Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
were recorded 3°C above normal, and subsequently wheat production
declined from 4106 kg/ha to 3937 kg/ha in this period. In March 2004,
temperatures were higher in the Indo-Gangetic plains by 3-6°C, which is
equivalent to almost 1°C per day over the whole crop season. As a result,
wheat crop matured earlier by 10-20 days and wheat production dropped
by more than 4 million tons in the country (Rani, 2007). An assessment of
the impact of climate change on wheat production states that the country's
annual wheat output could plunge by 6 million tons with every 1°C rise
in temperature
(Mathauda, 2000). However, utilizing adaptation strategies
such as changing the planting dates and using different varieties, it is pos-
sible to moderate the losses. By adapting certain agronomic strategies it
was estimated that at a 1°C rise, 3 million tons could be restored. The
assessment also found that the impact of climate change on wheat produc-
tion varies significantly by region. North India and other areas with higher
potential productivity were less impacted by a rise in temperature than the
low-productivity regions. If there is no mechanism or strategy to cope with
rainfall variability, then rainfed crops will be more heavily impacted than
irrigated ones.
19.3.1.2 PADDY
An increase of 2-4ºC is predicted to result in a reduction in rice yields.
Eastern regions are predicted to be most impacted by increased temper-
atures and decreased radiation, resulting in relatively fewer grains and
shorter grain filling durations. By contrast, potential reductions in yields
due to increased temperatures in Northern India are predicted to be offset
by higher radiation, lessening the impacts of climate change. Although
additional CO
2
can benefit crops, this effect was nullified by an increase
of temperature. Mathauda et al. (2000) show the effect of temperature in-
crease on the projection of climate change over rice crop. The increase of
temperature will decrease the life span, grain yield, maximum leaf area
index, biomass, and straw of the rice. Research conducted by Indian Ag-
ricultural Research Institute (IARI) has shown that the grain yield of rice
is not impacted by a temperature increase less than 1°C. However from
an increase of 1-4°C the grain yield reduced on average by 10% for each
degree the temperature increased. Thus, higher temperatures accompany-
ing climate change will impact world rice production creating the possibil-
