Accurate, early estimation of grain yield is an important skill. Farmers require accurate yield estimates for a number of reasons:
- crop insurance purposes
- delivery estimates
- planning harvest and storage requirements
- cash-flow budgeting
Extensive personal experience is essential for estimating yield at early stages of growth. As crops near maturity, it becomes easier to estimate yield with greater accuracy.
Estimation method
There are many methods available for farmers and others to estimate yield of various crops. Some are straightforward whereas others are more complicated. The method presented here is one that can be undertaken relatively quickly and easily
Steps are as follows:
- Select an area that is representative of the paddock. Using some type of measuring rod or tape, measure out an area of 1m2 and count the number of heads or pods.
- Do this 5 times to get an average of the crop (A)
- Count the number of grains in at least 20 heads or pods and average (B)
- Using Table 1 determine the grain weight for the crop concerned (C)
- Yield in t/ha = (A × B × C) / 10,000
For example, to calculate a wheat yield where:
- Average number of heads/pods per m2 is 220 (A)
- Average number of grains per head/pod is 24 (B)
- Weight of 100 grains of wheat is 3.4g (per Table 1) (C)
Yield in t/ha = (220 × 24 × 3.4) / 10,000 = 1.79
Accuracy of yield estimates depends upon an adequate number of counts being taken so as to get a representative average of the paddock. The yield estimate determined will only be a guide and assumptions made from the estimates contain a degree of uncertainty.
This type of yield estimation is one of the easiest and quickest to complete and should be able to be used in a number of situations on a grain growing property. Grain losses both before and during harvest can be significant and an allowance for 5 to 10% loss should be included in your final calculations.
Table 1. Grain weights expressed as weight per 100 grains.
| Crop type | Weight of 100 grains (in grams) |
|---|
| Canola | 0.4 |
| Wheat | 3.4 |
| Lentils | 3.0 to 5.0 |
| Safflower | 3.8 |
| Oats and triticale | 4 |
| Barley | 4.2 |
| Lupin (narrow leaf) | 16 |
| Chickpea (desi) | 18 |
| Field pea | 20 |
| Lupin (broad leaf) | 30 |
| Chickpea(kabuli) | 40 |
| Faba bean | 50 |
FAQs
The crop yield estimate using the standard formula would be 30 x 24 x 35 x 0.04356 = 1,097 kg/acre if a wheat producer counted 30 heads per foot squared and each head contained 24 seeds, assuming a 1,000-kernel weight of 35 grams.
What is used to measure crop yield? ›
Measurement. The units by which the yield of a crop is usually measured today are kilograms per hectare or bushels per acre. Long-term cereal yields in the United Kingdom were some 500 kg/ha in Medieval times, jumping to 2000 kg/ha in the Industrial Revolution, and jumping again to 8000 kg/ha in the Green Revolution.
How do you forecast crop yield? ›
Quantitative Forecast of Crop Yield
Based on crop weather studies, crop yield forecast models are prepared for estimating yield much before actual harvest of the crops. By use of empirical- statistical models using correlation and regression technique crops yield are forecast on an operational basis for the country.
What is the expected yield of the crop? ›
Potential yield is the anticipated yield for a crop in a given season. These values are large-scale averages of what a farmer should expect in average or good growing conditions. Actual yield is the precise measurement of how much of a crop was harvested from the field.
How do you estimate yield? ›
Estimation method
- Select an area that is representative of the paddock. ...
- Do this 5 times to get an average of the crop (A)
- Count the number of grains in at least 20 heads or pods and average (B)
- Using Table 1 determine the grain weight for the crop concerned (C)
- Yield in t/ha = (A × B × C) / 10,000.
For stocks, yield is calculated as a security's price increase plus dividends, divided by the purchase price.
Which algorithm is best for crop yield prediction? ›
Regression algorithms are commonly used for predicting crop yields because they are simple to understand and easy to implement. These algorithms use a set of inputs (such as weather data, soil data, and management practices) to predict the output (crop yield).
How do you calculate plant yield percentage? ›
The % of yield was calculated by using the following formula: % Yield = W 1 / W 2 × 1 00 where W 1 =The weight of the methanolic extract in grams, W 2 =the weight of the initial dried sample, with minor modification of the standard formula for yield calculation (Anokwuru et al., 2011) .
What is the #1 crop grown in America? ›
The largest United States crop in terms of total production is corn, the majority of which is grown in a region known as the Corn Belt. The second largest crop grown in the United States is soybeans. As with corn, soybeans are primarily grown in the Midwestern states.
What crop has the highest yield per acre? ›
Saffron: The Most Profitable Crop per Acre
Dubbed "red gold", saffron's high market value makes it arguably the most profitable agricultural crop. Though it requires careful cultivation, the potential profits per acre are unmatched, highlighting its viability for small farms looking to maximize their earnings.
United States Corn and Soybean Production
The average yield in the United States was estimated at 173.3 bushels per acre, 3.4 bushels below the 2021 record high yield of 176.7 bushels per acre. Area harvested for grain was estimated at 79.2 million acres, down 7 percent from the 2021 estimate.
What is the formula for measuring yield? ›
To find the yield percent we use the equation: percent yield = actual yield/theoretical yield x 100.
How do you calculate harvest yield? ›
To calculate the harvest yield, divide the weight by the weight per unit, then divide by the number of acres. This provides the harvest yield in units per acre.
What is the formula for yield method? ›
The Earnings Yield Formula
The earnings per share comes from the most recent income statement. We multiply by 100% and report in percentage terms. Earnings Yield = 100% * (earnings per share / market price per share). Earnings Yield = 100% * (1 / PE ratio).
