yield – 49%
Farmers Practices
• Wheat – Fallow rotation
• Drought tolerant varieties are missing
• Low efficiency in tillage operations
Research Results (Iorganskiy A.I., 2008)-(Planting in May + Tillage)
Early sowing + 50 mm IRR + N30 application
Busy Fallow &Water Harvesting & No till & Crop Residues
Farmers yield
Research results – 16%
Potential yield – 100%
Yield
Gap
17. Conclusion
Irrigated Sites
1.5 times yield increase
Optimum irrigation and
Nitrogen application
In salinized areas GW
intrusion is causing the
secondary salinization
problem
• Residue retention or mulching
• Crop rotation with alfalfa,
second harvest mungbean
• Optimum leaching rates
• Improved varieties would
increase yields more
Rainfed Sites
1.6 times yield increase
Early sowing, supplementary
irrigation at sowing (50mm)
and/or flowering & busy
fallow & crop residue & water
harvesting. Optimum
Nitrogen application
• Improved varieties
• Crop rotation
• Optimum sowing date
• Nitrogen application right after
rainfall