HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Rural Voice, 2000-06, Page 17V
seasons and more trouble matching
crop moisture needs with moisture
availability.
•more problems with soils with
relatively low moisture capacity
(sandy/silty soils).
•a decrease in yields for major crops
grown in Ontario due to lack of
moisture (projections are that barley
and corn yield could decrease as
much as 20 per cent, soybeans by as
much as 12 per cent and wheat by
27 per cent).
Some scientists believe that carbon
dioxide enrichment in the
atmosphere will actually result in
increased yields for many crops.
However, given the higher
temperatures associated with this
added CO2, it is likely that higher
evapotranspiration and lower water
availability, combined with
additional pest and weed pressures,
will result in minimal yield benefits,
according to a summary for policy
makers compiled by the Working
Group II of the IPCC.
MacPherson feels that because we
are having more intense rainfall
events that this will increase the
potential for soil erosion on
agricultural land, and more
stream/ditch bank erosion, leading to
higher sediment loads in watershed
rivers and streams.
How can farmers adapt to
increased climatic variability?
Environment Canada has
published a report titled
"Adapting to Climate
Variability and Change in Ontario".
The report points to a greater need to
adopt practices in all sectors of the
economy that will help to conserve
water and protect the health and
resiliency of our river systems, prime
agricultural land and remaining
forests. Some of the major
adaptations that are recommended in
the report include:adoption of conser-
vation tillage practices, rotations that
include cover crops, conversion of
agricultural land with low moisture
retention capacity to other uses,
planting of more wind breaks/shelter
belts and hedgerows, agro forestry
(inter -planting trees and crops);
increasing forest cover in headwater
areas, river valleys, flood plains and
stream corridors to help retain runoff
and summer base flow, limiting
irrigation from rivers and streams to
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