WATER AVAILABILITY AND USE FOR CROPS

Research progress

01

IMPROVEMENTS IN MODELLING CAPABILITIES FOR CROP WATER USE AND PRODUCTIVITY

We improved existing models to better predict crop water use, leading to more accurate simulations of current and future changes. This means that models now account for new variables, such as carbon exchange and productivity, and can simulate crop growth under different conditions. We also combined climate indices specific to crop growth with future model simulations to show the effects on crop water use and agricultural productivity. With these improvements, we are able to make comparisons of crop water use and efficiency and estimate changing water needs for specific crops.

02

NEW APPROACHES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND EVAPOTRANSPIRATION AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY

We used innovative new techniques such as drones and remote sensing to collect data on the evapotranspiration and productivity rates for key crops across Canada. These new approaches allow us to estimate rates of evapotranspiration at much larger scales than was previously possible.

03

EXAMINING WATER-USE EFFICIENCY MEASUREMENTS ACROSS CROP TYPES AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Typically, researchers have used different calculation methods to estimate water-use efficiency in crops, leading to varying estimates. This has created challenges when trying to compare estimates across studies and regions. We have examined different approaches in order to identify those that are best suited to specific crop types and management practices, allowing for more accurate predictions in crop choices and management decisions under changing climates.

Key messages

01

HYDROLOGICAL MODELS THAT INCLUDE CROPS ARE A BETTER PREDICTION TOOL FOR FUTURE CROP GROWTH CHOICES

Hydrological models have mostly ignored the interactions between crops (type, planting, growth, harvesting) and watershed hydrology. Our updated models include integrated crop modules so that we can better understand interactions in the Prairies and Great Lakes regions. This will help us learn more about how a changing climate across Canada will impact agriculture – offering the opportunity to mitigate the effects of climate change by identifying suitable crop choices and management practices by region.

02

FUTURE FOOD SECURITY WILL DEPEND ON RESILIENT CROPS IN EACH AGRICULTURAL REGION

Maintaining Canada’s future food security means that we will need to understand which crops will thrive under future climates, and that includes the resiliency of crops to different levels of moisture. Moisture stress, or the way crops respond to dry conditions, will have a different impact in each of Canada’s agricultural regions. In the Great Lakes region, where the climate is more humid and drier conditions are mostly absent, we did not see any evidence of moisture stress in select crops (corn and alfalfa). In the Prairies, we found that crops with low water requirements (such as pulses) are more resilient to moisture stress. Future warmer conditions, including extreme heat, may therefore pose challenges for crops in the Prairies and it will be important to select crops that use water efficiently and take advantage of warmer growing conditions.

WATER QUALITY AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES →