Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture

Climatic conditions have a major impact on various aspects of agriculture – crops, livestock, fish – and
any changes in the climate will affect the estimated yield of agriculture. The growth and survival of crops,
livestock, and fishes are dependent on climate but at optimum conditions.

Other than that, drastic changes in climatic conditions can pave way for great risks and problems that can sometimes lead to the death of these organisms. What are the effects that climate changes can have on agriculture? Below, I would be
discussing climate and the risk that climate change poses to agriculture.

What is Climate?

Climate is the average weather condition in a particular area over a given period. The changes in weather
conditions over a certain period depict climate. Climate has 6 elements: temperature, sunshine, humidity,
atmospheric pressure, wind, and precipitation.

These elements and changes in their intensity, frequency,
or speed all have various effects on agriculture, and deviation from their normal range can pose a risk to
the plants, livestock, and fishes.

But what are the factors that cause the deviation of these climatic elements from their normal distribution?
I will be discussing common factors that can cause changes in the average climatic conditions.

Factors that cause changes in climatic conditions:

The major factor that affects the overall climate change for a long period is global warming. Global
warming is the long-term observed heating (warming) of the climatic system for over 2 centuries. The
change in the climatic conditions of the world from the pre-industrial age till now is a result of global
warming. What caused global warming then? Numerous factors have been gathered as the causes of
global warming and all of them are man-made. These factors include:

● Industrial waste products
● Smoke emission from vehicles and power plants
● Deforestations
● Burning fossil fuels
● Oil drilling, e.t.c.

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Effects of climatic change on agriculture:

Below, I will be talking about the effect of all the elements of climate on agriculture.
Effects of temperature change on agriculture:

Temperature, in climate, is the degree of hotness or coldness of the weather. Both cold and hot conditions
are needed for the survival of all aspects of agriculture at optimum conditions. However, if it exceeds this
condition, it becomes detrimental.

For crops, an extremely hot temperature caused by prolonged sunshine over some time would make them
vulnerable to invasion from pests that can survive in hot temperatures.

This can affect the overall performance of the crop yield at the end of the season. It would also encourage the growth of weeds that can survive the hot temperature and these would end up competing with the crops for vital nutrients like
water, oxygen, and micronutrients.

Meanwhile, an extremely cold temperature could cause the death of crops, especially the ones that are grown in high/ hot temperate regions. It can also cause fluctuations in growth cycles and crop yield.

For livestock, they can control their body temperature, concerning the environment, over a considerable range due to their bodies’ rudimentary body controlling mechanism. However, an extreme increase or decrease in the environmental temperature can disrupt their functioning mechanism. Their metabolic pathways are blocked and their bodily enzymes are denatured.

Therefore, they are incapable of carrying out basic and vital life functions, and also their immune system is compromised. At this point, they are more susceptible to the invasion of diseases and this may lead to their death, if not controlled
immediately.

For fishes, an uncontrolled increase or decrease in their surrounding habitat (water) is like a death sentence. Their survival depends on the water they live in and if the water is not conducive for living in, they make hard choices that are not always the best. Some fishes migrate to other water bodies and since that is not their natural habitat, they would have to compete with other fishes for survival, thus breeding competition.

Others that cannot survive migration end up dying out in the water. It may also change the reproductive cycle of some fishes as some of them depend on temperature to reproduce.

Effects of atmospheric pressure change on Agriculture:

Atmospheric pressure is essential for the exchange of gases between the air and the plants as well as the exchange of gases between livestock (and fishes) and their environment. Slight changes in atmospheric pressure pose no harm as far as it is within the range.

Some plants germinate better and yield high produce at high atmospheric pressure while some, at low atmospheric pressure. It might only be detrimental when there is a wide fluctuation from the normal range.

For plants, it can cause inadequate distribution of gases that are essential for their growth and that can affect their overall performance because of deficit gas nutrients.

For livestock and fishes, it can cause respiratory problems as an optimum atmospheric pressure should ensure adequate intake of oxygen and emission of carbon dioxide. But in the case where the optimum atmospheric pressure has been compromised, it can lead to inadequate intake and emission of appropriate gases and that can cause serious health problems for them.

Effects of wind change in agriculture:

The speed, direction, and intensity of the wind are vital for the growth and survival of plants and crops. Other than the sun, the wind is also known to affect photosynthesis as well as the exchange of gases. But of course, the wind is beneficial only at optimum conditions. If extreme changes in the speed, direction, and intensity of the wind, become detrimental.

For plants, extreme wind conditions cause soil erosion which would deprive the soil of essential micronutrients and affect the plant’s productivity. If the speed and direction of the wind change for long, it can affect the growth of certain crops that are dependent on the wind’s speed and direction.

For livestock, extreme wind can affect their migration patterns. It may also cause certain changes in their behavior that are not common to them. Wind also affects gaseous distribution between the livestock and the environment.

All the elements of climate listed above affect the various aspects of agriculture positively in their little way. However, if they deviate from the optimum required conditions, they become harmful to the growth and survival of livestock, plants, and fish.