Dynamic management simulation of grasslands in the Spanish Cantabrian Coast for climate change impact assessment
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Permanent grasslands are a fundamental ecosystem for the biodiversity, agricultural, livestock and economic productivity of the Spanish Cantabrian Coast (northern-northwestern Spain). In the context of climate change, it is necessary to quantify precisely how the productivity of these agricultural systems will evolve and whether it will be necessary to introduce adaptation measures. To this aim, this study assesses the impact of climate change on grassland productivity in the Spanish Cantabrian Coast for the near future (2030–2059), through a suite of simulations with the Pasture Simulation model (PaSim) at 150 different sites. By using optimal mowing and fertilization routines, and alternative climate scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 8.5), evidence is given that productivity will likely increase ca. 11–14% for forage and carbon (C) yields, and 7–10% for nitrogen (N) yields in Cantabrian grasslands. To obtain such production increases, it will be necessary to perform cuts more frequently over an extended harvest season throughout the year.
Source: European Journal of Agronomy
Institutions: University of Castilla-La Mancha, Universidad de Valladolid, Université Clermont Auvergne, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, VetAgro Sup, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, Ikerbasque, Basque Centre for Climate Change, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,200
Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Eusko Jaurlaritza, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Fundación Biodiversidad, Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, NextGenerationEU
Awards: G1105844351, G1272900390, G1280739393, G1338257350, G1416831901, G1633674249, G1799927510, G2457174874, G2551911579, G2748651896, G318412399, G3428307696, G3725025645, G4033406476, G4212894969, G4358284397, G4365873533, G4684033848, G491712853, G4993905653, G5404395142, G5448761213, G5635532810, G5698939768, G5808502600, G582027758, G593054264, G5943232429, G6080697404, G6100012143, G624877701, G6326031618, G6419454225, G6520718613, G7395345766, G7805626310, G7863371703, G8497050386, G855041801, G8667377315, G8709270594, G8939903727, G9000925134, G901676405, G95693981
OpenAlex ID: W7220380772