Climate Change Impact on the Growth Period and Yield of Irrigation Spring Maize in Arid Region of Northwest China.

To investigate the impact of climate change on the growth period and yield of irrigated spring maize in arid region of Northwest China, the study was conducted based on located observational experiment and climatic data from 1984 to 2022. The results showed that the temperature increased significantly during the entire growth period with a climate trend rate of 0.76°C•10y^-1 (P<0.01), and a significant rise in active accumulated temperature above 10°C, with a climate trend rate of 135.80°C•d•10y^-1 (P<0.01). Although there was no significant change in precipitation during the entire growth period, it increased significantly during the milky-maturity stage, with a climate trend rate of 4.50mm•10y^-1 (P<0.05). The sunshine duration increased significantly from 1984 to 2004, with a climate trend rate of 126.88h•10y^-1 (P<0.01), but decreased significantly in the last 19 years, with a climate trend rate of ^-109.38h•10y^-1 (P<0.01). The growth days of spring maize increased from 1984 to 2004, with a climatic trend rate of 9.86d•10y^-1 (P<0.01), but decreased significantly in the last 19 years, with a climatic trend rate of 7.39d•10y^-1 . The length of sowing-seedling and seventh leaf-jointing was significantly negatively correlated with temperature, respectively. The length of sowing-seeding, third leaf-seventh leaf and silking-milky was significantly positively correlated (P<0.05) with precipitation, respectively. The length of different growth periods was significantly positively correlated (P<0.01) with sunshine duration, respectively. The yield of spring maize fluctuated and climatic yield was significantly negatively correlated (P<0.05) with precipitation. In summary, climate change has been unfavorable to spring maize growth under current irrigation methods in arid region of northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]