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Beneficial impacts of climate change on pastoral and broadacre agriculture in cool-temperature Tasmania

Version 2 2025-01-15, 00:57
Version 1 2023-05-17, 22:09
journal contribution
posted on 2025-01-15, 00:57 authored by DC Phelan, David ParsonsDavid Parsons, SN Lisson, GK Holz, ND MacLeod
Although geographically small, Tasmania has a diverse range of regional climates that are affected by different synoptic influences. Consequently, changes in climate variables and climate-change impacts will likely vary in different regions of the state. This study aims to quantify the regional effects of projected climate change on the productivity of rainfed pastoral and wheat crop systems at five sites across Tasmania. Projected climate data for each site were obtained from the Climate Futures for Tasmania project (CFT). Six General Circulation Models were dynamically downscaled to ~10-km grid cells using the CSIRO Conformal Cubic Atmospheric Model under the A2 emissions scenario for the period 1961–2100. Mean daily maximum and minimum temperatures at each site are projected to increase from a baseline period (1981–2010) to 2085 (2071–2100) by 2.3–2.7°C. Mean annual rainfall is projected to increase slightly at all sites. Impacts on pasture and wheat production were simulated for each site using the projected CFT climate data. Mean annual pasture yields are projected to increase from the baseline to 2085 largely due to an increase in spring pasture growth. However, summer growth of temperate pasture species may become limited by 2085 due to greater soil moisture deficits. Wheat yields are also projected to increase, particularly at sites presently temperature-limited. This study suggests that increased temperatures and elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations are likely to increase regional rainfed pasture and wheat production in the absence of any significant changes in rainfall patterns.

Funding

Department of Agriculture

History

Publication title

Crop and Pasture Science

Volume

65

Issue

2

Pagination

194-205

ISSN

1836-0947

Department/School

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA), TIA - Research Institute

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Publication status

  • Published

Place of publication

Australia

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 CSIRO

Socio-economic Objectives

100505 Sown pastures (excl. lucerne)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

13 Climate Action

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