Double cropping as an adaptation mechanism to climate change patterns in the Carpathian Basin

Abstract

Adapting agriculture to climate change is essential for sustainable food production. However, the development of suitable adaptation mechanisms requires a clear understanding of the plant-climate interaction. The number of growing degree days (GDD) is a good proxy for understanding plant-climate interrelationship and farm productivity. Here, using a 2-year experiment of barley-sweet corn double cropping (DC) system and 20-year climate and yield data, we found that barley and sweet corn GDD and productivity were strongly related to changes in climate patterns. Furthermore, we found a positive effect of the barley-sweet corn DC system on farm productivity (18.5 and 5.6 tonnes. ha−1 for DC and single cropping respectively) and return on investment (1.8; 1.4 as benefit:cost ratios for DC and single cropping system respectively). Altogether the results of this study suggest that the winter barley-sweet corn double cropping system is a potential strategy to boost farm productivity as well as an adaptation mechanism to be considered for the changing climate in the study region.