Maize and Climate...

Maize yield is highly influenced by environmental factors, especially by increasing average temperature and the uneven distribution of rainfall during the growing season

Studying the relationship between maize yield and these two climatic factors, namely rainfall and average temperature with many maize varieties shows significant impact of average temperature and rainfall on maize yield.

The average temperatures during the grain-filling period and the rainfall during sowing through to anthesis are the dominant climatic factors which account for over 90% of the annual variability of maize yield.

Understanding the challenges associated with variation in rainfall and average temperature at specific phenological stages in maize is essential for efficient management of this crop. We cannot control the weather but we can manage our crops to make best use of what we are given.