4 unusual ways of improving crop yield through metrics

Each and every year, growers are expected to increase crop yield, to cater to a growing population. This also needs to be good quality food, that is profitable for the farm. The usual metrics used to understand crop productivity, are good indicators for estimating future yields to a certain extent. The main issue is that they do not take variable factors into account, therefore you could see no increase, or even a decrease in crop yield compared to the previous year. With factors such as sustainability, and global warming, some crops won’t be able to grow without assistance. 

What should be measured as well as the key metrics? 

Drought tolerance 

The ability of the crop to survive and produce a yield under drought conditions; drought stress can be inferred through measurements of plant water status. Measurement such as leaf water potential, stem water potential, or xylem water potential. Remote sensing techniques, such as Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI, can be used to detect changes in crop canopy structure and greenness that can indicate drought stress. 

Adaptability 

Some crops are able to withstand extreme heat or cold, while others are more sensitive. Other crops can grow in the most nutrient sparse soil. Knowing how adaptable your crops are, will help save money on adding additional chemicals to the soil. This can be measured through field trials and monitoring crop growth and yield under different temperature regimes. 

Harvest index 

The harvest index is a measure of the efficiency with which a crop converts solar energy into biomass. It is calculated as the ratio of above-ground biomass, to the total above-ground plus below-ground biomass. The harvest index is typically expressed as a percentage and ranges from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating greater efficiency of conversion. A harvest index of 0.45, for example, would indicate that 45% of the total biomass produced by a crop is above-ground and 55% is below-ground. 

Nutrient use efficiency 

Crops with high nutritional value and adaptability to different ecological conditions, such as soil and climate, will be a better option for most. Nutrient use efficiency is a measure of how effectively a plant uses the nutrients available to it. There are various factors that can affect both crop yield and nutrient use efficiency, including genetics, weather, soil conditions, and management practices. Improving nutrient use efficiency can reduce costs and environmental impacts associated with fertilisation.