Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, which are already having a profound impact on the crops in large agricultural. We are seeing decreases in crop productivity due to plant stress from excessive dry and warm conditions.
The University of Texas at El Paso study will look at how drought, heat waves, and soil impact the cycle of water and carbon between plants and the atmosphere in dryland agricultural ecosystems. It will focus on two orchards, one in the El Paso area and another in the Conchos River basin near the city of Delicias in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The research team will monitor tree and root system growth, soil-plant water status, and canopy temperature.
Their goal is to develop a detailed understanding of how soil structure and management practices can either mitigate or exacerbate the stress that plants experience during extreme weather events.
