Adaptation strategies to climate change using cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) ideotypes in rainfed tropical cropping systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. A modeling approach

•We designed a method for calibrating a model able to reproduce growth, yield and crop cycle diversity for four contrasted cotton cultivars.•The model, if properly calibrated, can be used to analyze and predict G*E*M interactions.•Virtual cultivars with specific cycle length and plant physiology tra...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Field crops research 2018-09, Vol.226, p.38-47
Main Authors: Gérardeaux, E., Loison, R., Palaï, Oumarou, Sultan, B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Climatology
Crop modeling
CSM-CROPGRO-cotton
Cultivar
Earth Sciences
Ideotype
Planting date
Sciences of the Universe
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:•We designed a method for calibrating a model able to reproduce growth, yield and crop cycle diversity for four contrasted cotton cultivars.•The model, if properly calibrated, can be used to analyze and predict G*E*M interactions.•Virtual cultivars with specific cycle length and plant physiology traits make it possible to cope with climate change and to produce more resilient cropping systems. Developing cultivars with adaptive traits to improve sustainability in the face of climate change is an important option for climate smart agriculture. The CROPGRO-cotton model was calibrated and evaluated at two locations in Cameroon over a period of two years using two planting dates and four contrasted cultivars. The model was used to assess yield gains by modifying plant traits such as specific leaf area, photosynthetic capacity and crop phenology. The ideotype was tested in conventional and conservation agriculture systems and under baseline and future climate conditions. The results revealed that, compared to existing cultivars, the ideotype requires longer to reach maturity and has thicker leaves with good photosynthetic capacity. In 2050 in North Cameroon, climate change will shorten time to maturity and cause a shift in the rainy season but neither change will have an effect on yields. Simulations with an ensemble of climate models revealed that models that assume higher rainfall predicted lower yields, suggesting that N leaching is a more important constraint than drought in North Cameroon. Our results will help cotton breeders select promising new traits to introduce in their cultivars for adaptation to climate changes in Cameroon and to similar sub-Saharan soil, cropping systems and climatic conditions.
ISSN:0378-4290
1872-6852
DOI:10.1016/j.fcr.2018.07.007