Do Soil Warming and Changes in Precipitation Patterns Affect Seed Yield and Seed Quality of Field-Grown Winter Oilseed Rape?

Abstract

Increasing air and soil temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns as consequences of climate change will affect crop production in agricultural ecosystems. The combined effects of soil warming and altered precipitation on the productivity and product quality of oil crops are not yet well studied. Winter oilseed rape (OSR) (Brassica napus L., cv. Mercedes) was field-grown under elevated soil temperature (+2.5 °C), reduced precipitation amount (−25%), reduced precipitation frequency (−50%) both separately and in combination in order to investigate effects on crop development, seed yield, and seed quality. Soil warming accelerated crop development during early plant growth and during spring. At maturity, however, plants in all treatments were similar in quantitative (aboveground biomass, seed yield) and qualitative (protein and oil content, amino acids, fatty acids) parameters. We observed the long-term effects of the precipitation manipulation on leaf size, leaf senescence and biomass allocation. Seed yield was not affected by the altered climatic factors, perhaps due to adaptation of soil microorganisms to permanent soil warming and to relatively wet conditions during the seed-filling period. Overall, OSR performed well under moderate changes in soil temperature and precipitation patterns; thus, we observed stable seed yield without negative impacts on nutritive seed quality.

Managing Soil Organic Carbon for Mitigating Climate Change and Increasing Food Security

“…The adaptation of agriculture to the changing climate conditions and adoption of (innovative) sustainable practices will be necessary to reduce the negative consequences, such as reduced yields and crop failure. In this context, Drebenstedt et al [18] assessed changes in soil temperature and precipitation patterns on crop production in agricultural systems in Germany. Their results showed that oilseed rape performed well under moderate changes in soil temperature and rainfall regimes; hence, stable seed yields were observed, with no negative impact on seed nutrient quality.…”

Agroclimatic zoning for bananas under climate change in Brazil

“…37 Therefore, the climate suitability of crops and their changing trend in the context of climate change is receiving increasing attention, as rising air temperatures and variability in rainfall patterns affect agricultural ecosystems. 38,39 The livelihood of millions of people is expected to be impacted by changing weather conditions, 40 and banana serves as a daily staple. 41 The extent to which agricultural systems will be affected by climatic conditions differs between crops, regions, and management practices.…”

“…Therefore, the climate suitability of crops and their changing trend in the context of climate change is receiving increasing attention, as rising air temperatures and variability in rainfall patterns affect agricultural ecosystems 38,39 …”

Evening Primrose and Rapeseed Yield Components and Grain Oil Concentrations Were Differentially Modulated by the N, P, and K Supplies in a Mediterranean Area

“…However, information on its agronomic traits, ability to withstand various stresses, and critical nutrient requirements are scarce. Such a lack of knowledge especially occurs for crops in Mediterranean areas, where stresses including drought were shown to reduce grain, oil yields, and quality to a variable extent [8,[12][13][14][15][16][17], where the effect on oil content was similarly shown to be negligible in other species [18]. Most later reports have shown that a plant density higher than 100 plant m −2 for Evening Primrose is a prerequisite to achieving high yields when the water supply is adequate, but little information is available for water-limited conditions.…”