ABSTRACT
As noted by Evans and Fischer (1999, p. 1544) yield potential (YP) has been “a much used but elusive concept.” Yield potential (YP) or potential constraint free crop yield is defined by Evans (1993). It is equivalent to the terms yielding capacity (Bingham, 1967) and yielding ability (Mac Key, 1979), widely used in the 1960s. Yield potential is higher than the maximum yield (MY) or potential yield, the highest possible yield obtainable with ideal management and nutrient, which is associated with specific soil and weather conditions that can change (see Figure 15.1). The term potential yield has been often used synonymously for yield potential. Evans and Fischer (1999), however, suggested keeping this term for the maximum yield that could be reached in a given environment. Observed yield or realized yield (Bingham, 1967) can concern station yield, one-farm trial yield, or farm or parcel average yield.
