Effects of climate variability and change on Chinese agriculture: a review

Abstract

CR Climate Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials CR 50:83-102 (2011) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01038 REVIEW Effects of climate variability and change on Chinese agriculture: a review Yue Li1, Declan Conway2,*, Wei Xiong1, Qingzhu Gao1, Yanjuan Wu1, Yunfan Wan1, Yan Li3, Silong Zhang3 1Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China 2School of International Development/Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK 3Water Resources Information Center, Ministry of Water Resources, Beijing, China *Email: d.conway@uea.ac.uk ABSTRACT: Evidence is reviewed from Chinese and international sources on the impacts of observed climate trends and extremes and of potential future climate change on agriculture. Recent climate behaviour in China shows progressive warming and complex patterns of precipitation variability and frequency of extreme events. Agricultural production data highlight substantial economic impacts from extreme climate events, with droughts causing the greatest effects on production. Observed warming has contributed to northward and northeastward expansion of winter wheat and maize cultivation, respectively. Multi-model climate change projections consistently predict warming throughout China and, with reasonable consistency, increases in precipitation across most of the country (averaging +5% to +7% by 2050, compared with 1961−1990). Studies of future climate change impacts on crops in China show a wide range of results, primarily due to differences among climate model projections, the methods used to assess crop impacts and whether the effects of CO2 fertilisation are included. Because of China’s large size and range of agro-ecological conditions, sensitivity and exposure can vary considerably, leading to complex spatial patterns of response. Crop type and variety, and whether a crop is irrigated or rain-fed also affect yield. The review highlights research priorities, which include the need to systematically monitor, retrieve and analyse observed data on climate−yield behaviour, compare results of different modelling approaches and climate scenarios, and integrate climate effects within a broader framing of food systems. KEY WORDS: Climate variability · Climate change · Climate impacts · Agriculture · Economic impacts · China Full text in pdf format PreviousCite this article as: Li Y, Conway D, Xiong W, Gao Q and others (2011) Effects of climate variability and change on Chinese agriculture: a review. Clim Res 50:83-102. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01038 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in CR Vol. 50, No. 1. Online publication date: December 12, 2011 Print ISSN: 0936-577X; Online ISSN: 1616-1572 Copyright © 2011 Inter-Research.