2020, Vol. 3, Issue 1, Part A

author(s)
Tojora Mengistu

abstract
Climate change is one of the most factors that affect the crop productivity. The most climatic factor that affects the final yield of crops is temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, solar radiation and air pollution. Increase in temperature may lead to higher respiration rates, shorter periods of seed formation and, consequently, lower biomass production. Also higher temperatures may result in a shorter and insufficient development period; therefore, it may lead to smaller and lighter grains, lower crop yields and perhaps lower grain quality. Dry periods can badly affect plant growth but the amount of damage depends on the ability of the plant to expand its root system and how much water the soil can hold onto. High humidity, frost and hail may also damage certain crops. Excessively wet years, on the other hand, may cause crop yield reduction due to water logging. Air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and methane, react with hydroxyl radicals in the presence of sunlight to form tropospheric O3, which causes oxidative damage to photosynthetic parts in all major crops.