Ozone pollution contributes to the yield gap for beans in Uganda, East Africa, and is co-located with other agricultural stresses

Sharps, K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3265-1505; Foster, J.; Vieno, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7741-9377; Beck, R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9645-8001; Hayes, F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-5725. 2024 Ozone pollution contributes to the yield gap for beans in Uganda, East Africa, and is co-located with other agricultural stresses. Scientific Reports, 14, 8026. 15, pp. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58144-1

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Abstract/Summary

Air quality negatively impacts agriculture, reducing the yield of staple food crops. While measured data on African ground-level ozone levels are scarce, experimental studies demonstrate the damaging impact of ozone on crops. Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), an ozone-sensitive crop, are widely grown in Uganda. Using modelled ozone flux, agricultural surveys, and a flux-effect relationship, this study estimates yield and production losses due to ozone for Ugandan beans in 2015. Analysis at this scale allows the use of localised data, and results can be presented at a sub-regional level. Soil nutrient stress, drought, flood risk, temperature and deprivation were also mapped to investigate where stresses may coincide. Average bean yield losses due to ozone were 17% and 14% (first and second growing season respectively), equating to 184 thousand tonnes production loss. However, for some sub-regions, losses were up to 27.5% and other crop stresses also coincided in these areas. This methodology could be applied widely, allowing estimates of ozone impact for countries lacking air quality and/or experimental data. As crop productivity is below its potential in many areas of the world, changing agricultural practices to mitigate against losses due to ozone could help to reduce the crop yield gap.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58144-1
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects (Science Area 2017-) Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	2045-2322
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	abiotic, atmospheric chemistry, environmental impact
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	05 Apr 2024 15:14 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/537225

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