crops are “highly vulnerable to climate variability”. Climate-related occurrences have historically affected rice and corn production losses between 1968 and 1990 according to Buan, et al. (1996). The study showed that for all scenarios there will be consistent decrease in corn yield, while for rice, results were rather more varied. In a study on the relationship between yields for soybean and corn and climate trends, Kucharik and Serbin (2008) noted that temperature and precipitation both affected corn yields while for soybean yields, precipitation “had a slightly larger impact on the overall multiple regression results” (p.7). Alexandrov, et al. (2002) also note the varied impacts of climate change on different crops. They showed that “the increase in simulated soybean seed yield for the next century was caused primarily by the positive impact of warming and especially by the beneficial direct CO2 effect” (p.379). On the other hand, decrease in the winter wheat yield “was caused primarily by a shortened growing season owing to projected warming and some increases in precipitation during the crop-growing season” (p.379). However, increasing the level of CO2 in the scenarios showed an increase in the yield of winter wheat. Comparing the two, if the CO2 levels increase, soybean yield will show a decline and winter wheat yield will increase. The simulations conducted by Conde, et al. (1997) showed that “under incremental temperature and precipitation scenarios resulted in favourable (rain-fed maize) yield changes” (p.19). What their study suggested is that aside from precipitation and increase in CO2, important factors should also be considered such as soil and historical yield data. Table 3. Summary of effects of climate change on crops Crops Winter wheat Soybean Wheat, maize, barley Corn Scenario Precipitation Temperature Increase Increase Increase Increase Increase Corn/Maize Increase Rice Effect Sensitivity to Decrease yield Increase yield Decrease yield Precipitation Increase Decrease yield Increase Increase yield Decrease yield Different for each rice variant Variance in yield One possible explanation for the increase was the climate of the region, which was usually affected by frost Maturity period of rice varieties maybe needed to consider There maybe other climate influences not accounted for Source Alexandrov, et al., 2002 Lobelland Field, 2007 Buan, et al., 1996 Conde, et al., 1997 Buan, et al., 1996 Lobelland Field, 2007 CBMS-FAO | 16