Maize is the first-ranged field crop in Serbia and Croatia (harvested area status in the 1996-2007 decade period: 1264000 ha and 296000 ha, for Serbia and Croatia, respectively). Aim of this study was testing maize yield variations over the years in Serbia (Kragujevac and Zajecar regions = KGr and ZJr) and Croatia (Osijek–Barannya and Zagreb Counties = OBc and ZGc) with emphasis on precipitation and temperature regime impacts. Weather characteristics of two growing seasons (2000 as less favourable year or LFY and 2005 and more favourable year or MFY: comparison data of Kragujevac = KG and Osijek = OS Weather Bureaus) could be used as a typical examples of precipitation and temperature regime influences on maize yields under middle and eastern European environmental conditions. Precipitation for three months (June–August) period of LFY 2000 was in KG 71 mm or only 35% of long-term mean (LTM) and in OS 78 mm or 37% of LTM. At the same time, air–temperatures were 22.9 0 C (KG) and 22.6 0 C (OS) or 2.5 0 C (KG) and 2.3 0 C (OS) higher in comparison with LTM. As result of water shortage and high temperatures stresses, maize yields in tested areas were only 1.78 t/ha (KGr) and 3.96 t/ha (OBc). However, under MFY 2005 conditions, precipitation in three summer months in KG were 255 mm (or 25% higher than LTM) and in OS even 521 mm (or 1.5 times more than LTM), while air–temperatures were in level of LTM. As results of favorable weather conditions were maize yields 4.27 t/ha (KGr) and 6.98 t/ha (OBc) or 140% higher (KGr) and 76% higher (OBc) compared to yields in these areas under LFY conditions.

precipitation; air-temperature; yield; maize; Serbia; Croatia

Presentation: oral