Integrated Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Maize Crop in North Coastal Region of Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Current crop productivity in North Costal Andhra Pradesh of India is low compare to other locations of Andhra Pradesh region and due to projected climate change this may be further worse. The present study investigates the spatial-variability of impacts of climate change on maize crop yields in the north costal districts of Andhra Pradesh of India and examines the adaptation strategy contributions on crop yield. Five future climate models with RCP 8.5 pathways were selected in this study and the projections from these models were integrated with DSSAT crop simulation model to simulate the impact on rainfed maize crop productivity over North Costal Andhra Pradesh region. Influence of amount rainfall and onset of monsoon and rainy days on rainfed maize yield was significant in North Costal Andhra Pradesh region. Rainfed maize productivity is expected to decrease to a maximum of 16% from the present yield level due to change in climate. The climate change impacts could be reduced by early sowing (altering the sowing date) to June last week/July first week against July second/third week. Supplement irrigation during delay monsoon will give yield increase under future climate.