Agricultural production is directly affected by climate variables and climate change. These variables control crop growth and health, and annual crop yield over time. Increased crop yield is required to meet the needs of future population growth, but drought causes significant yield reductions for rain-fed and irrigated crops. Thus, studying the effect of climate change such as drought on crop production and cropping areas is essential to understand the potential change in crop yield and cropping system under warming climates in the state of Texas, nation and world as a whole.

CARC research scientists evaluated the impact of drought on crop yield and cropping area over 10 climate zones in Texas from 2008 to 2016 focusing on before and after the 2011 severe drought for four major crops grown in Texas. Results showed that drought had a greater impact on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) and lesser impact on cotton (Gossypium spp.) and sorghum

[Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production across Texas. Cotton and corn hectarage was reduced during the drought period and increased after that, whereas winter wheat hectarage was reduced in the northern climate zones and increased in the southern climate zones before the drought. Results also indicated that drought impact on crop production may be reduced by replacing water-demanding crops such as corn with drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum and expanding irrigation hectarage during drought periods. It may be beneficial for Texas agricultural production to increase the hectarage of sorghum and other grains especially during drought periods.

This study provides valuable information that can be used to adopt appropriate measures to cope with future drought challenges in drought-prone regions. More details about this work can be found in the recently published article “Effects of Drought on Crop Production and Cropping Areas in Texas” in the Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Letters: American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America publications at this link: https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/ael/pdfs/3/1/170037

Dr. Ali Fares
Ali Fares, Ph.D.
Interim Dean and Director of Land-Grant Programs
(936) 261-5019
alfares@pvamu.edu