Optimizing Sowing Date and Planting Density Can Mitigate the Impacts of Future Climate on Maize Yield: A Case Study in the Guanzhong Plain of China

We used the APSIM-Maize model to simulate maize potential yield (Yp) and rain-fed (Yw) when adaptation options of sowing date planting density were adopted under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 8.5 in Guanzhong Plain China. The results showed that Yp would decrease by 10.6–14.9% 15.0–31.4% RCP4.5 RCP8.5 for summer maize, 13.9–19.7% 18.5–36.3% spring respectively. Yw 17.1–19.0% 23.6–41.1% 20.9–24.5% 27.8–45.5% loss could be reduced 2.6–9.7% 0–9.9%, respectively, future climate through countermeasures. For was mitigated 14.0–25.0% 2.0–21.8% Yw. contribution changing plant on more than optimal effective maize. Additionally, influences yields become weak as changes severe. Therefore, it is important investigate other measures cope with change