Climate change impact on maize yield using crop and climate models: A review

What is it about?

The paper discusses a review of literature related to the impact of climate change on maize (Zea mays L.) yield using Global Climate Models (GCMs), statistical downscaling, and crop simulation (APSIM-maize-and-CERES-maize models) models are discussed. GCMs can simulate the current and future climatic scenarios. Crop yield projections using crop models require climate inputs at higher spatial resolution than that provided by GCMs. The computationally inexpensive statistical downscaling technique is widely used for this translation. Studies on regional climate modeling have mostly focused on Southern Africa and West Africa, with very few studies in Zambia.

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Why is it important?

There is need to use integrated assessment modeling to study future climate impact on maize yield. The assessment is essential for long-term planning in food security and in developing adaptation and mitigation strategies in the face of climate variability and change.

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