Coincidence of variation in yield and climate in Europe

We aimed to characterise the coincidence of yield variations with weather variables for major field crops using long-term datasets and reveal whether there are commonalities across the European agricultural regions. Long-term national and/or regional yield datasets were used from 14 European countries (total of 25 regions). Crops studied were spring and winter barley and wheat, winter oilseed rape, potato and sugar beet. Relative yield deviations were determined for all crops. Meteorological data on monthly means for temperature variables, solar radiation, accumulated precipitation and evapotranspiration were provided for the relevant agricultural regions of each country for 1975–2008. Harmful effects of high precipitation during grain-filling in grain and seed crops and at flowering in oilseed rape were recorded. In potato reduced precipitation at tuber formation was associated with yield penalties. Elevated temperatures had harmful effects for cereals and rapeseed yields.