Enhanced CO2 and global climate change effects on wheat yield in Çukurova region

In this study, we examine the effects of increased CO2 and climate change on wheat, in the Cukurova region which is the important leading agricultural territory of Turkey. for the prediction of future climate, TERCH-RAMS regional climate model were used. Then growth chamber were used to predict the climate change effects on wheat.Regional climate model predictions for the future shows that the annual average temperature increases 3oC and the rainfall will decrease 25-40% in the territory. The 1 °C increase in temperature shortened 5 days blooming and 9 days maturity under two different carbon dioxide concentration (400 ppm ve 700 ppm), two temperature (17/11 ºC ve 20/14 ºC), and irrigation regimes (Full and Deficit irrigation) was examined in the Adana-99 wheat variety. The enhanced CO2 increased the tillers and spikes with 69% and 15% respectively. With the rise of carbon dioxide, vegetative organs, especially in roots important weight increase were determined. The grain yield has not changed with İncreased carbon dioxide under increased temperature and deficit irrigation, but under normal temperature and deficit irrigation 13%, normal temperature and full irrigation 17% and increased temperature deficit irrigation 34% yield inreased were detected. Out there in terms of grain yield differences was due to differences in the tillers rather than the main spike. The positive effects of the atmospheric carbon dioxide increase on wheat which is a C3 plant, is lower at the main spike. But the produced substances stored in the vegetatif organs especially in the roots. Thus, the yield increase depens the sink capacity of the wheat varietiy instead of the amount of asimilat resources. These findings reflects that for future carbon dioxide increase to develop varieties and applications to benefit more from the high asimilat amount and irrigation must be emphasized as the importanat application for the eliminating yield losses.