Study Shows Wheat Breeding Programs Increased Yields

To quantify the impact of genetic improvement in wheat, disease and climate change over a 26-year period, a team of Kansas State University (KSU) researchers examined wheat variety yield data from Kansas performance tests, along with location-specific weather and disease data. Their study showed that from 1985 through 2011, wheat breeding programs boosted average wheat yields by 13 bushels per acre, or 0.51 bushel each year, for a total increase of 26 percent. Simulations also found that a 1 degree Celsius increase (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in projected mean temperature was found to decrease wheat yields by 10.64 bushels per acre or nearly 21 percent.

The study is the first to quantify all impacts (climate change, disease and genetic improvement) using a unique data set, and state-of-the-art statistical methods. The results gave an update and expand previous research to identify and quantify the impact of the Kansas wheat breeding program.

For more details about this study, read the KSU news release available at: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/news/story/wheat_research090313.aspx.