Impact of Climate Variability on Yield of Spring Wheat in North Dakota

Ganesh C. Bora^1*, Sukhwinder Bali², Purbasha Mistry²

¹Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, USA.
²Natural Resource Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ajcc.2014.34032                

Abstract

Agricultural production is highly dependent on the climatic variability of the specific regions. Differential climatic and soil conditions bring about changes in yield, quality of crops thus affecting the economy. This study evaluated the impact of variability in different climatic factors keeping the other factors constant on spring wheat production in North Dakota from 2007 to 2011. The spring wheat yield mainly depends on the climatic changes during growing periods April to September. Average maximum air temperature was significantly different from April to September except June from 2007 to 2011. High average minimum and maximum air temperatures during planting time increase yield and planting area for 2010. In 2011, low mean soil temperature, excess rainfall in April caused low yield of spring wheat. The unmitigated climate variability will result in declines in yields. So, adoption of sustainable agriculture practices helps the farmers to develop the different practices for their farms.

Keywords

Climate Variability, Crop Production, North Dakota, Spring Wheat

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	USGCRP (2000) U.S. Global Change Research Program, Climate Change Impacts on the United States; The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change, “Overview: Great Plains”. Washington DC. www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/Library/nationalassessment/overviewgreatplains.htm
[2]	Bismarck, N.D., NDWC (2007) North Dakota Wheat Commission, Report to the 2007 North Dakota Legislative Assembly: Economic Importance of Wheat. www.ndwheat.com
[3]	Global Beef Consultants, LLC. http://www.globalbeefllc.com
[4]	Waggoner, P.E. (1983) Agriculture and a Climate Changed by More Carbon Dioxide. Changing Climate. National Academy Press, Washington DC, 383-418.
[5]	Allen Jr., L.H., Boote, K.J., Jones, J.W., Jones, P.H., Valle, R.R., Acock, B., Rogers, H.H. and Dahlman, R.C. (1987) Response of Vegetation to Rising Carbon Dioxide: Photosynthesis, Biomass and Seed Yield of Soybean. Global Biogeochem Cycles, 1, 1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/GB001i001p00001
[6]	Cure, J.D. and Acock, B. (1986) Crop Responses to Carbon Dioxide Doubling: A Literature Survey. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 38, 127-145. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-1923(86)90054-7
[7]	Wheaton, E.E. (1994) Impacts of a Variable and Changing Climate on the Canadian Prairie Provinces: A Preliminary Integration and Annotated Bibliography. Saskatchewan Research Council, Saskatoon, SRC Publication No. E-2900-7-E-93.
[8]	Rosenzweig, C. and Parry, M.L. (1994) Potential Impact of Climate Change on World Food Supply. Nature, 367, 133-138. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/367133a0
[9]	Cohen, S., Wheaton, E. and Masterton, J. (1992) Impacts of Climate Change Scenarios in the Prairie Provinces: A Case Study from Canada. Saskatchewan Research Council, Saskatoon.
[10]	Brklacich, M., McNabb, D., Bryant, C. and Dumanski, J. (1997) Adaptability of Agricultural Systems to Global Climatic Change: A Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada Pilot Study. In: Ilbery, B., Chiotti, Q. and Rickard, T., Eds., Agricultural Restructuring and Sustainability: A Geographical Perspective, CAB International, Wallingford, 185-200.
[11]	Boote Kenneth, J., Ibrahim Amir, M.H. and Renee, L. (2011) Position Statement on Crop Adaptation to Climate Change. Crop Science, 51, 2337-2343. http://dx.doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2011.07.0369
[12]	Troyer, A.F. (2004) Background of U.S. Hybrid Corn II: Breeding, Climate, and Food. Crop Science, 44, 370-380. http://dx.doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2004.3700
[13]	Wall, E. and Smit, B. (2006) Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change in the News. International Journal of Sustainable Development, 9, 355-369. http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJSD.2006.014220
[14]	Belderok, B., Mesdag, H. and Donner, D.A. (2000) Bread-Making Quality of Wheat. Springer, Berlin, 3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0950-7_1