New Perspectives on Crop Yield Constraints because of Climate Change
Climate change impact assessments usually focus on
changes to precipitation because most global food production is
from rainfed cropping systems; however, other aspects of climate
change may affect crop growth and potential yields.
A recent (2011) study by the University of California, Santa
Barbara (UCSB) Climate Hazards Group, determined that climate
change may be affecting Mozambique's primary food crop in
a usually overlooked, but potentially significant way (Harrison
and others, 2011). The study focused on the direct relation
between maize crop development and growing season temperature.
It determined that warming during the past three decades
in Mozambique may be causing more frequent crop stress and
yield reductions in that country's maize crop, independent of any
changes occurring in rainfall. This report summarizes the findings
and conclusions of that study.
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First posted September 22, 2011
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