Impact of Climate Change on Productivity of Field Crops

Climate change threatens agricultural production. Understanding the effects of climate change, particularly the two key components carbon dioxide (CO₂) and temperature, on yield and productivity, is crucial for ensuring global food security. Annual temperatures across significant crop-growing areas have risen by about 1°C over the previous century, according to meteorological records, and this trend is likely to continue, causing changes in crop physiology and, as a result, crop yield potential. In theory, when CO₂ concentration doubles, increased CO₂ levels accelerate photosynthesis in particular plants. The sensitivity of different crop species to CO₂ varies. Wheat, rice, and soybeans are members of the C₃ plant family, which responds quickly to elevated CO₂ levels. C₄ plants such as corn, sorghum, sugarcane, and millet take a different route. Though more photosynthetically efficient than C₃ crops at current CO₂ levels, the latter is less responsive to boosted concentrations. Since a rise in CO₂ can change the temperature due to its warming effect, the interaction effect of these two components might lead to various effects in different situations. The favourable impacts of rising CO₂, if any, may be overshadowed by the negative effects of expected temperature rises. According to many research, direct effects of climate change on kharif crops will be minor, but kharif season crops will become sensitive due to increased incidence of weather extremes such as rainfall intensity, droughts, floods, and humidity. Due to a bigger increase in temperature, asymmetry of day and night temperatures, and more rainfall uncertainties, Rabi crop output may become considerably more fragile. Agriculture may be unaffected by climate change for the time being, but depending on cropping seasons, management, and the magnitude of climate change, agriculture may be severely impacted in the long run.