Summary

Maize is widespread crop on arable lands in Croatia. In the last 5-y period (1998-2002) it was grown on 393,000 ha annually.  Maize yield variations among years are cosiderable (1996-2002: from 3.93 to 5.88 t ha-1) and they are mainly influenced by precipitation regime during individual growing season. The eastern Croatia occupies about 20% of the state territory but about 50% of total maize harvested area is situated in this region. Aim of this study was testing connection between precipitation regime and maize yields in individual growing seasons as well as testing yield differences among different parts of the region. The data of State Bureau for Statistics and the State Bureau for Hydrometeorology were used. In general, lower maize yields are in connection with precipitation shortage, whereas yield differences among different parts of the region are mainly influenced by soil properties. Mean maize yield in three more favorable years (1982, 1984 and 1986) in the region was 6.69 t ha-1, whereas in three less favorable years (1978, 1980 and 1988.) it was 5.11 t ha-1 or 24% lower. Precipitation for the 4-months period (May-August: means for Vukovar, Osijek, D. Miholjac and P. Slatina) were higher in favorable years (285 and 237 mm, respectively). Especially more precipitation was in July  (65 and 40 mm, respectively). Also, maize yields are higher in the eastern part of the region in comparison with its western part. For example, in the 1961-1990 it was 6.00 and 4.14 t ha-1 (or 30% lower) for the municipality Vukovar and P. Slatina, respectively. Drought stress was man reason for low maize yield in Croatia for 2000 (3,93 t ha-1 or 34% lower in comparison with four previous years). Precipitation in Osijek for the period May-August was 107 mm or only 40% in comparison with 30-y mean. Under these conditions, yield differences among different part of the region were low (for example 4.72 t ha-1 and 4.30 t ha-1 for Vukovar-Sirmium and Virovitica-Podravina county). This phenomenon  is possible to explain by better migration of underground water to root  zone in compacted soils of the less fertile soils in the western part of the region in comparison with more aerated soils prevailing in its eastern part.

           Key words: maize, precipitation regime, soil properties, the eastern Croatia, grain yield .