ARS | Publication request: Agroecology: Implications for plant response to climate change

Submitted to: Crop Adaptation to Climate Change
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: May 31, 2010
Publication Date: October 1, 2011
Citation: Hatfield, J.L., Prueger, J.H. 2011. Agroecology: Implications for plant response to climate change. In: Yadov, S.S., Redden, R.J., Hatfield, J.L., Lotze-Campen, H., Hall, A., editors. Crop Adaptation to Climate Change. West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 27-43.

Technical Abstract: Agricultural ecosystems (agroecosystems) represent the balance between the physiological responses of plants and plant canopies and the energy exchanges. Rising temperature and increasing CO2 coupled with an increase in variability of precipitation will create a complex set of interactions on plant growth and water use. These interactions of temperature, CO2, and rainfall patterns within the growing season will affect plant growth in many different ways. The interaction of these parameters is complex; however, are further exaggerated by rainfall patterns during the growing season. Water is a dominant factor that will override the positive impacts of CO2 increases and further diminish plant growth and yield when coupled with temperature stresses. Changing climate will present a challenge to agroecology because of the impacts on plant growth and yield that will be required to feed an ever-increasing world population.