CROP RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE SOUTHERN GREAT-PLAINS - A SIMULATION STUDY

This study utilizes global climate models and crop growth models to estimate the potential agricultural effects of climate change caused by a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide for the southern Great Plains. Projected climate changes cause simulated wheat and corn yields to decrease in the study area. Decreases in modeled grain yields are caused primarily by temperature increases which shorten the duration of crop life cycle and curtail the harvestable biomass production. While physiological effects of carbon dioxide and changing cultivars offer some hope of climate change mitigation, detrimental consequences to regional crop production, including need for increased irrigation, are suggested. © 1990 by Association of American Geographers.