Wheat could require dramatically more water during future heat waves, scientists warn

heat waves. The study, led by Robert Caine and Holly Croft from the School of Biosciences, revealed that wheat crops lose many of the key water-saving benefits usually associated with growth at higher atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide when they are exposed to heat wave conditions. Wheat is known for providing around 20% of daily calories to humanity worldwide and is the most widely cultivated crop by land area. However, while yields have risen dramatically over the past century, largely due to nitrogen fertilizers, this has increased the crop’s thirst for water and made it more vulnerable to drought, according to the study. When scientists examined wheat under high CO2 heat wave conditions, they discovered that stomata open much more widely, seemingly to increase water flow and help the plant cool through increased evapotranspiration. It noted that during heat waves, wheat stomata also failed to respond effectively to changing light levels, irrespective of the CO2 ...