Trends in climate and influence of climate-driven crop yields in southern coastal region, Bangladesh

Abstract

The southernregion of Bangladesh is one of the most severely affected regions by climate change, notably in terms of crop production. This study aims to analyze the trends in climatic parameters (air temperature, rainfall, and humidity) and their impacts on the yield of four significant crops in the southern coastal district of Bangladesh. The relationship between climatic parameters was estimated using the Mann–Kendall test, the Theil-Sen slope estimator, and multiple linear regression (MLR) modeling on the regional-level datasets from 1990 to 2016. The maximum temperature of the Aus, Aman, Boro, and Wheat crop growing seasons showed a significant increasing trend (p < 0.01), and the magnitude of changes varied from 0.4 to 0.5 °C/decade during the study period. The minimum temperature of the Aus growing season also showed an increasing trend (p < 0.01) at a rate of 0.06 °C/decade. However, the relative humidity of Aus growing season (− 0.7%/decade) and the rainfall of the wheat-growing season (− 87.5 mm/decade) showed significant decreasing trends (p < 0.05). The MLR model revealed that maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and rainfall all had a positive influence on Aus paddy production. The humidity had a significant negative impact on Aus and Aman paddy production, while Boro paddy production was adversely influenced by the maximum temperature and rainfall. All explanatory variables positively influenced wheat yield production. Climatic parameters showed significant influences on important crop production in the southern Bagerhat District of Bangladesh. In order to make agriculture sustainable in the face of climate change, this study shows that all the relevant authorities need to look at the climate-resilient crop cultivation system.