“…Maize maximum TE S was estimated to be about 37 kg ha −1 mm −1 for grain yield, and 54 kg ha −1 mm −1 for total aboveground biomass. The boundary TE S for grain yield estimated here is well above reported values for winter cereals (20-22 kg grain ha −1 mm −1 ; Passioura, 2006, Sadras andAngus, 2006), grain legumes (12-20 kg grain ha −1 mm −1 ; Loss et al, 1997;Zhang et al, 2000), and oilseed crops (8-13 kg grain ha −1 mm −1 ; Specht et al, 1986;Hocking et al, 1997;Grassini et al, 2009;Dardanelli et al, 1991), which, like our maize estimates, are based on grain yields at standard commercial moisture content for each crop. Except for cases when severe water stress occurs during the sensitive anthesis-silking window (which determines maize kernel number), maize TE S for grain yield is expected to be greater than that for other crops because maize carbon fixation occurs via the C 4 pathway and the energetic cost of its grain is smaller compared to protein-rich legume seed or oilseed crops (Sinclair et al, 1984;Loomis and Connor, 1992).…”