A perspective for setting the research priorities for the productivity of future crop production in Finland

Abstract

The author proposes that future research work on crop production should concentrate on alleviating the problems associated with overwintering and frost, early summer drought and rainy autumn in order to enhance the competitiveness of field crop production in Finland. Further, more detailed knowledge on the crops is required to understand the genotypic differences in potential yield formation in order to optimize management practices. Increasing the nitrogen (N) fixation efficiency of leguminous species should be considered as an important target. Naked oats, sunflower, and leguminous plants might be advantageous species for future crop production in Finland. The bioenergetic implications of increasing crop productivity are discussed.