Analysis of potential yields and yield gaps of rainfed soybean in India using CROPGRO-Soybean model

To assess the scope for enhancing productivity of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), the CROPGRO-Soybean model was calibrated and validated for the diverse soybean-growing environments of central and peninsular India. The validated model was used to estimate potential yields (water non-limiting and water limiting) and yield gaps of soybean for 21 locations representing major soybean regions of India. The average water non-limiting potential yield of soybean for the locations was 3020 kg ha⁻¹, while the water limiting potential was 2170 kg ha⁻¹ indicating a 28% reduction in yield due to adverse soil moisture conditions. As against this, the actual yields of locations averaged 1000 kg ha⁻¹, which was 2020 and 1170 kg ha⁻¹ less than the water non-limiting potential and water limiting potential yields, respectively. Across locations the water non-limiting potential yields were less variable than water limited potential and actual yields, and strongly correlated with solar radiation during the season (R² = 0.83, p ≤ 0.01). Both simulated water limiting potential yield (R² = 0.59, p ≤ 0.01) and actual yield (R² = 0.33, p ≤ 0.05) had significant but positive and curvilinear relationships with crop season rainfall across locations. The gap between water non-limiting and water limiting potential yields was very large at locations with low crop season rainfall and narrowed down at locations with increasing quantity of crop season rainfall. On the other hand, the gap between water limiting potential yield and actual farmers yield was narrow at locations with low crop season rainfall and increased considerably at locations with increasing amounts of rainfall. This yield gap, which reflects the actual yield gap in rainfed environment, is essentially due to non-adoption of improved crop management practices and could be reduced if proper interventions are made. The simulation study suggested that conservation of rainfall and drought resistant varieties in low rainfall regimes; and alleviation of water-logging and use of water-logging tolerant varieties in high rainfall regimes will be the essential components of improved technologies aimed at reducing the yield gaps of soybean. Harvesting of excess rainfall during the season and its subsequent use as supplemental irrigation would further help in increasing crop yields at most locations.