This paper reveals the spatial and temporal patterns of grain and leguminous crops yield dynamics in Dnipropetrovsk region and evaluates the role of agro-environmental and agro-economic factors in their formation. Crop data were obtained from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The data of the grain and grain legumes (pulses) yield during 1966–2016 on average per year in the administrative districts of Dnipropetrovsk region was analysed. The obtained data indicate that average yields of cereals and leguminous crops within Dnipropetrovsk region varies from 24.3 to 33.4 CWT/ha. The smallest interannual variability in yield is typical for Vasylkivskyi district (CV = 9.9%), and the largest is typical for Yurivskyi district (CV = 27.7%). As a result of the principal component analysis of the cereals and leguminous crops yields variability, three principal components were extracted which together explain 81.2% of the overall yield variability. Principal component 1 explains 69.4% of the total variability. It indicates the total synchronous yields variation within the area investigated as all examined variables have high loading values on principal component 1. The administrative districts that form a belt located in the direction from the north east to the south west of the region have the most coordinated variance, which is reflected by principal component 1. Principal component 2 explains 6.8% of the yield variability. This principal component is sensitive to opposite yield dynamics of central and south-western districts on the one hand and the eastern and northern districts – on the other. Principal component 3 explains 4.9% of the yield variability. This principal component reveals the opposite dynamics of productivity of the central districts on the one hand and the northern and south-eastern districts on the other. The cluster analysis of administrative districts was conducted based on the dynamics of the yield of grain and leguminous as a result of which four clusters were identified. The clusters are geographically defined administrative districts, together forming spatially connected areas. The similar temporal yield dynamics of grain and leguminous crops as a result of interaction between endogenous and exogenous ecological factors is the main principle for revealling such ecologically homogeneous territories. Spatial distribution of principal components indicates a continual pattern, but their overlapping allows one to extract spatially discrete units, which we identified as agroecological zones. Each zone is characterized by a certain character and dynamics of production capacity and has an invariant pattern of response to varying climatic, environmental, and agroeconomic factors.

This article reveals the spatial and temporal patterns of winter wheat yield dynamics in Dnipropetrovsk region and assesses the role of agro-ecological and agroeconomic factors in their formation. The crop data is from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The data on yield of winter wheat in the period of 1966-2016, in average per year in administrative districts of Dnipropetrovsk region, are analyzed. The obtained data indicate that the average yields of winter wheat in the Dnipropetrovsk region range from 24.28 CWT/ha to 34.41 CWT/ha. The smallest inter-year variability of yield is characteristic for the Petrikivskyi region (CV = 22.41%), and the highest is for Sofievsky (CV = 31.15%). As a result of the analysis of the main components of winter wheat, the variability of the three main components was revealed, which together account for 84.05% of the total variability of yield. Major component 1 explains 78.18% of total variability. This indicates a general change in synchronous yields in the studied area, since all considered variables have high load values on the main component 1. The administrative districts, that form a belt located in the direction from the North East to the South West region, have a most coordinated the variance, which reflected by the principal component 1. Major component 2 explains 5.87% of the yield variability. This principal component is sensitive to yield opposite dynamics of central and southwestern regions on the one hand and the eastern and northern regions-on the other. Cluster analysis of administrative districts was conducted based on the dynamics of winter wheat crop yields, which resulted in the discovery of four clusters. Clusters are geographically defined administrative districts, forming spatially bound areas. A similar temporal dynamics of winter wheat yields as a result of the interaction of endogenous and exogenous environmental factors is the main principle of the discovery of such environmentally homogeneous territories. The spatial distribution of the main components indicates a continuous nature, but their overlay allows us to extract the spatially discrete units that we have identified agroecological zones. Each zone is characterized by a certain character and dynamics of production capacities and has an invariant scheme of response to various climatic, ecological and agroeconomic factors.