POLANGUI COMMUNITY COLLEGE Alnay, Polangui, Albay Evaluating the Effectiveness of Drought-Resistant Crop Varieties on Yield in a Changing Climate Leader: Eljhon Denver A. Lovito Diana A. Racines Reena Ackiesha G. Vena Lianne Bersabe Brian Issah Sapaula John Paul Nazaria Objective: Comparing the yield and resilience of drought-resistant crop varieties against traditional varieties under simulated drought conditions, to determine their suitability for adaptation to climate change impacts on agriculture. Background Information: Climate change is leading to more frequent and intense droughts, significantly impacting agricultural yields. Developing and implementing drought-resistant crop varieties is a key strategy for enhancing agricultural resilience. This experiment will assess the effectiveness of such varieties under controlled drought conditions. Hypothesis: If drought-resistant crop varieties are grown under simulated drought conditions, then their yield will be significantly higher than that of traditional varieties grown under the same conditions. Materials: Two or more drought-resistant crop varieties (e.g., different types of corn or wheat) • One or more traditional crop varieties of the same type • Controlled environment growth chambers or outdoor plots with irrigation capabilities • Soil (consistent type and quality across all plots) • Seeds • Fertilizers (consistent type and amount across all plots) • Watering system for controlled irrigation • Measuring tools (rulers, scales) • Data sheets/spreadsheets for recording data • Moisture sensors (to monitor soil moisture) Procedure: 1. Seed Germination and Planting: Plant seeds of each crop variety in separate pots or plots under optimal growing conditions. Ensure consistent soil, fertilizer, and initial watering across all plots. 2. Simulated Drought Conditions: After a period of establishment (allowing plants to reach a certain growth stage), implement simulated drought conditions in half of the plots for each variety. This can be done by reducing irrigation to a predetermined level, mimicking drought stress. Maintain optimal watering in the control plots. 3. Monitoring and Data Collection: Regularly monitor plant growth (height, biomass), soil moisture levels (using moisture sensors), and any visual signs of drought stress (wilting, leaf discoloration). Record this data at regular intervals (e.g., weekly). 4. Harvest and Yield Assessment: At maturity, harvest the plants from all plots and measure the yield (e.g., weight of grain, number of fruits) for each variety under both drought and control conditions. Variables: 1. Independent Variable: Crop variety (drought-resistant vs. traditional) and watering treatment (drought-stressed vs. control). 2. Dependent Variable: Crop yield (weight or number of harvestable products), plant height, biomass, and visual signs of drought stress. 3. Controlled Variables: Soil type, fertilizer application, initial planting conditions, light exposure, temperature (in controlled environment), and other environmental factors (in outdoor plots, these might be more challenging to fully control). Data Collection: Data will be recorded in a spreadsheet, including: • Crop variety • Watering treatment (drought or control) • Plant height (cm) • Biomass (g) • Yield (g or number of fruits/grains) • Soil moisture (%) • Visual signs of drought stress (scale of 1-5) • Data of Measurement Analysis: Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and statistical tests (e.g., t-tests, ANOVA) to compare the yield and other growth parameters of drought-resistant and traditional varieties under both drought and control conditions. Graphs will be used to visualize the data. Further Investigation: • Test a wider range of drought-resistant varieties. • Investigate the impact of different drought stress levels. • Assess the economic viability of using drought-resistant varieties. • Explore the combined effects of drought and other climate change impacts (e.g., heat stress). • Investigate the nutritional value of crops grown under drought conditions. Notes: This experiment requires careful control of environmental conditions, especially if conducted outdoors. Replication of the experiment with multiple plots for each treatment is essential to increase statistical power and account for variability. Collaboration with local farmers is crucial for selecting relevant crop varieties and obtaining practical insights.
