Climate change has profound and multidimensional impacts on plant production, affecting both the yield and quality of crops. Producers worldwide face challenges that require innovative and adaptive strategies to maintain productivity and mitigate the negative consequences of climate change.
Impacts of Climate Change on Plant Production
Although plant producers often grow plants in controlled environments like greenhouses, climate change still impacts production directly or indirectly.
Increased Temperatures:
Higher temperatures can cause heat stress to plants, even in controlled environments. The need for increased cooling and energy consumption can raise production costs and reduce efficiency (Hatfield & Prueger, 2015).
Unstable Rainfall and Drought:
Although greenhouses provide protection from extreme weather, water availability remains a critical factor. Frequent droughts and uncertainty in rainfall can affect access to water for irrigation (Trenberth et al., 2014).
Extreme Weather Events:
More frequent and intense storms, hurricanes, and frosts can damage greenhouse infrastructure and cause significant crop losses (IPCC, 2014).
Spread of New Pests and Diseases:
Changing climate conditions can favor the spread of pathogens and pests, which can enter greenhouses and damage crops (Bebber et al., 2013).
Adaptation Strategies and Cultivation of Resilient Species in Controlled Environments
Development of Resilient Varieties:
Genetic improvement to develop varieties resistant to extreme conditions is crucial. Techniques such as gene editing can accelerate the development of these varieties (Fita et al., 2015).
Improved Water Resource Management:
The use of precision irrigation systems and soil moisture sensors can enhance water management in greenhouses, reducing losses and increasing plant production efficiency (Fereres & Soriano, 2007).
Application of Agroforestry Systems:
Integrating agroforestry practices can improve soil structure and biodiversity, enhancing plant resilience (Altieri et al., 2015).
Agroforestry in Greenhouses:
Agroforestry, which combines forestry and agricultural practices, is not usually applied inside greenhouses due to limited space and the need for specific climatic conditions. However, the principles of agroforestry can be applied to production systems near or around greenhouses. For example, planting trees around greenhouses can offer wind protection, improve the microclimate, and reduce energy requirements for heating or cooling. Additionally, the use of perennial plants and the incorporation of shade-providing plants can improve the environment around greenhouses, offering additional sources of revenue and enhancing biodiversity (World Agroforestry).
Use of Biological and Enhancers:
Biostimulants and organic fertilizers enhance plant resilience to stress and improve productivity (Calvo et al., 2014).
Pest and Disease Prevention and Control:
Early diagnosis and the use of biological control methods can reduce losses from pathogens and ensure plant health in controlled environments (Chakraborty & Newton, 2011).
Conclusions
Climate change necessitates the adoption of dynamic and innovative strategies to maintain sustainable plant production. By improving production practices and adopting new technologies, producers can adapt to new climatic conditions, ensuring the productivity and quality of their crops.
References
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Bebber, D. P., Ramotowski, M. A., & Gurr, S. J. (2013). Crop pests and pathogens move polewards in a warming world. Nature Climate Change, 3(11), 985-988.
Calvo, P., Nelson, L., & Kloepper, J. W. (2014). Agricultural uses of plant biostimulants. Plant and Soil, 383(1), 3-41.
Chakraborty, S., & Newton, A. C. (2011). Climate change, plant diseases and food security: an overview. Plant Pathology, 60(1), 2-14.
Fereres, E., & Soriano, M. A. (2007). Deficit irrigation for reducing agricultural water use. Journal of Experimental Botany, 58(2), 147-159.
Fita, A., Rodríguez-Burruezo, A., Boscaiu, M., Prohens, J., & Vicente, O. (2015). Breeding and domesticating crops adapted to drought and salinity: a new paradigm for increasing food production. Frontiers in Plant Science, 6, 978.
Hatfield, J. L., & Prueger, J. H. (2015). Temperature extremes: Effect on plant growth and development. Weather and Climate Extremes, 10, 4-10.
IPCC. (2014). Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)). IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 151 pp.
Trenberth, K. E., Fasullo, J. T., & Shepherd, T. G. (2014). Attribution of climate extreme events. Nature Climate Change, 5(8), 725-730.