Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
differences in crops, the detailed impacts of these factors need
to be investigated further. Specific recommendations for fur-
ther research include
•
Precision in climate change prediction with higher reso-
lution on spatial and temporal scales
•
Linking of predictions with agricultural production sys-
tems to suggest suitable options for sustaining agricul-
tural production
•
Preparation of a database on climate change impacts on
agriculture
•
Evaluation of the impacts of climate change in selected
locations
10.11
Conclusion
There was an asymmetry in the temperature trends in terms of
day and night temperatures over India; the observed warming
was predominantly due to an increase in maximum tempera-
tures while minimum temperatures remained practically con-
stant during the past century. There is likely to be a substantial
increase in extreme maximum and minimum temperatures all
over the country due to an increase in greenhouse gas concen-
trations. This is a very important finding from the agricultural
point of view, as the
mid-day high temperature
increases the
saturation deficit of the plants. It accelerates photosynthesis and
the ripening of fruits. When high temperature occurs in combi-
nation with high humidity, it favours the development of many
plant diseases. High temperature also affects plant metabo-
lism. However,
high night temperature
increases respiration.
Increases in food grain production during the last three decades
made India self-sufficient and contributed tremendously to
their food security. The latter, however, is now at risk due to
the increased demand of a continuously increasing population.
Also, the situation is grim due to the decline in soil fertility, the
decline in groundwater level, rising salinity, resistance to many
pesticides, degradation of irrigation water quality and a more
rapid decline in the genetic diversity of the popular varieties
in the farmers field. It is however of paramount importance to
sustain the natural resource. Enhancing the organic matter con-
tent of soils will ensure a better soil fertility; irrigation pricing
in the western Indo-Gangetic plains will ensure the efforts to
increase the efficiency of water use and improve other asso-
ciated environmental impact. However, since this adversely
