Climate Change and Agriculture - Literature review Example

Climate Change and Agriculture Climate change has affected North American in various ways. Some of the effects of climate change inthe region are increased frequency of storm surges and shoreline flooding. Shoreline line flooding is causing erosion, which will eventually affect the people living in the coastal ecosystems (IPCC, 2014). The other effects are increased intensity and frequency of heat waves, low quality of water, waterborne illnesses and agriculture. The research paper analyzes the impact of climate on the North America agriculture belt. The changes in climate can affect agriculture in varied ways. First, the increase in carbon dioxide emission might have a direct influence on the growth and development of plants and weeds (Dando, 2012). Second, the climate changes due to the increase carbon dioxide can interfere with rainfall patterns, temperature and sunshine, which will have an impact on the productivity of crops. Climate change can also lead to a rise in sea level, which leads to loss of farmland and erosion because of increased frequency of flooding (Dando, 2012). These effects will be discussed in depth with a specific concentration in North America agriculture belt. The increase in crop yield due to carbon dioxide increase varies with crops. The crop yield increase because of carbon dioxide is attributed to photosynthesis and a reduction in the rate of water loss. According to research, a rise in carbon dioxide concentrations puts a limitation on the amount of water that a plant can lose via transpiration (Malcom, et al., 2012). The limit aids in reducing the water stress that has been worsened by the increase in average temperatures. The positive effect of the transpiration is largely affected by the amount of soil moisture. As for the atmospheric carbon dioxide, the effect can only be felt in C4 plants that use the photosynthetic pathway to produce food. Therefore, the only major crops affected by an increase in the photosynthetic pathway are corn and sorghum. According to the U.S. Climate Change Science program, the double increase in CO2 increased corn yield by 4% and sorghum by 0.8% (Malcom, et al., 2012). The other crops affected are cotton and soybean, which recorded an increase of 44% and 34-38% respectively (Malcom, et al., 2012). It is imperative that the effect of CO2 heavily relies on the impact of other atmospheric stressors like nitrogen. The projected increase in temperatures will affect the agriculture belt by influencing crop maturity and survival rates (Bjerga, 2012). The impact relies on the way in which the climate change will influence local temperature patterns and the temperature ranges that crops can endure in that particular region. Studies have shown that crops are highly sensitive to extremes in temperature during the extreme reproductive phase. At this phase, the viability of the pollen and setting of the seed that are vulnerable to high temperatures. Relatively higher average temperatures can influence crop maturity rates. It can negatively affect the level of crop yields. According to IPCC report on Climate Change 2014, a projection a further increase in surface temperatures that will in the 21st century due to the assessed emission scenarios (IPCC, 2014). The report projects a likelihood increase in the frequency of heat waves. The intensity and time are also expected to continue rising in heat waves. The intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation will continue to rise. The oceans are also expected to continue acidifying globally. Some areas of North America are projected to increase in precipitation, which might affect agriculture positively (IPCC, 2014). The North America agriculture belt has already been affected by the changes in the local precipitation patterns. The farmers in the Corn Belt have been forced to predict the new rain patterns to adapt to the changed climate. In 2012, many farmers in Kansas lost millions of dollars because of consecutive seasons of hot and dry summer (Bjerga, 2012). The changes in the pattern of rainfall have prompted some farmers in the Corn Belt Region to change to plants like sorghum that need less rainfall. Kansas is one of the areas worst hit by the changes in the precipitation patterns that have been associated with the changes in the climate. Many research bodies have addressed the changes in the local precipitation patterns in the United States. The research bodies have highlighted the potential impact of the change in precipitation patterns on water resources. The studies have indicated an increase in the amount of precipitation in the Eastern United States all the way to mid and high latitude so West and Central United States. A decline has been a project in Central Mountain region, southern plans, southwest, and the Delta region (Dando, 2012). Crop yield are projected to increase in areas with increased precipitation and the opposite in the areas with reduced precipitation. For example, it has been anticipated that crop production is bound to increase in the northern of the United States. The northward shift is attributed to an increase in precipitation and the number of days that these areas experience a frost-free weather. The studies in Canada show that climate change in the region presents both opportunities and threats for the Agriculture (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Government of Canada, 2014). Climate change presents opportunities for some regions that will have more days for the planting seasons, which will be accompanied with mild and short winters. The changes could possible increase productivity and a chance to try new products that might be more profitable. Canada is relatively high latitude country compared to the United States, which implies the warming might be more pronounced. The warmer temperatures will benefit both crop and livestock production. Climate change will also negatively influence the agriculture belt because of the projected increase in natural disasters. The changes have been noted to increase the frequency of droughts and violent storms. These storms tend to wreak havoc on the crops. The increased frequency of droughts means a decrease in crop yields, which puts crop producers in a very bad position. For example, the extreme droughts of 2002 and 2001 and floods of 2011 and 2010 caused a market decrease in crop yields (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Government of Canada, 2014). Some areas in the recorded a reduction of up to 50% in the crop yield capacity. The number of livestock deaths is bound to increase the frequency of summer heat waves. The result will be a reduction in the milk produced, which affects all products that use milk as a raw material. The projection shows that floods will increase the frequency of floods and droughts. As a result, a decrease in the available pasture is inevitable. Animal producers will have to find alternative ways to feed their livestock. The final impact is a reduction of livestock and the quantity of meat produced. The effects will be felt in the production industry. The other possible effects of climate change are pests and diseases that affect crops. The increase in carbon dioxide positively affects weed growth, which is a problem for farmers. It also increases the prevalence of pathogens and pests that affect crops and livestock. The potential impact of temperature changes can influence the scope, severity and frequency pests and diseases. In conclusion, the projections in climate change will affect the North America agriculture belt differently. The increase in CO2 levels will increase crop yields in the area because of limited transpiration, and availability of CO2 for food production for C4 plants (Malcom, et al., 2012). An increase in carbon dioxide has led to an increase in the production of corn, sorghum, cotton and soybeans. The changes will also negatively affect crop production because of increased frequency of droughts, floods and heat waves. Some regions in North America will experience an increase in the range of crops that can be cultivated and the overall crop yields. References Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Government of Canada. (2014, June 9). Impact of Climate Change in Canadian Agriculture. Retrieved from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Government of Canada: http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/science-and-innovation/agricultural-practices/climate/future-outlook/impact-of-climate-change-on-canadian-agriculture/?id=1329321987305 Bjerga, A. (2012, October 15). Corn Belt Shifts North with Climate as Kansas Crop Dies. Retrieved from Bloomberg Business: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-10-15/corn-belt-shifts-north-with-climate-as-kansas-crop-dies Dando, W. A. (2012). Food and Famine in the 21st Century. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO. IPCC. (2014). Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Geneva: IPCC. Malcom, S., Marshall, E., Aillery, M., Heisey, P., Livingston, M., & Day-Rubenstein, K. (2012). Agricultural Adaptation to a Changing Climate: Economic and Environmental Implications Vary by U.S. Region. United States Department of Agriculture. Reddy, P. P. (2015). Climate Resilient Agriculture for Ensuring Food Security. New Delhi: Springer. Sengar, R. S., & Sengar, K. (2015). Climate Change Effect on Crop Productivity. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Read More