Dossier
Drought
The Dutch climate is changing rapidly, and there is a real chance of increased droughts in the future. The summer of 2018 was one of the dryest in the decades, and 2019 was also far from wet. Wageningen University & Research studied the effect this drought has on agriculture, nature and living circumstances. In this dossier, you will find news, background information and the results of research on drought.
News, research and experts on drought
Drought and crop farming
As a result of climate change and the increasing depletion of natural resources such as water, it is important to develop crops that have an increased resistance to drought. This is the main focus of many knowledge institutes and plant breeding companies. Wageningen University & Research considers it vital to assist our stakeholders by seeking innovative solutions based on GM and non-GM characteristics, that contribute to the global challenges in agriculture. Given the ever-increasing focus on reducing water usage and the predicted rise in dry summers, it is vital to improve these characteristics in our most important crops.
Expert drought and crop farming
News
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WUR participates in major international research on climate-resilient crops
- Deciphering the past to develop future-proof crops. That, in a nutshell, is what the research project Ancient Environmental Genomics Initiative for Sustainability (AEGIS) entails. Wageningen University & Research is one of the participants in this international project, which has received a research grant of 78 million euros. -
How land management can improve water security in Africa
- A study based on a massive data set spanning 19 countries in sub-Saharan Africa offers hope for improving water security for millions - through restorative management practices. For many people in sub-Saharan Africa, reliable access to freshwater is not guaranteed year-round. As much as 90 percent of agriculture depends on water from rainfall, and groundwater is a critical source of freshwater. -
Drought imperils carbon sequestration in European forests
- Forests play a critical part in mitigating climate change due to their ability to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. However, many European forests removed less CO2 from the atmosphere during the extremely hot and dry summer of 2022, according to a new European study. The findings suggest that plans to compensate for CO2 emissions through forests may have to be amended. -
Extreme weather at Unifarm: with so many crops, how do you ensure they stay wet or dry enough?
- Rain, sun, hail and wind are part and parcel of crop trials in open fields. But extreme weather can affect the results of a trial. Gerard Derks and Joep Laan of Unifarm's Outdoor Cultivation Department do everything they can to give the crops whatever they need. How do they go about it? -
More clean water for agriculture and horticulture in times of drought
- Is it possible to safely use treated wastewater (effluent) from sewage treatment plants (WWTPs) as irrigation water in agriculture and horticulture? A group of water boards, knowledge institutions and companies, led by Wageningen University & Research, have launched a study to investigate how this can work in practice. -
Our cabbages originated in the Middle East (and with the warming climate that is a very good thing)
- Brussels sprouts and cauliflowers look nothing alike. Despite this, botanically, they are the same species: Brassica oleracea. And their ancestor grows on the rocky coasts of England and France: the wild cabbage. However, the types of cabbage we eat today did not originate from England or France at all, but from 4,000 kilometres away. How is this possible? -
Arable farming prepares for extreme drought and flooding
- Extreme drought or abundant rain. This is the new reality caused by climate change. How can farmers mitigate the effects as much as possible? The PPC ‘Climate Adaptation Open Cultivation’ will work on practical solutions and innovations in the coming four years. -
Researchers design forecast system for droughts during a season
- Researchers have laid the basements for a forecast system to foresee the drought impacts a few months ahead. This system will make it possible to take measures in time to manage the consequences of droughts, for instance for shipping, agriculture and nature. A research team from Wageningen University & Research and colleagues from Utrecht and Freiburg published their findings in Nature Communications. -
European mega-heatwaves linked to drought
- Heatwaves in Europe have become increasingly frequent and intense in recent years. This summer, Western Europe has already been hit by two severe heatwaves. Researchers from Ghent University and Wageningen University & Research have found a common ingredient of such European mega-heatwaves: drought conditions in the regions the wind blows from. -
Drought: will quinoa replace potatoes?
- Like in the rest of the world, the Dutch climate is changing. This means that we will experience, amongst other phenomena, dry spells followed by heavy rain. ‘We will have to learn to deal with that. We can make our current crops more drought resistant. Another solution would be to grow more drought-tolerant crops such as quinoa’, says Gerard van der Linden, researcher at the Plant Breeding group.
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Drought and nature
Drought severely impacts nature. The water levels and humidity of the soils drop, foliage discolours, and animal populations suffer from lack of food and water. Drought also forces us to stay alert for wildfires: forest fires, heath fires and bush fires. Moreover, there are noticeable changes in 'De Natuurkalender' and insect populations, that increase due to drought (wasps and the oak processionary caterpillar).
Soils may be affected so severely that nothing will grow. Desertification can have numerous causes: water and wind erosion, salination, overgrazing, drought and wildfires. Each cause demands a different countermeasure to turn the tide. Wageningen University & Research collaborates with parties around the globe to find solutions.
Experts drought and nature
Projects drought and nature
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Deltas under Pressure
- Due to climate change and urban development, deltas are under pressure. Quick changes like climate change, salinization, water quality problems, floods and droughts, make adjustments in agricultural production necessary. An interdisciplinary research team of WUR work in an integrated manner on sustainable transition pathways in agriculture in deltas, with the ultimate goal to contribute to the sustainable development goal ‘Zero Hunger’ (SDG2). -
De Natuurkalender
- De Natuurkalender allows citizens to detect the impact of climate change through their ‘backyard’. The Nature’s Calendar project shows how the timing of our seasons is changing due to the increase in temperature.
News
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Drought makes heatwaves hotter, but less deadly
- During heatwaves, there is no rain and the soil dries out. This further enhances the rising of heatwave temperatures. But remarkably, desiccated soils also have an advantage: they reduce air humidity and make a heatwave less deadly to humans. -
Drought severely affects small creatures in brooks
- The extremely dry summers experienced in the Netherlands in recent years cause the demise of an increasing number of small creatures that inhabit creeks, known as macrofauna. This is the outcome of a collaborative study conducted by several water authorities and Wageningen Environmental Research. -
Wageningen World: Purifying water with wetlands
- Salinization and drought are increasingly causing shortages of freshwater in coastal regions. In the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen district on the southern Dutch coast, a Wageningen solution is being tested: the purification of sewage and wastewater from industrial processes in wetlands. This could provide a buffer supply that the entire district can draw on in the summer months. -
Researchers design forecast system for droughts during a season
- Researchers have laid the basements for a forecast system to foresee the drought impacts a few months ahead. This system will make it possible to take measures in time to manage the consequences of droughts, for instance for shipping, agriculture and nature. A research team from Wageningen University & Research and colleagues from Utrecht and Freiburg published their findings in Nature Communications. -
European mega-heatwaves linked to drought
- Heatwaves in Europe have become increasingly frequent and intense in recent years. This summer, Western Europe has already been hit by two severe heatwaves. Researchers from Ghent University and Wageningen University & Research have found a common ingredient of such European mega-heatwaves: drought conditions in the regions the wind blows from. -
Scots pine and Douglas-fir did not grow because of drought 2018: Bas Lerink at NOS News about the impact
- Because of the drought in 2018, growth of Scots pine and Douglas-fir nearly halted in the Netherlands. Researcher Bas reveals in the news on Dutch National TV, the impact drought has on these tree species and which pilot projects Wageningen University & Research is executing in search of ways to make forests more resilient in a changing climate. -
Soils may reduce the impact of drought, or enhance damage
- Tundra and natural forests in Northern Europe are more sensitive to extreme dry and hot climatic events than Mediterranean areas in Southern Europe. The soil plays an important role in determining the climate adaptability of these regions. A soil that has favourable growing conditions, strengthens plant resilience against heat and drought, but a soil with adverse conditions is contributing to the damage. This became clear from recent research by Wageningen University & Research. -
4 million euro for training programme new experts in wildfires
- The past two years were characterized by deadly wildfires in Southern Europe and an increasing number of wildfires in northern regions. This is a glimpse of what is expected in the future. The European Union assigns a 4 million euro grant to PyroLife, a project in which a new generation of experts will be trained in integrated wildfire management. Wageningen University & Research (WUR) will coordinate the project. -
Climate change confronts the Netherlands with many health risks
- Climate change affects our health. Measures that are directed towards preventing climate change or adjusting to it, also make heat stress occur, allergies, diseases, air quality and UV-radiation. The consequences that climate change can have on our health, have hitherto never been documented this extensively: as in the "Knowledge Agenda Climate Change and Health". Over 100 experts have given input to this Knowledge Agenda, that is intended to produce a multi-annual research programme.
Drought and dairy farming
Drought causes the root growth in the grass to stagnate, and the grass to turn yellow. This may cause issues for dairy farmers. Grazing is hampered due to a shortage of grass, and cows may have to be fed supplementary feed as the level of protein in the grass is reduced. Feed prices will increase, and storage issues may develop for manure that is not applied to the soil as the grass requires less manure.
Allow grass to recover
The recovery of grass depends on the depth of its roots, the type of soil, groundwater levels and the degree of dehydration. In general, the recovery capability of grass is extremely high, when left alone.
Tips
1. Dry grass breaks easily, so leave it alone. During persisting dry spells, it may be wise to keep cattle in the barn.
2. Be patient and refrain from fertilising. Especially in heavy clay soils the chance of the fertiliser rinsing out is high.
3. Refrain from mowing to prevent further dehydration. Mow just before the rains to give growth an impulse.
4. Limit fertilisation of the grass for the remainder of the season.
Tailored irrigation
The government allows some farmers to use sprinklers if they use surface water or their own wells, and thus refrain from burdening the water supply. With tailored irrigation, the correct amount of water is provided at the proper time. This may be a solution, especially if drought impairs feed production and grazing. Remote sensing gave this project a new impulse in 2010.
Feed crops
WUR studies the cultivation of drough-resistant feed crops. Sorgum and alfalfa provide interesting alternatives to corn.
