Soybean phenological changes in response to climate warming in three northeastern provinces of China

• Published in: Field crops research 2023-10, Vol.302, p.109082, Article 109082
• Main Authors: Xin, Minghua, Zhang, Zhenggui, Han, Yingchun, Feng, Lu, Lei, Yaping, Li, Xiaofei, Wu, Fengqi, Wang, Jian, Wang, Zhanbiao, Li, Yabing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Climate change; Soybean phenology; Spatial-temporal response; Three northeastern provinces of China
• ISSN: 0378-4290
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109082

Soybean plays an important role in agricultural production in three northeastern provinces of China; furthermore, climate change, particularly temperature and rainfall changes, can significantly regulate soybean phenological periods. Current research on the spatial and temporal characteristics of soybean phenology and its relationship with climate change in the three northeastern provinces of China is still inadequate. In this study, phenological and meteorological data from 26 agrometeorological stations in northeastern China were used to evaluate temporal and spatial changes and their correlations with soybean temperature, rainfall, phenological stage, and growth duration over the long term in three northeastern provinces. On average, 22 of the 26 stations showed increases in temperature, and 15 stations showed increases in rainfall during the survey stage. All of soybean growth nodes were delayed, except R8, which advanced by 0.28 days, and all soybean growth durations were shortened except for during the V3-R1 period. In addition, temperature was negatively correlated with growth duration, while rainfall was positively correlated with growth duration. Further, the spatial and temporal distribution of temperature and rainfall showed that an increase in temperature led to an increase in thermal conditions and a significant northward and eastward expansion of the cumulative temperature zone, with the most significant increase in temperature occurring in most areas of Heilongjiang, followed by Liaoning. Soybean planting practices in the three eastern provinces should be adjusted to medium- and late-maturing varieties, which can adapt to climate change and mitigate its effects during the phenological period, due their tolerance to high heat. These findings fill a knowledge gap for understanding the relationship between soybean phenological changes and climate change in the three northeastern provinces. •Clarifying the soybean phenology how to response to hydrothermal variation.•The soybean growth period was shortened due to delayed sowing and advanced harvest.•Compared to rainfall, the temperature has greater impact on the soybean phenology.•Except flowering to podding, other stages shorted with increasing of mean temperature.