ABSTRACT
Agronomy is the study of plants, soils and their interactions with each other, as well as with the environment and agro-ecological processes. Agronomy by nature is a crossdisciplinary science that addresses yield stability and exploitable yield gaps through the holistic application of a set of principles that serve to enhance an entire crop production system. These principles are common but specifics of their application can vary with production zone, and whether inputs and potential productivity are high or low. Why is agronomy important? Roughly one-half of crop yield potential is realized through agronomic factors; thus, attainable wheat yield and improved system stability can only be achieved and then exceeded when new genetics are coupled with innovative integrated crop management (ICM) strategies. For example, hybrid maize yields (Zea mays L.) improved over conventional maize only when agronomic factors were modified; thus, management contributed to roughly 50% of realized yield potential (Duvick, 2005). Specific to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), the ‘Green Revolution’ refers to the development of semi-dwarf wheat cultivars; however, yield potential was often not realized and did not become revolutionary until sound agronomic packages were developed (Kirkegaard and Hunt, 2010).
