Heat waves can lead to water stress on crops, reduce plant photosynthesis, and alter crop quality, negatively affecting agricultural production.
High temperatures can greatly accelerate plant growth. At first glance, this seems nice, but it actually leaves them less time to accumulate nutrients, ultimately reducing the quality and yield of crops. Not to mention that excessive heat often causes thermal stress to crops: basically, plants experience a heat shock, disrupting their normal functioning, such as photosynthesis or reproduction. As a result, we get fewer fruits or grains, and these can be small, stunted, or of poor quality. Certain sensitive crops like wheat, corn, or rice suffer particularly. Intense heat, especially if it occurs right at the crucial moment of flowering, can also cause premature flower drop or disrupt the normal formation of grains. In short, when it’s too hot, crops suffer, and so do farmers.
Extended heat waves seriously alter agricultural soils. When it is hot for a long time, the soil's moisture evaporates quickly, making it dry and very difficult to work. By losing water, the soil's top crust becomes compacted and impermeable, which then hinders the absorption of new rains. This extreme drought leads to a decrease in the activity of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, which are essential for transforming organic matter into nutrients that plants can use. With this change, fertility decreases and soils become more vulnerable to erosion, further exacerbating their degradation.
When it gets super hot for a long time, it increases the evaporation of water contained in soils, rivers, and bodies of water. As a result, the stock of water available for crop irrigation is seriously reduced, which complicates the work of farmers quite a bit. The groundwater, which is a bit like our secret water reserve, can no longer recharge quickly enough when rains become rare. Consequently, their levels are declining alarmingly, forcing farmers to pump deeper or reduce their water consumption. And when water resources diminish for a long time, difficult irrigation choices must be made fairly quickly, such as prioritizing certain crops over others, which in turn alters the final harvests.
During heatwaves, agricultural yields drop, causing farmers to see a significant decrease in their income. With fewer harvests, supply decreases, and prices inevitably soar. The consumer also ends up paying for the drought, facing higher prices at checkout, particularly for fruits, vegetables, or cereals. Some farmers must invest more to save their crops (irrigation, equipment to protect crops, heat-resistant seeds...), which further eats into their margins. Moreover, when extreme temperatures scorch crops, importing becomes a common solution, making the country dependent on foreign markets and exacerbating the trade deficit. These economic losses can sometimes lead to bankruptcies or force the state to pay costly compensation to save the agricultural sector.
When a heatwave is expected, farmers can use a few simple tricks. First, choosing drought-resistant crop varieties makes a real difference. When planted in time, they will suffer less from heat stress. Agroforestry, which involves planting trees among crops, is also quite helpful: the shade cools and allows the soil to stay moist longer. Another effective method is adopting mulching techniques by simply covering the ground with plant residues. This limits evaporation and preserves moisture. Finally, changing the watering schedule can make a significant difference: watering early in the morning or late in the evening greatly reduces water loss through evaporation. These small adjustments combined help crops withstand severe heat episodes better.
To mitigate the effects of extreme heat, some farmers adopt the practice of intercropping, which involves growing multiple plant species together to reduce soil temperature and better preserve available water.
During heatwaves, the soil quickly loses its moisture, which often forces farmers to use up to 50% more water for irrigating their crops.
Some crops, such as tomatoes and potatoes, are particularly affected by temperatures exceeding 30°C, leading to a decrease in the quality and size of the final product.
Studies indicate that extreme heat episodes can reduce the activity of pollinating insects such as bees, thereby indirectly affecting agricultural production.
In several countries, there are indeed mechanisms such as climate agriculture insurance or government aid designed to financially compensate for the economic consequences related to agricultural losses resulting from extreme weather events like high temperatures.
Farmers can adopt various methods: prioritizing drought-resistant varieties, improving irrigation through efficient watering or drip systems, practicing mulching to retain soil moisture, and planning intercropping to minimize losses due to thermal stress.
Yes, various technologies can be useful, such as connected sensors to monitor soil moisture in real-time, drones to assess water conditions and plant health, or the use of smart greenhouses capable of automatically regulating temperature and humidity.
Indeed, heatwaves can decrease the concentration of proteins, vitamins, and minerals in certain crops, thereby reducing their nutritional quality. This phenomenon has been particularly observed during extreme heat conditions in cereal and vegetable crops.
The crops most vulnerable to extreme heat include corn, wheat, soybeans, and sensitive vegetable crops such as lettuce and tomatoes. These species experience thermal stress that negatively impacts their growth, significantly reducing their yield.
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