Rice production is projected to decrease 10 per cent if the world's temperature increases by 1 degree Celsius, said Ed Sarobol, lecturer at Kasetsart Univesity's Faculty of Agriculture, referring to a study by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
At the university's 48th annual con-ference, he cited another study - by |Chiang Mai University's researchers - which has not been published yet, which found that the ear of paddy fields and blossoms will drop if the temperature rises. And the seed will be stunted at 80 per cent if the air temperature exceeds 36.5 degrees.
Ed added that increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration also impacted plant growth and development.
He said if the CO2 concentration is increased, the water-use efficiency and photorespiration in plant will also increase. That means if the CO2 concentration increases every 10 parts per million (ppm), the plant production will be increased by one per cent.
However, the increasing temperature also has a positive effect for agricultural areas which had limitations because of the low temperature. He said farmers living in these areas could grow plants as the temperature rises.
Ed said the global environmental change also had an impact on the development of animals. He said animals would have hypercapnia - a condition where there is too much CO2 in the blood.
The increasing air temperature also affects the animals' respiratory system, membrane fluidity and reproductive health.
Ed said the study conducted last year found that during the period 1951-2000, the country's average minimum temperature increased 0.30 degrees while the average maximum temperature increased 0.13 degrees.
The study also found that the amount of rainfall in summer from November to April has increased while the amount of rainfall in the rainy season from May to October has dropped.
The Water Resources Department has projected that about 21 provinces nationwide will face drought this year. The areas with highest risk of drought are Mae Hong Son, Uthai Thani and Sa Kaew.
"We will closely monitor the rain situation from January to April. If the rains are delayed during this period that means the drought situation would be severe," said the department's director-general, Kasemsun Chinnavaso.
He said the department has prepared water-carrying vehicles to provide water and assist people in dry areas.
