Patricio Grassini
faculty
- Professor Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- Prfsp/Sunkist Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Work
402-472-5554
On campus, dial 2-5554
Meeting demand for food, feed, fiber, and fuel in a world with a population of 9.8 billion people by 2050, without negative environmental impact or unsustainable use of natural resources, is one of the greatest scientific challenges of our time. Sustainable crop intensification on existing cropland area is therefore crucial to meet increasing food demand and relieve the pressure on cropland expansion. My research and extension programs focus on narrowing the existing yield gap between potential yields and current farm yields, while improving resource-use efficiency and producer profit and minimizing environmental footprint. In accomplishing the foregoing, my program leverages from expertise on crop modeling, spatial analysis, big data, and hypothesis-driven field experiments to benchmark productivity and environmental footprint of crop systems and to identify opportunities for improving both. My program aligns with the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) goals relative to address priority issues facing agriculture and food industries in Nebraska and globally, provide the knowledge base essential for managing our natural resources, promote family well-being and community development, and educate future scientists. My research promoting sustainable crop intensification goes beyond Nebraska and USA, including cropping systems in South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South-East Asia. A major on-going project is to develop a Global Yield Gap Atlas that provides estimates of gaps between actual and potential yield for major cropping systems. Another major initiative is a four-year project working with smallholder oil palm farmers in Indonesia. I also lead a project on yield corn forecasting that provides real-time estimates of corn yield potential for the entire US Corn Belt region.
icon-academic-capEducation
- Ph D, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2010
- BS, University of Buenos Aires, 2005
icon-documentPublications and Other Intellectual Contributions
- Beyond the plot: Technology extrapolation domains for scaling out agronomic science., Environmental Research Letters , April (2nd Quarter/Spring) 2018
- Fostering a climate-smart intensification for oil palm, NATURE SUSTAINABILITY, April (2nd Quarter/Spring) 2021
- Sustainable intensification for a larger global rice bowl, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, December 2021
- Luck versus Skill: Is Nitrogen Balance in Irrigated Maize Fields Driven by Persistent or Random Factors?, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, July (3rd Quarter/Summer) 2021
icon-bookmark-starAwards & Honors
- Listed in the 2021 List of Highly Cited Researchers (top 1% in the discipline and year in the world), Web of Science Group, 2021
- W.L. Nelson Award for Diagnosing Yield-Limiting Factors, Agronomy Society of America , 2020
- American Society of Agronomy (ASA) Early Career Award , Agronomy Society of America, 2016
- Omtvedt Innovation Award, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2021
- Junior Faculty Excellence in Research, UNL-ARD, 2015
- Fulbright Scholarship, Fulbright Commission in Argentina, 2007
Rotation Impact on Irrigated Corn and Soybean Yields in Nebraska
February 23, 2017
On most Nebraska rainfed farms, soybean and corn are usually rotated. On irrigated fields, however, the rotation sequence tends to shift to more years of corn between soybean, and in some cases, corn is grown continuously, year-after-year.
Cutting Costs Without Hurting Yields? Check Fertilizer N Rates in Corn after Alfalfa
February 22, 2017
With tight crop margins for the 2017 growing season, many farmers are looking for ways to cut input costs without hurting yields. One way to do this is by giving the appropriate nitrogen credit when calculating how much N to apply to corn grown after a prior alfalfa crop.
Harvest 2016 — When Corn Yields are Below Expectations
October 14, 2016
A review of 2016 growing conditions across Nebraska sheds light on a number of factors that may have contributed to reduced yield in individual fields. An understanding of these factors may be helpful when selecting seed for 2017.
Help Us Identify Yield-Limiting Factors in Nebraska Soybean Fields
October 5, 2016
Nebraska soybean producers are being asked to answer a survey about their soybean fields and contribute to a benchmark study of current soybean production in Nebraska. Researchers from 10 north central states, including Nebraska, are collecting the data to identify factors that may be impeding growers from reaching full yield. See what they've learned in the first two years of the study and how they hope to use the information.
Yield Forecast Center Predicts Corn Yields Well Below USDA-NASS Projections
September 22, 2016
End-of-season yield forecasts for irrigated and dryland corn across eight states in the Corn Belt indicate above average yields for 2016, but not the record-breaking yields predicted by USDA in their September forecast. While two states are forecast to have yields below the 10-year average (-1% to -4%), the remaining states showed above average yields ranging from 1% to 21% above the 10-year average.
Corn Yield Forecasts as of Sept. 7
September 8, 2016
The Sept. 7 corn yield forecasts show a majority of the irrigated sites expected to produce above normal, but not record-breaking yields. Forecasted yields for rainfed sites are more variable, although most are expected to be near normal. Above average yields are expected for 11 of the 37 sites studied and below-normal yields are forecast for five sites.
Corn Yield Forecasts for Aug. 24, Including State Forecasts
August 25, 2016
August 24 corn yield forecasts for 41 sites across the Corn Belt showed many near or above average. At Nebraska rainfed corn sites there is a high probability (>75%) of above-average yield at the North Platte and central east sites and a high probability (>75%) of below-average yield at the southwestern and southeastern Nebraska sites (McCook, Clay Center, and Beatrice). In irrigated corn there was a high probability of near or above average yields for all except the Beatrice site. See the story for data tables and discussion.
2016 Corn Yield Forecasts as of Aug. 10
August 11, 2016
Simulations of 2016 end-of-season corn yield potential for 41 sites indicate high probability of near or above-average yields in irrigated fields, but much more variability across the Corn Belt for rainfed fields. Several sites in southern and northeast Nebraska and in Iowa show a higher probability of below average yields. The article includes yield forecasts for each site, along with conditions for the period contributing to the forecasts.