Dj. Stephens et Tj. Lyons, RAINFALL-YIELD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE AUSTRALIAN WHEAT-BELT, Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 49(2), 1998, pp. 211-223
A network of rainfall stations was selected across the Australian whea
tbelt and monthly rainfall regressed with wheat yields from the surrou
nding shires for the period 1976-87. Yields were found to be strongly
related to fluctuations in total rainfall amount and the seasonal dist
ribution of rainfall through the year. These temporal relationships va
ry spatially and appear to be regulated by the water-holding capacity
of regional soils. Sixteen agrometeorological zones were defined with
similar rainfall-yield relationships. In all these, autumn rains that
permit an early sowing, and finishing rains after July, are most impor
tant for higher yields. As the rainfall distribution becomes more wint
er-dominant, both crop yield variability and the usefulness of high wi
nter rainfall decreases. Heavy rainfall in the month after sowing can
have a negative effect in southern Australia, as plants are more prone
to suffer potential yield losses from a wet soil profile. Waterloggin
g has a large negative effect in the south-west of Western Australia,
such that the rainfall distribution can be more important than the rai
nfall amount. Rainfall-yield correlations are generally more positive
in drier regions, and are enhanced by persistent rainfall anomalies be
tween April and November during El Nino Southern Oscillation years.