Influence of Precipitation, Temperature, and 56 Years on Winter Wheat Yields in Western Kansas

Historical wheat yield ( Triticum aestivum L.) trends and response to environmental and climatic conditions may help estimate future yields and evaluate past improvement. Data were compiled across four Kansas State University Research and Extension experiment stations in western Kansas (Colby, Garden City, Hays, and Tribune) from 1955 to 2010. Across all of western Kansas, yields increased 0.5 bu/acre per year. At Colby and Hays dryland yields increased 0.8 bu/acre per year, and at Garden City and Tribune dryland yields increased 0.3 bu/acre per year. Irrigation increased yields 18 bu/acre, and freeze damage reduced yields 8 bu/acre. Warm fall (October‐November), early spring (April), and June temperatures tended to reduce yield, whereas warm late spring (May) temperatures tended to increase yield. In dryland, increased precipitation in months prior to May (October‐April) increased yield. Dryland yield was often affected more by fall stand establishment and spring freeze damage than agronomic and crop breeding improvements across the time period. Irrigated wheat was not as affected by environmental conditions as dryland wheat, and was only affected by temperature. Future wheat breeding and cropping systems research should work to improve heat stress, drought tolerance, fall stand establishment, and minimizing spring freeze injury.