Soil water and wheat, soybean, and maize yields associated to El Niño Southern Oscilation

Abstract

The objective of this study was to simulate soil water content, and wheat, soybean and maize yields, in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, and link their interannual variability to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The period studied was 1969 to 2003. Soil water content and the yields of wheat, soybean and maize were simulated with models available in the literature. Soil water content was represented by the fraction of transpirable soil water. The results showed that the lowest soil water content in Santa Maria is associated to neutral years and the highest soil water is associated to El Niño events. La Niña years were more favorable to high wheat yield, whereas El Niño years were more favorable to high soybean and maize yields. It was evident that years classified as neutral years in respect to ENSO are riskier to grain yields of soybean and maize crops, which is an important information for planning strategies in agribusiness considering ENSO forecast.