Thursday, 2 February 2012
Horticultural crops are particularly sensitive to temperature, most having specific temperature requirements for the development of optimum yield and quality.
Understanding the specific effects of temperature change on crops is a necessary step in providing growers with decision-making tools to manage and adapt to climate change.
Peter Deuter from Agriscience Queensland has been researching the effects of temperature change on 8 crops:
- Apple
- Avocado
- Banana
- Capsicum
- Lettuce
- Macadamia
- Pineapple
- Tomato
Starting with lettuce, over the coming month we will be publishing his case studies which include:
- crop production data – key varieties, optimum growing conditions, and seasonality
- the current level of knowledge on temperature thresholds
- projected regional temperature changes
- discussion on how projected temperature increases will affect the crop
- discussion on the capacity for growers to adapt through management practices