A METHOD FOR ESTIMATING THE DIRECT AND CLIMATIC EFFECTS OF RISING ATMOSPHERIC CARBON-DIOXIDE ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CROPS .2. SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS AT 3 SITES IN THE MIDWESTERN USA

That atmospheric CO2 concentration is increasing is well established, and it is generally well accepted that this increase will have beneficial effects on plant productivity. What remains most uncertain is the nature and magnitude of the climatic changes that will occur as a result of the increase of carbon dioxide and other radiatively active trace gases. Thus, it is difficult to predict the combined impact of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide on agricultural productivity. A comprehensive cropping system simulation model, EPIC, was used in a sensitivity analysis of crop growth response to the combined effects of CO2 concentration increase and CO2-induced climate change. Maize, soybean and wheat cropping systems in the midwestern USA were studied.