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Impact of climate change on soil moisture condition in Nova Scotia

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  21st Century Watershed Technology: Improving Water Quality and the Environment Conference Proceedings, May 27-June 1, 2012, Bari, Italy  12-13835.(doi:10.13031/2013.41431)
Authors:   Raheleh Malekian , Robert Gordon , Ali Madani ASABE Member, Seyyed Ebrahim Hashemi
Keywords:   Climate Change, Soil Moisture, Versatile Soil Moisture Budget (VSMB), Nova Scotia

The potential changes in soil moisture caused by climate change in each region need to be considered by farmers and governments for development of investment strategies. This study presents the results of an application of the Versatile Soil Moisture Budget (VSMB) model in evaluating the effects of potential change on soil moisture at an experimental field located in Nova Scotia growing a grass reference crop. The historical climate data for the period 1961- 2011 was taken from the Environment Canada Climate Station at or near the investigation site. The future climate data (2012-2100) under consideration of this study is based on projections from the Canadian Regional Climate Model (CRCM). The simulation results showed a non-significant increasing trend for precipitation over the historical (1961-2011) and future (2012-2100) period. The results also showed an increasing trend in growing seasonal potential evapotranspiration (PET) and actual evapotranspiration (AET) over the future period. The soil moisture has a decreasing trend over the historical period. A significant decreasing trend (p < 0.01) was also seen in growing seasonal soil moisture over the future period. This trend is expected in all months of growing season except in Apr and May. Increasing soil moisture can be expected in Apr and May in the future, which this trend is significant (p < 0.05) in Apr.

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