Growth and Yield Data for the Bushland, Texas Maize for Grain Datasets

This dataset consists of growth and yield data for each year when maize (Zea mays, L., also known as corn in the United States) was grown for grain at the USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Laboratory (CPRL), Soil and Water Management Research Unit (SWMRU) research weather station, Bushland, Texas (Lat. 35.186714°, Long. -102.094189°, elevation 1170 m above MSL). Maize was grown for grain on four large, precision weighing lysimeters, each in the center of a 4.44 ha square field. The four square fields are themselves arranged in a larger square with the fields in four adjacent quadrants of the larger square. Fields and lysimeters within each field are thus designated northeast (NE), southeast (SE), northwest (NW), and southwest (SW). Irrigation was by linear move sprinkler system in 1989, 1990, and 1994. In 2013, 2016, and 2018, two lysimeters and their respective fields (NE and SE) were irrigated using subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), and two lysimeters and their respective fields (NW and SW) were irrigated by a linear move sprinkler system. Irrigations were managed to replenish soil water used by the crop on a weekly or more frequent basis as determined by soil profile water content readings made with a neutron probe to 2.4-m depth in the field. The growth and yield data include plant population density, height, plant row width, leaf area index, growth stage, total above-ground biomass, leaf and stem biomass, ear mass (when present), kernel number, and final yield. Data are from replicate samples in the field and non-destructive (except for final harvest) measurements on the weighing lysimeters. In most cases yield data are available from both manual sampling on replicate plots in each field and from machine harvest. These datasets originate from research aimed at determining crop water use (ET), crop coefficients for use in ET-based irrigation scheduling based on a reference ET, crop growth, yield, harvest index, and crop water productivity as affected by irrigation method, timing, amount (full or some degree of deficit), agronomic practices, cultivar, and weather. Prior publications have focused on maize ET, crop coefficients, and crop water productivity. Crop coefficients have been used by ET networks. The data have utility for testing simulation models of crop ET, growth, and yield and have been used by the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP), by OPENET, and by many others for testing, and calibrating models of ET that use satellite and/or weather data.

Resources in this dataset:

• Resource Title: 1989 Bushland, TX, east maize growth and yield data. File Name: 1989_East_Maize_Growth_and_Yield(ADC).xlsx. Resource Description: This dataset consists of growth and yield data for one of the seasons when maize was grown for grain at the USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Laboratory (CPRL), Soil and Water Management Research Unit (SWMRU) research weather station, Bushland, Texas (Lat. 35.186714°, Long. -102.094189°, elevation 1170 m above MSL). Maize was grown for grain on four large, precision weighing lysimeters, each in the center of a 4.44 ha square field. The four square fields are themselves arranged in a larger square with the fields in four adjacent quadrants of the larger square. Fields and lysimeters within each field are thus designated northeast (NE), southeast (SE), northwest (NW), and southwest (SW). Irrigation was by linear move sprinkler system in 1989, 1990, and 1994. In 2013, 2016, and 2018, two lysimeters and their respective fields (NE and SE) were irrigated using subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), and two lysimeters and their respective fields (NW and SW) were irrigated by a linear move sprinkler system. Irrigations were managed to replenish soil water used by the crop on a weekly or more frequent basis as determined by soil profile water content readings made with a neutron probe to 2.4-m depth in the field. The growth and yield data include plant population density, height, plant row width, leaf area index, growth stage, total above-ground biomass, leaf and stem biomass, ear mass (when present), kernel number, and final yield. Data are from replicate samples in the field and non-destructive (except for final harvest) measurements on the weighing lysimeters. In most cases yield data are available from both manual sampling on replicate plots in each field and from machine harvest. There are separate spreadsheets for the east (NE and SE) lysimeters and fields, and for the west (NW and SW) lysimeters and fields. The spreadsheets contain tabs for data and corresponding tabs for data dictionaries. Typically there are separate data tabs and corresponding dictionaries for plant growth during the season, crop growth stage, plant population, manual harvest from replicate plots in each field and from lysimeter surfaces, and machine (combine) harvest, An Introduction tab explains the tab names and contents, lists the authors, explains conventions, and lists some relevant references.
• Resource Title: 1990 Bushland, TX, east maize growth and yield data. File Name: 1990_East_Maize_Growth_and_Yield(ADC).xlsx. Resource Description: As above for 1990 East.
• Resource Title: 1994 Bushland, TX, east maize growth and yield data. File Name: 1994_East_Maize_Growth_and_Yield(ADC).xlsx. Resource Description: As above for 1994 East.
• Resource Title: 1994 Bushland, TX, west maize growth and yield data. File Name: 1994_West_Maize_Growth_and_Yield(ADC).xlsx. Resource Description: As above for 1994 West.
• Resource Title: 2013 Bushland, TX, west maize growth and yield data. File Name: 2013_West_Maize_Growth_and_Yield(ADC).xlsx. Resource Description: As above for 2013 West.
• Resource Title: 2016 Bushland, TX, east maize growth and yield data. File Name: 2016_East_Maize_Growth_and_Yield(ADC).xlsx. Resource Description: As above for 2016 East.
• Resource Title: 2016 Bushland, TX, west maize growth and yield data. File Name: 2016_West_Maize_Growth_and_Yield(ADC).xlsx. Resource Description: As above for 2016 West.
• Resource Title: 2018 Bushland, TX, west maize growth and yield data. File Name: 2018_West_Maize_Growth_and_Yield(ADC).xlsx. Resource Description: As above for 2018 West.
• Resource Title: 2013 Bushland, TX, east maize growth and yield data. File Name: 2013_East_Maize_Growth_and_Yield(ADC).xlsx. Resource Description: As above for 2013 East.
• Resource Title: 2018 Bushland, TX, east maize growth and yield data. File Name: 2018_East_Maize_Growth_and_Yield(ADC).xlsx. Resource Description: As above for 2018 East.