Technologies for Crop response studies due to climate change.pptx

technologies to study crop response in changing climate

1. Climate Change: Technologies for Crop response studies Climate change poses a significant threat to global food security by impacting crop yields and agricultural productivity. To address this challenge, scientists are utilizing a range of innovative technologies to study how crops respond to these changing environmental conditions. Preeti Sharma

2. Temperature Gradient Chambers 4 Limitations 1 Temperature Gradient Chambers These are enclosed chambers where we can create a range of temperatures along a gradient. This allows them to study how crops respond to different temperature conditions, such as heat stress or cold snaps. 2 Applications Screening germplasm, studying plant physiology, and understanding plant-pathogen interactions. 3 Advantages Highly controlled environment isolates temperature effects and enables studying responses across a range of temperatures within a single chamber. Controlled environment may not fully replicate field conditions (wind, soil moisture variation, light intensity). A schematic illustration of the temperature gradient field chamber (TGFC) for exposing crop to the gradient warm conditions by 0°C to 3°C.

3. Temperature Gradient Greenhouses Applications Long-term studies, realistic environment, and yield impact evaluation. Advantages Balances control and realism, studies long-term effects, and offers data more applicable to real-world scenarios. Limitations •Less controlled than TGCs: Maintaining precise temperature gradients can be challenging due to external factors. •Limited scalability: Studying a wider range of temperature variations might be restricted by the greenhouse size. . Similar to temperature gradient chambers, these are greenhouses where the temperature can be controlled and varied along a set path. This allows researchers to study the impact of temperature on plant growth and development over a longer period under more natural growing conditions than chambers. Temperature difference between inside and outside as a function of the greenhouse height

4. Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Research (SPARE) System 1 Applications Understands the impact of climate change on plants, investigates the link between soil properties, microbes, and plant performance, and identifies crop varieties resilient to changing environmental conditions. 2 Advantages Isolates effects of specific factors for focused study, simulates a wide range of environmental conditions, and enables detailed data collection on plant responses and environmental parameters. 3 Limitations Requires specialized expertise for setup and maintenance, limited in studying large-scale field interactions, and may not fully replicate the intricacies of natural ecosystems. The SPARE System typically consists of one or more controlled-environment chambers where we can manipulate factors such as temperature, humidity, light, and CO2 concentration. This allows to isolate and study the effects of specific environmental variables on plant growth and development, There are two main types of SPARE systems: outdoor and indoor. • Outdoor SPARE systems are typically located in greenhouses or other structures that allow us to control some environmental variables, but not all. These systems are often used for studies that require plants to be exposed to natural sunlight. • Indoor SPARE systems are completely enclosed chambers where we can control all of the environmental variables. These systems are often used for more precise studies where it is important to eliminate confounding factors.

5. Plant growth chambers, known as Soil-Plant-Atmosphere-Research (SPAR), help understand crop responses to a wide range of environmental conditions.

6. Infrared Warming Technology This technology uses infrared lamps to heat specific areas within a field or greenhouse. This allows researchers to study the localized effects of rising temperatures on crops. Applications Simulates localized heat stress, enables targeted studies, and can be used alongside other technologies. Advantages Applicable in both controlled settings and open-field environments, provides targeted heating, and offers flexibility in adjusting heating intensity and area coverage. Limitations Limited scalability, penetration depth, and environmental factors can affect the targeted heating area. Advantages

7. Free Air Temperature Enrichment (FATE) technology Applications Enables realistic field studies, provides insights into ecosystem-level effects, and allows for assessing the impact of temperature on crop performance under field conditions. Advantages Offers the most realistic setting for studying crop responses, enables observation of the effects of temperature on the entire field ecosystem, and can be designed to encompass larger field areas. Limitations Setting up and maintaining FATE systems can be complex and expensive, controlling temperature precisely can be challenging due to external factors, and researchers have less control over other environmental variables compared to controlled environments. This technology involves creating large open-air plots where the temperature can be elevated above ambient levels. This allows us to study the impact of rising temperatures on crops in a more realistic field setting.

8. Soil Warming Systems Root zone temperature effects Understand how rising soil temperatures affect root development, function, and nutrient uptake by plants. Interaction with other factors Investigate how elevated soil temperatures interact with other environmental stresses like drought or nutrient deficiencies. Developing heat-tolerant crops Identify crop varieties with root systems that perform well under increased soil temperatures. Advantages Focuses heat specifically on the root zone, can be used alongside other technologies, and offers the ability to create different temperature profiles within the soil. These systems use electric cables or hot water pipes to heat the soil to different temperatures. This allows researchers to study the impact of rising soil temperatures on plant growth, root development, and nutrient uptake. Applications Limitations: Limited scalability due to high expense and energy-demand, Uneven distribution of heat might occur due to variations in soil moisture and composition and disturbed root zone due to installation of cables or pipes.

9. Advantages of Controlled Environment Technologies Temperature Gradient Chambers (TGCs) Highly controlled environment isolates temperature effects, enables studying responses across a range of temperatures within a single chamber. Temperature Gradient Greenhouses (TGGs) Balances control and realism, studies long-term effects, and offers data more applicable to real-world scenarios. Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Research (SPARE) System Isolates effects of specific factors for focused study, simulates a wide range of environmental conditions, and enables detailed data collection on plant responses and environmental parameters.

10. Advantages of Field-Based Technologies Infrared Warming Technology Applicable in both controlled settings and open-field environments, provides targeted heating, and offers flexibility in adjusting heating intensity and area coverage. Free Air Temperature Enrichment (FATE) technology Offers the most realistic setting for studying crop responses, enables observation of the effects of temperature on the entire field ecosystem, and can be designed to encompass larger field areas. Soil Warming Systems Focuses heat specifically on the root zone, can be used alongside other technologies, and offers the ability to create different temperature profiles within the soil.

11. Limitations of Controlled Environment and Field-Based Technologies Controlled Environment Limitations Controlled environment may not fully replicate field conditions, limited in studying large-scale field interactions, and may not fully replicate the intricacies of natural ecosystems. Field-Based Limitations Controlling temperature precisely can be challenging due to external factors, limited scalability, and researchers have less control over other environmental variables compared to controlled environments. Balancing Control and Realism Researchers must carefully choose the appropriate technology based on their research objectives, balancing the level of control and the need for realistic field conditions.