Contact/s:
Rocco Lioy
rocco.lioy@convis.lu
Adaptation to Climate Change in Crop Production
Luxembourg
Continental Europe
- Challenges for crop production due to climate change
- Adaptation measures
- Research needs
Thematic Areas
Production System/s
Summary for Practicioners on the Main Finding(s)/Innovative solution(s)
In Luxembourg, climate change is making itself felt in various ways, including the rise in temperature, the rapid alternation of extremely dry and wet periods and ever shorter winters, which result in a longer growing season. There are various strategies to meet these challenges. These relate to the following areas:
⦁ Breeding new plant varieties. These should ensure better adaptation to the changed climate conditions.
⦁ Diversification of crop rotation. This will make crop cultivation more resilient to climate fluctuations
⦁ Arable farming. The choice of the right sowing date and increasing the humus content in the soil are particularly important here.
⦁ Fodder production. In this area, the creation of fodder reserves and increasing biodiversity in grassland are crucial.
⦁ Introduction of new plant species. Grain millet, soya beans, sunflowers and sorghum are particularly promising in this respect.
⦁ Consideration of new pests and plant diseases. Defense against more aggressive types of pests and parasites has become essential due to climate change.
There is no generally applicable strategy for adapting to climate change in crop production. Only a combination of different existing techniques can successfully master the challenges posed by climate change.
There is a need for research in the following areas:
⦁ Provision of grass growth models for better adaptation of stock management to weather conditions
⦁ Specification of the possibilities and limits of using autumn gras growth to derive maximum benefit from it.
⦁ Breeding varieties with higher adaptation to climate change.
⦁ Maximizing nutrient efficiency under unfavorable weather conditions.
⦁ Provision of reliable meteorological information.
⦁ Clarification of the influence of humus balance and biochar on the water balance.
Summary for Practicioners in Native Language
In Luxemburg macht sich der Klimawandel auf verschiedene Weise bemerkbar, unter anderem durch den Temperaturanstieg, die rasche Abwechselung von extrem Trocken- und Nässeperioden und immer kürzere Winter, welche eine längere Vegetationsperiode als Folge haben. Um diese Herausforderungen zu begegnen, gibt es verschiedene Strategien. Diese betreffen folgende Gebiete:
⦁ Züchtung neuer Pflanzensorten. Diese sollen eine bessere Anpassung an die veränderten Klimabedingungen gewährleisten.
⦁ Diversifizierung der Fruchtfolge. Dadurch wird eine höhere Resilienz im Pflanzenbau gegenüber Klimaschwankungen erreicht
⦁ Ackerbau. Hier sind besonders die Wahl des richtigen Saattermins und die Steigerung der Humusgehalte im Boden zu nennen.
⦁ Futterproduktion. Auf diesem Gebiet sind das Anlegen von Futterreserven sowie die Steigerung der Artenvielfalt im Grünland ausschlaggebend.
⦁ Einführung neuer Pflanzenarten. Diesbezüglich sind vor allem die Körnerhirse, die Sojabohne, die Sonnenblume und das Sorghum vielversprechend.
⦁ Berücksichtigung von neuen Schädlingen und Pflanzenkrankheiten. Sich gegen aggressivere Arten von Schädlingen und Parasiten ist durch den Klimawandel unabdingbar geworden.
Eine allgemeingültige Strategie zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel im Pflanzenbau ist nicht vorhanden. Nur eine Kombination aus verschiedenen vorhandenen Techniken kann erfolgreich die Herausforderungen durch den Klimawandel meistern.
Forschungsbedarf besteht auf folgenden Gebieten:
⦁ Bereitstellung von Grasaufwuchs-Modellen zur besseren Anpassung der Bestandsführung an die Witterungsbedingungen
⦁ Präzisierung von Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Nutzung von Herbstaufwuchs, um ein maximales Nutzen daraus zu ziehen.
⦁ Züchtung von Sorten mit höherer Anpassung an den Klimawandel.
⦁ Maximierung der Nährstoffeffizienz unter ungünstiger Witterungsbedingungen.
⦁ Bereitstellung von verlässlichen Meteo-Informationen.
⦁ Klärung des Einflusses von Humushaushalt und Pflanzenkohle auf den Wasserhaushalt.
Additional Information
In Luxembourg, climate change is making itself felt in various ways, including the rise in temperature, the rapid alternation of extremely dry and wet periods and ever shorter winters, which result in a longer growing season. To meet these challenges, there are various strategies that differ depending on the area of application. These are as follows:
• Breeding. In addition to providing drought- and frost-tolerant varieties, breeding should focus on producing varieties with long roots, good juvenile development and early maturity.
• The farm level. Here, attention should be paid to the diversification of crop rotation, the creation of forage reserves and greater flexibility in crop production when selecting varieties. At the same time, the cost of machinery should not be disregarded.
• Arable farming. The most important strategies in arable farming were named as choosing the right sowing date, increasing soil fertility by increasing humus, selecting water-saving varieties, covering the soil as much as possible all year round and keeping C4 crops such as maize and sorghum, which consume a lot of water, to a minimum in favor of C3 crops.
• Forage production. In the area of forage production, in addition to the aforementioned creation of forage reserves, the management of denser plant populations, the increase of species diversity in grassland, the site-appropriate selection of crops and the use of more favorable conditions are also possible.
• New plant species. The cultivation of new types of plants is a promising field. The most promising of these are grain millet, soya beans, sunflowers and sorghum. The soya bean deserves a special mention here. The rise in temperatures is likely to have a positive effect on the expansion of the cultivation area of this plant, which has hardly been considered in Luxembourg to date due to the local climatic conditions. Coupled with the breeding of drought- and frost-resistant varieties, this could provide a viable alternative to other grain legumes.
• Consideration of new pests and plant diseases. It should not be unmentioned that climate change also harbors risks about the spread of pests and plant diseases. For example, the European corn borer is spreading more frequently due to warmer temperatures, as are a number of pests in fruit and vegetable cultivation. In general, theshorter the winter period, the easier it is for fungi and viruses to survivethe winter and develop a higher infestation potential.
To summarise, there is no universal strategy for adapting to climate change in crop production. Rather, a combination of different existing techniques must be used to successfully master the challenges posed by climate change. This also requires a great deal of advice.
There is a need for research in the following areas:
• Grassland. The provision of grass growth models can help to better adapt crop management to weather conditions. Efforts should also be made to clarify the possibilities and limits of using autumn growth so that maximum benefit can be derived from it.
• Forage production. In this area, the breeding of varieties that are better adapted to climate change was given top priority. This is also with a view to maximising nutrient efficiency under unfavourable weather conditions.
• Arable farming. Helpful research results will be obtained above all in the provision of reliable meteorological information. Further research is needed to clarify the relationships between plants, soil and humus, as well as the influence of biochar on the water balance.