Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ABSTRACT
Climate change is one of the most important global environmental chal-
lenges in the history of mankind. It is mainly caused by increasing con-
centration of Green House Gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. In 1980s,
scientific evidences linking GHGs emission due to human activities caus-
ing global climate change, started to concern everybody. Climate change
has become increasingly recognized as one of the greatest challenges to
humankind and all other life on Earth. Worldwide changes in seasonal
patterns, weather events, temperature ranges and other related phenomena
have all been reported and attributed to global climate change. Numer-
ous experts in a wide range of scientific disciplines have warned that the
negative impacts of climate change will become much more intense and
frequent in the future particularly if environmentally destructive human
activities continue unabated. Climate change is causing noticeable effects
on the life cycles and distributions of the world's vegetation. Future effects
of climate change are largely uncertain, but current evidence suggests that
these phenomena are having an impact on various flowering plants and
that there are some potential threats worthy of concern and discussion.
12.1
ADVERSE EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change produces warmer temperatures and increases CO
2
gases,
rainfall and drought that enhance disease, pests and weeds. Experts predict
that these events will cause pests and diseases to spread further, cover-
ing more areas that increasingly become suitable for them and to multi-
ply faster in current areas. Variability in global temperatures and rainfall
amount, intensity and frequency patterns will alter agricultural produc-
tivity and may necessitate a change or limit in the species and cultivars
traditionally planted in specific regions. Increased temperatures also have
an effect on the growing season of many plant species requiring a change
in the agricultural calendar. Increased temperatures and reduced rainfall
will increase the rate of evapo-transpiration and increase water demand.
An increase in climate change variability hinders the ability to predict,
forecast, manage and prepare for various agricultural activities such as the
sowing of seeds, harvesting of produce as well as measures to respond to
any extreme weather events.
