Model-Based Assessment of Phenological and Climate Suitability Dynamics for Winter Wheat in the 3H Plain Under Future Climate Scenarios

Yifei Xu, Te Li (), Min Xu (), Shuanghe Shen and Ling Tan
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Yifei Xu: Jiangsu Climate Center, Nanjing 210018, China
Te Li: Jiangsu Meteorological Observatory, Nanjing 210018, China
Min Xu: Jiangsu Climate Center, Nanjing 210018, China
Shuanghe Shen: School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Ling Tan: College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-18

Abstract: Understanding future changes in crop phenology and climate suitability is essential for sustaining winter wheat production in the Huang-Huai-Hai (3H) Plain under climate change. This study integrates bias-corrected CMIP6 climate projections, the DSSAT CERES-Wheat crop model, and Random Forest analysis to assess spatiotemporal shifts in winter wheat phenology and climate suitability. The assessment focuses on the mid- (2041–2060) and late 21st century (2081–2100) under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. The results indicate that the vegetative and whole growing periods (VGP and WGP) will be extended in the mid-century but shorten by the late century. In contrast, the reproductive growing period (RGP) will be slightly reduced in the mid-century and extended under high emissions in the late century. Temperature suitability is projected to increase during the VGP and WGP but decline during the RGP. Precipitation suitability generally improves, except for a decrease during the reproductive period south of 32° N. Solar radiation suitability is expected to decline across all stages. Temperature is identified as the primary driver of phenological changes, with solar radiation and precipitation playing increasingly important roles in the mid- and late 21st century, respectively. Adaptive strategies, including the adoption of heat-tolerant varieties, longer reproductive periods, and earlier sowing, are recommended to enhance yield stability under future climate conditions.

Keywords: phenology changes; climate suitability; CERES-Wheat model; CMIP6 models (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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