Climate change: impacts, adaptation and implications for a sustainable sugarcane industry
| MSI05P4123 | |
| Nayamuth, A. R. H. | |
| Climate change: impacts, adaptation and implications for a sustainable sugarcane industry | |
| periodical article | |
| 2005 | |
| Proc. int. Soc. Sug. Cane Technol. | |
| 25 (2): 69-77 | |
| En | |
| En Fr Sp | |
| The science of climate change has progressed significantly in recent years, and scientific evidence strongly supports climate change as factual and stemmiing from anthropogenic activities. Since a rehearsal of this process is not envisaged even in the medium-term, there is a need for the sugarcane industry to integrate this important aspect within its research programs to minimise the adverse effects. An analysis of the current situation and future prospects to cope with climate change is presented in this paper. Analysis of long-term historical data for Mauritius revealed a higher inrcrease in the minimum temperature compared to the maximum, resulting in a decrease in the amplitude. Rainfall decreased while solar radiation increased. The frequency of extreme events such as cyclones, droughts, and excessive rainfall has also changed, while the intensities have increased with severe impacts on the industry. Observed mean temperature increased are in-line with simulations of General Circulation Models. Simulation studies without CO2 fertilisation showed that sucrose yield is highly vulnerable to climate change with severe losses of 32 per cent to 57 per cent. Sensitivity analyses indicated a yield reduction of about 15 per cent for every degree Celsius rise that can be compensated for by an increase of about 10 per cent (75mm) rainfall. Provision of irrigation came out as the best available adaptation strategy to cope with climate change in the short and medium term. Basic physiological processes such as photosynthesis, water use, and growth and development need to be assessed at the field level in relation to climate change. Other research areas such as irrigation requirements, effects of pests and diseases, fertilisation and weed infestation and their impacts on the industry are revewed and proposals made. Second order effects on land use, infrastructure and milling are also discussed and their consideration in the planning process highlighted. The integration of climate change into research is viewed as essential for the continued existence and viability of a sustainable sugar industry. | |
| Sugarcane climate change simulation productivity sugar industry research | |
| Mauritius | |
| Sugarcane: Environmental management | |
| Climate change | |
| 2005-02-14 | |
| en | |
| LIB | |
| CAT | |
| Phys |