Effect of precipitation on wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays), and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) yields in the district of Szentes

Hungary's three most important arable crops are wheat, maize, and sunflower. These crops have the largest area under cultivation. In our study, we compared the average yields of a 200-ha farm on the outskirts of Szentes city with variations in rainfall conditions. We have shown that the amount of rainfall during the growing season affected the yield averages of wheat and maize and their prices on the world market. Yields of drought-sensitive maize, which prefers humid conditions, were most dependent on rainfall. However, rainfall also proved to be a significant factor in wheat yield averages. Sunflower yield averages did not correlate with rainfall, which may be because water demand is highly dependent on the phenological stage. Therefore, a good rainfall distribution over time is also important for this crop. Changes in rainfall patterns due to climate change do not favor any crop. This is because climate change is reflected in a linear trend in annual rainfall amounts and greater rainfall variability over time and space.