Climate change, its impact and mitigation strategies for sugarcane production: A review

Abstract

The effects of climate change have reached such an extent that irreversible changes in the functioning of the planet are feared. Changes in climate can be expected to have significant impacts upon crop yields through changes in both temperature and moisture. Climate change has exerted significant impact on sugarcane productivity due to changes in temperature, CO2 level, precipitation etc. Increasing temperature will also increase the production of sugarcane crop by addition in stem juice, photosynthesis, leaf area and total biomass, since, it is a C4 plant having high photosynthetic efficiency. However, erratic rainfall will decrease the productivity of sugarcane as grand growth phase is mainly affected by the monsoon. However, through adjusting the planting dates according to the atmospheric conditions, choosing more efficient methods of planting and irrigation, following management practices like growing drought and high temperature tolerant varieties and mulch application etc. will enhance the sugarcane yield, helps in better adapting and reducing the impact of climate change.