Climate change impacts on crop growth in the central High Plains
Date
2009-02
Authors
Aiken, Rob, author
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Abstract
Historic annual increases in global carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration are expected to continue; increased global temperatures are forecast as well. Crop productivity can benefit from increased ambient CO2 as similar assimilation rates can be maintained with smaller canopy conductance, resulting in modestly reduced crop water requirement. Cool-season grass crops and broadleaf crops will likely gain photosynthetic efficiencies with elevated CO2 levels. When elevated temperatures exceed optimal conditions for assimilation, stress responses can include damage to the light-harvesting complex of leaves, impaired carbon-fixing enzymes, thereby reducing components of yield including seed potential, seed set, grain fill rate, and grain fill duration. Field studies conducted under conditions of elevated CO2 indicate that benefits of elevated CO2 are reduced by heat-induced stress responses. Crop cultural practices can be adapted to avoid stress, genetic advances may yield germplasm capable of tolerating or resisting stress factors.
Description
Presented at the 21st annual Central Plains irrigation conference on February 24-25, 2009 in Colby, Kansas.