Changes in the agro-technique cultivation of barley as an adaptation to climate change.

Abstract

Agricultural crops productivity depends on the optimum degree of genetic factors, climate, soil and the level of agro-technology. These factors are changing constantly. The study is focused in a multi-year analysis of the climatic indicators in the region of Korça, by analysing the impact of these changes on the performance of morphological, physiological and production indicators of barley cultivars. The experimental part of the study identified the most suitable barley cultivars and planting period in response to climate changes. The observed data for the time period 2018–2021, and their comparison with a 30-year range period 1961–1990, indicated an increase by 1.8°C of the average atmosphere temperature. During the years of the study, the annual average amount of precipitation has shown not significant changes, but is observed less rainy days with high intensity. The application of the integrated Bagnoulus & Gaussen method indicated that the drought period has increased. From the study it is concluded that climatic factors affect the development of plants not separately but integrated. The period with the greatest influence of ecological factors on the production of different genotypes of barley occurs in the months May – June, a period where the plant is in the ripening stage. The main factor identified, in terms of adaptation to climate change, is the planting of barley in October compared to March, applied in previous practices. Different barley genotypes manifest different degrees of response to climate changes.