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S. A. Attia-Ismail
2.1.2 Effect on Feed Production
Forage crops are an important part of agriculture because they provide quality feed
to animals. The changes in climate will impact both of the quantity and quality of
forage production as well as their reliability. Climate changes cause environmental stresses (e.g. increasing temperature, elevated carbon dioxide concentrations)
that affect pasture and forage production. Availability of irrigation water will be
affected due to change precipitation patterns. These changes in climate may reduce
the harvested forage yield, alter its nutritive value. Societal pressure and emphasis
on the impacts of climate changes and the feed production problem have aroused and
become more important. Therefore, the knowledge of how abiotic or environmental
stresses limit forage production must increase. Taking into account that the available agricultural area is limited, pasture productivity and forage quality are critical
issues. Researchers, then, are required to address such problems including botanical
changes in vegetation.
However, depending on the climate changes affected region, the impacts will be
either positive or negative. Increasing the length of the growing season, and increased
plant growth and reducing frost damage are typical impacts of climate change in
boreal climates. Increased plant growth may cause depletion to the soil moisture. This
will be at the expense of subsequent pasture growth in the spring. Therefore, changes
in seasonal patterns of forage availability may take place and could impose additional
provocation for grazing management. On the other hand, in regions with warmer
climates the negative impacts of climate changes are clear. Increased evaporation
as a result of rising atmospheric temperature along with environmental stresses like
drought will lead to reducing forage production and quality.
2.1.3 Effect on Forage Crop Production
Forage crops are an important part of agriculture. They provide high-quality feed
to enable high production from farm animals. Climate change will offer significant
impacts in the productivity of forage crops. As mentioned earlier in this chapter,
effects of climate change on agriculture may include impacts on crop growth, pattern,
quality, and diversification.
Major impacts of climatic changes on feed crops and grazing systems may include
changes in herbage growth, composition and quality. Changes in the composition of
pastures, include changing grasses/legumes ratio. Changes in herbage quality are due
to changing concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates and nitrogen compositions. The increased incidences of drought would offset any biomass yield increases.
Changed rainfall pattern and intensity will lead to, increased nitrogen leaching in
certain systems [8].
The changes in the climate may result in severe deterioration in crop production
and to some extent the disappearance of certain crops. Quantity and quality of forage
feeds will be mainly affected because of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide
levels and temperature [9]. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
S. A. Attia-Ismail
2.1.2 Effect on Feed Production
Forage crops are an important part of agriculture because they provide quality feed
to animals. The changes in climate will impact both of the quantity and quality of
forage production as well as their reliability. Climate changes cause environmental stresses (e.g. increasing temperature, elevated carbon dioxide concentrations)
that affect pasture and forage production. Availability of irrigation water will be
affected due to change precipitation patterns. These changes in climate may reduce
the harvested forage yield, alter its nutritive value. Societal pressure and emphasis
on the impacts of climate changes and the feed production problem have aroused and
become more important. Therefore, the knowledge of how abiotic or environmental
stresses limit forage production must increase. Taking into account that the available agricultural area is limited, pasture productivity and forage quality are critical
issues. Researchers, then, are required to address such problems including botanical
changes in vegetation.
However, depending on the climate changes affected region, the impacts will be
either positive or negative. Increasing the length of the growing season, and increased
plant growth and reducing frost damage are typical impacts of climate change in
boreal climates. Increased plant growth may cause depletion to the soil moisture. This
will be at the expense of subsequent pasture growth in the spring. Therefore, changes
in seasonal patterns of forage availability may take place and could impose additional
provocation for grazing management. On the other hand, in regions with warmer
climates the negative impacts of climate changes are clear. Increased evaporation
as a result of rising atmospheric temperature along with environmental stresses like
drought will lead to reducing forage production and quality.
2.1.3 Effect on Forage Crop Production
Forage crops are an important part of agriculture. They provide high-quality feed
to enable high production from farm animals. Climate change will offer significant
impacts in the productivity of forage crops. As mentioned earlier in this chapter,
effects of climate change on agriculture may include impacts on crop growth, pattern,
quality, and diversification.
Major impacts of climatic changes on feed crops and grazing systems may include
changes in herbage growth, composition and quality. Changes in the composition of
pastures, include changing grasses/legumes ratio. Changes in herbage quality are due
to changing concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates and nitrogen compositions. The increased incidences of drought would offset any biomass yield increases.
Changed rainfall pattern and intensity will lead to, increased nitrogen leaching in
certain systems [8].
The changes in the climate may result in severe deterioration in crop production
and to some extent the disappearance of certain crops. Quantity and quality of forage
feeds will be mainly affected because of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide
levels and temperature [9]. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change