High crop yield losses induced by potential HONO sources — A modelling study in the North China Plain

Abstract Nitrous acid (HONO) is a major source of hydroxyl radicals in the troposphere through its photolysis, and can significantly influence ozone (O3) levels, thereby causing considerable crop yield losses. Previous studies have assessed relative crop yield losses by using exposure-response equations with observed or simulated O3, however, the contribution of enhanced O3 due to potential HONO sources to the crop yield losses has never been quantified. In this study, for the first time, we evaluated the crop yield losses caused by potential HONO sources in the North China Plain (NCP), which is one of the major grain-producing areas in China suffering from heavy O3 pollution, by using the Weather Research and Forecasting/Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model during the wheat and maize growing seasons of 2016. HONO simulations were significantly improved after including six potential HONO sources. The potential HONO sources produced a daily maximum 8-h O3 enhancement of 8.1/8.2 ppb during the wheat/maize growing seasons, respectively, and led to ~11.4%/3.3% relative yield losses for wheat/maize, respectively, corresponding to approximately US$3.78/0.66 billion losses, respectively, in NCP in 2016. Potential HONO sources play a significant role in O3 formation and may induce high crop yield losses globally.

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Potential Evapotranspiration Reduction and Its Influence on Crop Yield in the North China Plain in 1961–2014

Advances in Meteorology ◽

10.1155/2020/3691421 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wanlin Dong ◽

Chao Li ◽

Qi Hu ◽

Feifei Pan ◽

Jyoti Bhandari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wind Speed ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Crop Yield ◽

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Potential Evapotranspiration ◽

The North ◽

The North China Plain ◽

Sunshine Hours ◽

Humidity Index

Climate change has caused uneven changes in hydrological processes (precipitation and evapotranspiration) on a space-temporal scale, which would influence climate types, eventually impact agricultural production. Based on data from 61 meteorological stations from 1961 to 2014 in the North China Plain (NCP), the spatiotemporal characteristics of climate variables, such as humidity index, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration (ET0), were analyzed. The sensitivity coefficients and contribution rates were applied to ET0. The NCP has experienced a semiarid to humid climate from north to south due to the significant decline of ET0 (−13.8 mm decade−1). In the study region, 71.0% of the sites showed a “pan evaporation paradox” phenomenon. Relative humidity had the most negative influence on ET0, while wind speed, sunshine hours, and air temperature had a positive effect on ET0. Wind speed and sunshine hours contributed the most to the spatiotemporal variation of ET0, followed by relative humidity and air temperature. Overall, the key climate factor impacting ET0 was wind speed decline in the NCP, particularly in Beijing and Tianjin. The crop yield in Shandong and Henan provinces was higher than that in the other regions with a higher humidity index. The lower the humidity index in Hebei province, the lower the crop yield. Therefore, potential water shortages and water conflict should be considered in the future because of spatiotemporal humidity variations in the NCP.

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Prediction of crop yield, water consumption and water use efficiency with a SVAT-crop growth model using remotely sensed data on the North China Plain

Ecological Modelling ◽

10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2004.07.032 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 183 (2-3) ◽

pp. 301-322 ◽

Cited By ~ 180

Author(s):

X. Mo ◽

S. Liu ◽

Z. Lin ◽

Y. Xu ◽

Y. Xiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Water Consumption ◽

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Remotely Sensed Data ◽

Crop Growth Model ◽

The North ◽

The North China Plain ◽

Use Efficiency

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Impact of the methods of groundwater access on irrigation and crop yield in the North China Plain

China Agricultural Economic Review ◽

10.1108/caer-12-2015-0177 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 613-633 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lijuan Zhang ◽

Jinxia Wang ◽

Guangsheng Zhang ◽

Qiuqiong Huang

Keyword(s):

Crop Yield ◽

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Climate Factors ◽

Groundwater Use ◽

Content Type ◽

The North ◽

The North China Plain ◽

Groundwater Markets ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is: to track the methods by which farmers access groundwater for irrigation in the North China Plain (NCP); to explore whether climate factors influence farmers’ decisions on the methods of groundwater access for irrigation; and to examine whether the amount of groundwater use for irrigation and crop yield systematically differ across groups of farmers using various methods of groundwater access, and how climate factors affect them. Design/methodology/approach Descriptive statistical analysis and econometric models are used on household survey data collected over several years and county-level climate data. Findings Over the past few decades, a significant share of farmers have switched the methods of groundwater access from collective tubewells to own tubewells or groundwater markets. Farmers who bought water from groundwater markets applied less water to wheat plots than those who had their own tubewells. However, wheat yield was not negatively affected. Both average climate conditions and long-term variations were found to be related to farmers’ choice of methods of groundwater access for irrigation. More frequent droughts and increasingly volatile temperatures both increased the likelihood of farmers gaining groundwater irrigation from markets. Originality/value The analysis results suggest farmers are using groundwater markets to help them adapt to climate change. Applying empirical analysis to identify the impact of the methods by which farmers access groundwater for irrigation on the amount of groundwater use and crop yield will help policy makers design reasonable adaptation policies for the NCP.

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