Risk Assessment of Extreme Drought and Extreme Wetness During Growth Stages of Major Crops in China

Mingyang Sun (), Yongjiu Dai, Shulei Zhang and Hongbin Liang
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Mingyang Sun: Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
Yongjiu Dai: Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
Shulei Zhang: Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
Hongbin Liang: Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-25

Abstract: Climate change has increased the frequency of extreme droughts and floods in China, threatening agricultural production and food security. However, the impacts of these extreme precipitation events on crops (maize, wheat, and rice) during key growth stages remain poorly understood. To address this, we developed a three-step analytical framework: First, we used transpiration data to identify critical crop growth stages across China. Then, we applied a 10-day standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) to quantify drought and extreme wetness conditions during each growth phase. Finally, we integrated these data into an XGBoost model to assess the relationship between extreme weather and crop yield fluctuations. The results show that maize is most sensitive to water variability during both development and mid-season stages, while wheat is particularly vulnerable to drought during development and rice is mainly affected by water stress during the mid-season. Extreme drought risks are highest in the Northeast Plain, North China Plain, and southern China, while extreme wetness risks are concentrated in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin and southeastern coastal regions. Notably, extreme drought risks are significantly more pronounced than those associated with extreme wetness. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted agricultural strategies to promote sustainable agricultural development.

Keywords: extreme drought; extreme wetness; crop growth stage; crop yield; risk assessment; XGBoost model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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