Abstract

Understanding crop yield formation is important for agronomists to make a contribution to improved crop
management. An analytical procedure, referred to here as Sp-method, is presented as a way to evaluate
alternative ways to achieve yield advances, based on ecological theory and using regression techniques. The
rationale of Sp-method is that the crop yield is the result of genetic potential performance under ecological
pressure within field environments. Yield and its components are expressed as mathematical equations
representing interacting ecological and management factors. Partial differentials of yield components and
gradients for the factors assessed reveal which management tactics can best be exploited for higher crop yield.
The application of this routine is illustrated with two examples, and some directions are pointed out for better
applying and improving this method.

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