This report describes standardized data for “How accurate are yield estimates from crop cuts? Evidence from smallholder maize farms in Ethiopia”. These data were standardized on 2025-08-08 by Robert Hijmans with this R script. The original data have a CC-BY-4.0 license. Here you can download the standardized data.

This is the full citation of the data set:

Frederic Kosmowski; Jordan Chamberlin; Hailemariam Ayalew; Tesfaye Sida; Kibrom Abay; Peter Craufurd (2021). How accurate are yield estimates from crop cuts? Evidence from smallholder maize farms in Ethiopia. Food Policy 102:102122

You can also consult the accompanying paper.

The dataset has 298 records and 35 variables for maize in Ethiopia.


These are the first 25 records:

records
date trial_id planting_date on_farm is_survey crop variety variety_type yield_part yield yield_moisture N_fertilizer P_fertilizer K_fertilizer irrigated seed_rate herbicide_used insecticide_used crop_cut country adm1 adm2 adm3 adm4 location longitude latitude geo_uncertainty geo_from_source elevation hhid plot_size labour_days
11/7/2019 1 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH-540 improved grain 10758.139 12.5 203.3347 63.54209 NA FALSE 57.18788 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Fesa 37.50817 11.76504 4.711 TRUE 1866.4 D01 786.88 101.66734
11/8/2019 2 NA TRUE TRUE maize Bh45 improved grain 2511.495 12.5 150.9591 47.17471 NA FALSE 28.30482 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Yizeb 37.51652 11.73610 4.500 TRUE 1855.0 D02 1059.89 127.37171
11/11/2019 3 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH-545 improved grain 18133.894 12.5 391.9872 90.11201 NA FALSE 27.03360 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Yegned 37.50380 11.75872 3.461 TRUE 1880.7 D03 1109.73 90.11201
11/11/2019 4 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH_540 improved grain 2468.039 12.5 143.8333 48.42873 NA FALSE 29.05724 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Fisa 37.51257 11.75356 3.711 TRUE 1860.5 D04 2064.89 67.80022
11/8/2019 5 NA TRUE TRUE maize Limu improved grain 4383.000 12.5 314.0066 92.98599 NA FALSE 85.83323 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Chikami 37.49926 11.77565 3.816 TRUE 1878.9 D05 1398.06 219.94764
11/12/2019 6 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH 540 improved grain 11112.360 12.5 209.8526 65.57893 NA FALSE 78.69472 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Koreta Yezindi 37.49445 11.75895 3.493 TRUE 1854.1 D06 762.44 125.25576
11/11/2019 7 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH-540 improved grain 6478.608 12.5 446.6861 139.58942 NA FALSE 55.83577 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Tahiwa 37.49366 11.75838 4.128 TRUE 1859.3 D07 1074.58 83.75365
11/11/2019 8 NA TRUE TRUE maize Limmu improved grain 4036.962 12.5 134.9585 42.17452 NA FALSE 25.30471 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Fisa 37.51139 11.75115 3.900 TRUE 1849.2 D08 1185.55 92.78394
11/11/2019 9 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH 660 improved grain 7077.485 12.5 167.4854 35.38424 NA FALSE 35.38424 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Yegind 37.49591 11.76048 3.576 TRUE 1882.0 D09 1695.67 82.56323
11/11/2019 10 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH45 improved grain 8276.397 12.5 251.3708 78.55336 NA FALSE 47.13202 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Koreta Yigind 37.50585 11.75469 3.391 TRUE 1876.3 D10 1273.02 100.15554
11/26/2019 11 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH45 improved grain 9210.346 12.5 339.1443 77.96420 NA FALSE 31.18568 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Wenchet Lay kerer 37.53771 11.75654 3.673 TRUE 1909.4 D100 1282.64 62.37136
11/12/2019 12 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH 540 improved grain 8708.326 12.5 296.0523 92.51635 NA FALSE 55.50981 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Yegind 37.49696 11.75830 4.500 TRUE 1868.7 D11 1080.89 171.15525
11/12/2019 13 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH 45 improved grain 6538.253 12.5 274.1693 49.84896 NA FALSE 59.81875 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Yegind 37.50104 11.75792 3.553 TRUE 1877.5 D12 1003.03 99.69792
11/12/2019 14 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH-540 improved grain 5488.080 12.5 204.9043 37.25533 NA FALSE 59.60852 TRUE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Yegind 37.49727 11.75871 4.709 TRUE 1871.2 D13 1342.09 119.21704
11/12/2019 15 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH-545 improved grain 7360.065 12.5 250.7960 78.37374 NA FALSE 39.18687 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Karata Yegned 37.49311 11.75288 3.237 TRUE 1860.5 D14 1020.75 78.37374
11/12/2019 16 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH_540 improved grain 5707.340 12.5 230.5775 72.05545 NA FALSE 43.23327 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Fisa 37.49591 11.75878 3.426 TRUE 1876.2 D15 1387.82 180.13863
11/13/2019 17 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH45 improved grain 5617.914 12.5 296.4830 92.65093 NA FALSE 115.81366 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Koreta Yegind 37.49898 11.75600 3.676 TRUE 1864.5 D16 1079.32 124.61550
11/13/2019 18 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH-540 improved grain 8610.671 12.5 304.1767 95.05523 NA FALSE 57.03314 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Yugned 37.49916 11.75799 3.317 TRUE 1876.5 D17 1052.02 105.98658
11/13/2019 19 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH 545 improved grain 11242.300 12.5 375.3842 117.30756 NA FALSE 35.19227 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Fisa 37.51044 11.76068 3.900 TRUE 1895.1 D18 852.46 173.02865
11/13/2019 20 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH_661 improved grain 6004.895 12.5 254.7304 79.60326 NA FALSE 47.76195 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Kesa Wuste 37.51036 11.76102 3.901 TRUE 1889.8 D19 1256.23 175.12717
11/13/2019 21 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH-540 improved grain 5500.539 12.5 247.4495 108.53050 NA FALSE 67.83156 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Yegind 37.51359 11.75751 4.348 TRUE 1873.3 D20 921.40 75.97135
11/13/2019 22 NA TRUE TRUE maize LIMU improved grain 4084.605 12.5 566.6773 103.03224 NA FALSE 61.81934 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Yegind 37.51178 11.76126 3.594 TRUE 1896.3 D21 1941.14 130.07820
11/14/2019 23 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH45 improved grain 4927.874 12.5 259.6391 81.13722 NA FALSE 48.68233 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Koreta Yegind 37.49616 11.75372 3.876 TRUE 1851.5 D22 1232.48 92.29359
11/14/2019 24 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH-540 improved grain 8930.776 12.5 248.6698 67.53187 NA FALSE 32.67671 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Tseywa 37.49688 11.76014 3.725 TRUE 1870.2 D23 1836.17 58.27347
11/14/2019 25 NA TRUE TRUE maize BH 540 improved grain 7803.876 12.5 323.3573 118.01360 NA FALSE 35.40408 FALSE FALSE TRUE Ethiopia amhara south_gondar Dera Korata Yegind 37.49061 11.76081 3.800 TRUE 1844.2 D24 847.36 129.81495


The observations were made at 298 locations. We have coordinates for 298 of these locations.


The standardization script emits the following non-compliance warnings.

type message
out of bounds N_fertilizer (41.595, 964.823)

The overall quality of the dataset, given the completeness of required variables was NA on a scale of 10. See the table below

variable completeness (%)
planting_date 0
harvest_date NA
crop 100
variety 100
N_fertilizer 99
P_fertilizer 99
K_fertilizer 0
irrigated 100
latitude 100
longitude 100
location 100
adm 100
yield 100


The data are further summarized in the table below.

Variable Stats / Values Freqs (% of Valid) Graph Missing
date [character]
1. 11/26/2019
2. 11/13/2019
3. 11/14/2019
4. 11/21/2019
5. 11/25/2019
6. 11/27/2019
7. 11/28/2019
8. 11/15/2019
9. 11/19/2019
10. 11/11/2019
[ 9 others ]
23(7.7%)
22(7.4%)
22(7.4%)
22(7.4%)
22(7.4%)
22(7.4%)
22(7.4%)
21(7.0%)
21(7.0%)
20(6.7%)
81(27.2%)
 0 (0.0%)
trial_id [integer]
Mean (sd) : 149.5 (86.2)
min ≤ med ≤ max:
1 ≤ 149.5 ≤ 298
IQR (CV) : 148.5 (0.6)
 298 distinct values (Integer sequence) 0 (0.0%)
planting_date [logical]
All NA's
 298 (100.0%)
on_farm [logical] 1. TRUE
298(100.0%)
 0 (0.0%)
is_survey [logical] 1. TRUE
298(100.0%)
 0 (0.0%)
crop [character] 1. maize
298(100.0%)
 0 (0.0%)
variety [character]
1. Limu
2. Limmu
3. 660
4. BH 540
5. BH 45
6. BH45
7. BH 545
8. BH_545
9. BH-540
10. 661
[ 37 others ]
111(37.2%)
41(13.8%)
13(4.4%)
13(4.4%)
12(4.0%)
10(3.4%)
9(3.0%)
9(3.0%)
8(2.7%)
7(2.3%)
65(21.8%)
 0 (0.0%)
variety_type [character]
1. improved
2. local
283(95.0%)
15(5.0%)
 0 (0.0%)
yield_part [character] 1. grain
298(100.0%)
 0 (0.0%)
yield [numeric]
Mean (sd) : 6453.1 (3776.1)
min ≤ med ≤ max:
995.1 ≤ 5828.9 ≤ 21583.9
IQR (CV) : 4402.8 (0.6)
 298 distinct values 0 (0.0%)
yield_moisture [numeric] 1 distinct value
12.50:298(100.0%)
 0 (0.0%)
N_fertilizer [numeric]
Mean (sd) : 285 (151.2)
min ≤ med ≤ max:
41.6 ≤ 251.3 ≤ 964.8
IQR (CV) : 171.6 (0.5)
 295 distinct values 3 (1.0%)
P_fertilizer [numeric]
Mean (sd) : 82.8 (42.2)
min ≤ med ≤ max:
13.9 ≤ 74.9 ≤ 297.4
IQR (CV) : 47.6 (0.5)
 295 distinct values 3 (1.0%)
K_fertilizer [logical]
All NA's
 298 (100.0%)
irrigated [logical]
1. FALSE
2. TRUE
182(61.1%)
116(38.9%)
 0 (0.0%)
seed_rate [numeric]
Mean (sd) : 40.5 (25.3)
min ≤ med ≤ max:
8.2 ≤ 35.1 ≤ 297.5
IQR (CV) : 17.8 (0.6)
 298 distinct values 0 (0.0%)
herbicide_used [logical]
1. FALSE
2. TRUE
224(75.2%)
74(24.8%)
 0 (0.0%)
insecticide_used [logical]
1. FALSE
2. TRUE
258(86.6%)
40(13.4%)
 0 (0.0%)
crop_cut [logical] 1. TRUE
298(100.0%)
 0 (0.0%)
country [character] 1. Ethiopia
298(100.0%)
 0 (0.0%)
adm1 [character] 1. amhara
298(100.0%)
 0 (0.0%)
adm2 [character]
1. south_gondar
2. west_gojjam
98(32.9%)
200(67.1%)
 0 (0.0%)
adm3 [character]
1. Dera
2. Funeteselam
3. Merawi
98(32.9%)
103(34.6%)
97(32.6%)
 0 (0.0%)
adm4 [character]
1. Korata
2. Enguti
3. Kudmi
4. Qorata
5. Jimat
6. Arbaitu Ensesa
7. Kudim
8. Kudimi
9. Arbayitu
10. Kudme
[ 63 others ]
71(23.8%)
43(14.4%)
17(5.7%)
15(5.0%)
10(3.4%)
7(2.3%)
7(2.3%)
7(2.3%)
6(2.0%)
6(2.0%)
109(36.6%)
 0 (0.0%)
location [character]
1. Yizeb
2. Agizha
3. Werebti
4. Yegind
5. Yizab
6. Werebte
7. Mekelamo
8. Dulecha
9. Leza
10. Agzia
[ 127 others ]
33(11.1%)
16(5.4%)
13(4.4%)
13(4.4%)
13(4.4%)
8(2.7%)
7(2.3%)
6(2.0%)
6(2.0%)
5(1.7%)
178(59.7%)
 0 (0.0%)
geo_uncertainty [numeric]
Mean (sd) : 3.8 (0.4)
min ≤ med ≤ max:
3 ≤ 3.7 ≤ 5
IQR (CV) : 0.4 (0.1)
 149 distinct values 0 (0.0%)
geo_from_source [logical] 1. TRUE
298(100.0%)
 0 (0.0%)
elevation [numeric]
Mean (sd) : 1881.6 (79.9)
min ≤ med ≤ max:
1739.3 ≤ 1861.2 ≤ 2022.5
IQR (CV) : 157.6 (0)
 272 distinct values 0 (0.0%)
hhid [character]
1. D01
2. D02
3. D03
4. D04
5. D05
6. D06
7. D07
8. D08
9. D09
10. D10
[ 288 others ]
1(0.3%)
1(0.3%)
1(0.3%)
1(0.3%)
1(0.3%)
1(0.3%)
1(0.3%)
1(0.3%)
1(0.3%)
1(0.3%)
288(96.6%)
 0 (0.0%)
plot_size [numeric]
Mean (sd) : 1399.7 (482.4)
min ≤ med ≤ max:
305.7 ≤ 1335.8 ≤ 2867.7
IQR (CV) : 675.8 (0.3)
 298 distinct values 0 (0.0%)
labour_days [numeric]
Mean (sd) : 135.8 (115.1)
min ≤ med ≤ max:
0 ≤ 108.9 ≤ 1095.5
IQR (CV) : 85.9 (0.8)
 298 distinct values 0 (0.0%)