TY - CHAP

T1 - Improving Crop Production in the Arid Mediterranean Climate

AU - Jacobsen, Sven Erik

AU - Jensen, Christian Richardt

AU - Liu, Fulai

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - The present review highlights the possibilities of a sustainable crop production in the arid Mediterranean region, which is predicted to suffer from increasingly severe droughts in the future due to climate changes, in addition to increased problems with soil salinity and increased temperatures. Overcoming mild to medium level of abiotic stresses might be done by using crops of increased drought and salinity tolerance, and utilizing their stress adaptation mechanisms to optimize crop productivity. Supplemental irrigation used as deficit irrigation may overcome periods of low rainfall or high temperatures. Improvements in crop production may arise from early sowing enabled by minimum tillage, increased use of organic manure, and efficient weed control. Further, crop rotations play an important role in improving weed control, minimising disease risk, and increasing nitrogen availability. Introduction of drought- and salt-tolerant crop species as quinoa, amaranth and Andean lupin may result in more resilient crop rotations and high-value cash crop products. Genotypic improvements may arise from selection for early vigour, deep roots, increased transpiration efficiency, improved disease resistance, and high assimilate storage and remobilisation. A range of crop and management strategies might be combined for a specific target environment in order to optimize crop productivity.

AB - The present review highlights the possibilities of a sustainable crop production in the arid Mediterranean region, which is predicted to suffer from increasingly severe droughts in the future due to climate changes, in addition to increased problems with soil salinity and increased temperatures. Overcoming mild to medium level of abiotic stresses might be done by using crops of increased drought and salinity tolerance, and utilizing their stress adaptation mechanisms to optimize crop productivity. Supplemental irrigation used as deficit irrigation may overcome periods of low rainfall or high temperatures. Improvements in crop production may arise from early sowing enabled by minimum tillage, increased use of organic manure, and efficient weed control. Further, crop rotations play an important role in improving weed control, minimising disease risk, and increasing nitrogen availability. Introduction of drought- and salt-tolerant crop species as quinoa, amaranth and Andean lupin may result in more resilient crop rotations and high-value cash crop products. Genotypic improvements may arise from selection for early vigour, deep roots, increased transpiration efficiency, improved disease resistance, and high assimilate storage and remobilisation. A range of crop and management strategies might be combined for a specific target environment in order to optimize crop productivity.

KW - Amaranth

KW - Cold

KW - Drought

KW - Heat

KW - Legumes

U2 - 10.1002/9781118517994.ch12

DO - 10.1002/9781118517994.ch12

M3 - Book chapter

AN - SCOPUS:84886646423

SN - 9780813819891

SP - 187

EP - 209

BT - Improving Water and Nutrient-Use Efficiency in Food Production Systems

PB - Wiley

ER -