Ecological correlates of crop yield growth and interannual yield variation at a global scale

GLEISER, G; LEME DA CUNHA, N.; SÁEZ, A.; AIZEN, M.A.

Web Ecology

Copernicus GmbH

Año: 2021 vol. 21 p. 15 - 43

1399-1183

Artificial selection and genetic engineering plus an expanding repertoire and use of agrochemicalinputs have allowed a rapid and continuous increase in crop yield (i.e., volume production per unit area) overthe last century, which is needed to fulfill food demands from a growing human population. However, the firstsigns of yield deceleration and stagnation have already been reported for some globally important crops. Therefore,the study of the drivers of yield growth and its variation is essential for directing research and policiesaiming at ensuring food security in the forthcoming years. We used data on mean and variability in annual yieldgrowth for 107 globally important crops to assess the role of environmental (i.e., climatic region) and plant intrinsictraits (i.e., type of harvested organ, pollinator dependence, and life form) as drivers of change in yieldgrowth and its stability. We applied a comparative approach to control for biases associated with phylogeneticnon-independence among crops, an approach rarely used in agronomic studies. Average yield growth and itsvariation were not phylogenetically structured. Yield growth decreased with increasing pollinator dependencein tree crops but not in herbaceous and shrubby crops. Interannual yield variation tended to increase with increasingpollinator dependence, and it was higher in crops from temperate regions, in those cultivated for theirreproductive organs, and in tree and shrubby crops as compared with herbaceous ones. Information on ecologicalcorrelates of crop yield growth and interannual yield variation can be used in the design of more sustainable anddiversified agriculture schemes.