While top South African competition growers smash records with yields roughly 10 tonnes per hectare higher than local averages, many producers fall far short of their seed’s true potential. Nico Barnard, an agronomist at Pannar Seed, explains how growers can bridge this massive yield gap by protecting crop potential through targeted timing and execution.
The yield gap is the difference between a crop’s full genetic capability and what is ultimately harvested. Every season, growers start with maximum potential, but unaddressed limitations continuously erode that promise.
Unlocking higher performance relies on optimising existing management practices, from soil conditions to field operations, rather than simply trying to outspend agronomic problems.
Higher input expenditure does not automatically translate into a heavier harvest. Adding more fertiliser or increasing plant populations often fails to fix underlying restrictions like soil compaction or poor root volume.
“Farmers should optimise what they already have before adding more inputs. For example, if poor establishment is caused by soil compaction, placing more fertiliser in the field may not solve the underlying problem because the plants’ roots may still struggle to access moisture and nutrients,” Barnard explains.
Rather than relying on heavier applications, he advises that real value comes from precise input placement, timely weed control, and removing physical soil barriers so root systems can effectively draw up applied nutrients.
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Protecting critical yield determination windows
Barnard says maize yield is built progressively across four key pillars: plant population, ear count, kernel count per ear, and final kernel mass.
Essential ear characteristics are locked in early – row numbers are fixed by approximately the V5 growth stage, and kernels per row are determined by V12 – long before ears are visible in the field.
When environmental stress or nutrient deficiencies hit during kernel development, the plant limits its energy load through kernel abortion. Because roughly one-third of total crop dry weight is deposited during the final 30 days before physiological maturity, late-season management remains just as vital.
Protecting healthy leaf area against disease and maintaining active photosynthesis through grain filling safeguards final kernel mass, ensuring the crop finishes strong.
Prioritising uniform crop establishment
Achieving an even, uniform stand from day one is non-negotiable, as early-season losses can never be recovered later in the cycle.
“Every missing, weak or late-emerging plant can reduce the crop’s ability to achieve its potential,” Barnard cautions. “Good establishment begins with quality seed, but it also depends on creating favourable and uniform conditions for germination and emergence.”
Narrowing the yield gap starts with identifying the specific factors limiting production on individual fields. By making targeted, step-by-step operational adjustments rather than rushing to overhaul everything at once, producers can consistently protect yield potential and secure higher returns.
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