Yield GAP Analysis In Soybean Production

Abstract

In the process of determining yield gap in soybean production, two types of experiments were conducted. The trials conducted at a research station in which Kamphaeng Saen was used as a site, simultaneousely an on farm trials were conducted in the farmer’s field at Banpong district of Ratchaburi Province. Prior to performing the experiment conducted, site selection and agro-ecological analysis of the target area were done and recorded. The results of the study indicated that potential possibilities of growing soybeans at Banpong was high. This is due to the fact that in research managed trials conducted at Kamplaeng saen and Banpong, the yield of soybean were 2.04 and 1.61 ton/ha were obtained, respectively, whereas the average farmers yield was 1.03 ton/ha. Yield gap between the trials conducted at Kamplaeng saen and Banpong indicated the effect of environmental conditions which differed between the experimental station and in the farmer’s field. Likewise, the fifferent in yield between the research trial and farmers field at Banpong indicated that socio-economic constraints prevailed in soybean production. Due to the competitiveness of cropping system at Banpong, farmers give priority to the main staple crop such as rice, sugar cane and vegetables which they are more familiar with.