Climate Change Impact on Some Factors Affecting Rainfed Wheat Growth (Case Study: Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province)

The aim of this study was to investigate the climate change impacts on some factors affecting rainfed wheat growth such as effective rainfall, planting date and length of growing season in four stations located in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Firstly, it is necessary to predict future (2046-2065) climatic conditions. For this purpose, the output of HADCM3 general circulation model was used under three scenarios of A1B, A2 and B1. The data were downscaled by LARS-WG model. After simulating the climatic parameters in mention period, the effective rainfall during the wheat growing season was calculated by Food and Agriculture Organization method. Also, the optimum planting date was defined according to the date of the first rain (at least 10 mm in case of continuing for next days). The wheat's growth stages were determined by Growing Degree Days method. The results indicated a rise in temperature for four stations. On average, it is expected that the annual temperature increase by 1.8°C compared with the baseline period (2010-1990). Total annual precipitation in Shahrekord, Koohrang and Borujen will decrease 2.2, 7.8 and 3.6 per cent respectively. About Lordegan it will increase by 2.7 per cent. Also, the results showed that in three stations of Shahrekord, Koohrang and Borujen, the amount of effective rainfall in November will increase compared to baseline, but in Lordegan it will reduce. So, in the first three stations, in most years, planting date was obtained earlier than baseline, but in Lordegan it was later than baseline. The Length of growing season will reduce in Shahrekord, Borujen and Lordegan stations, 12 days on average and in Koohrang about 13 days.