Abstracts - Posters

Adaptation of Eastern Canadian Crops and Cropping Systems to Climate Change

Donald Smith¹, Juan Jose Almaraz, Xiaomin Zhou and Donald Smith
¹McGill University
Donald.Smith@McGill.Ca

In the Province of Quebec the years 2002 and 2003 were both unusually dry and hot, and probably represent the sort of climate-changed conditions that will be much more common in the future. Our objective was to examine the yields of several full season crops, and key elements of crop production systems for suitability to climate changed conditions. Four crops were grown in the field: soybean, corn, sorghum, and switchgrass. All crops, except soybean, were fertilized with nitrogen at 0, ½ and the full rate, and under till and no-till conditions. Yield and/or biomass data were collected in 2001 and 2002. Additionally, data of yield for the same crops grown in Montreal and data of precipitation, evaporation and temperature were collected from the statistical records over the last 20 years. Yield in the experiments was low, and this was associated with low precipitation during the second half of the season in both years. Yield for corn and soybean were reduced in both years. Sorghum and switchgrass are warm season crops and grew well in dry and hot conditions obtained in those years. It seems that some of the crops used were more affected by low precipitation than others. Analysis of yield data records indicated that the yield of major crops declined in the last two years because of drought. Climate change conditions may make no-till systems more appropriate and lead to reductions in N fertilizer applications.

2005-04-06