Spatial Analysis of Yield Gaps Variability of Black Gram Based on GIS and Geostatistics

• Published in: International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 77 - 82
• Main Authors: OO, HTAY HTAY, OO, KHIN MAR
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation, Research Center 2021
• Subjects: black gram; mapping; potential yield; spatial; yield gap
• ISSN: 2185-159X; 2433-3700
• DOI: 10.32115/ijerd.12.2_77

Black gram, a pulse, is one of the major export crops in Myanmar. Because of a decline in the maximum possible yield of this crop in farmers’ fields, a yield gap exists between potential and farmers’ actual yields. Reducing the gap between actual and potential yields is critical for increasing crop production. This study was carried out to generate yield gap mapping, and to investigate the reasons responsible for this yield gap in black gram production. An annual survey was carried out to determine farmers’ actual yield at Kyee Inn Village, Pyinmana Township during October 2017 and 2018. Drone photos were consolidated and prepared for digitizing and analyzed with Pix4D software. ArcGIS 10.7 software was used to map the spatial distribution of the yield gap of black gram in the selected area. Yield gaps of black gram with a range of 0.02 t ha-1 to 2.70 t ha-1 in the two consecutive years were observed. The yield gap between potential and farmers’ actual yields (Yield Gap I) was greater in 2018 compared to the 2017 season. The gap between the yield obtained through an organized farm trials and the yield harvested by the farmers (Yield Gap II) was also larger in 2018 than that for the 2017 crop season. A technology gap for the variety Yezin- 6 (0.68 t ha-1) was observed in 2018 whereas there were no gaps for Yezin-2 and Yezin-5 in 2017 and non for these varieties in the 2018 post-monsoon season. The reasons these large yield gaps may exist, is probably due to differences in crop management practices used at the experimental stations and those by farmers. The results of this study should provide useful information for policymakers, researchers, extension agents, and other stakeholders to upgrade a location-specific package of practices and increase crop yield by supporting technological solutions and training for the farmers.