31/08/2026
Did drought or heat have greater effect on crop yields this harvest?
This summer’s prolonged period of low rainfall and repeated heatwaves have seen cereal yields struck down as stressed crops senesced rapidly.
Drought is often viewed as the primary limitation to cereal production during late spring and early summer, but heat stress can, in fact, be more damaging.
While the two stress factors often occur simultaneously, they affect crops in different ways and have different effects on yield.
The key distinction is that drought primarily limits crop function, whereas heat can permanently damage reproductive development.
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This summer’s prolonged period of low rainfall and repeated heatwaves have seen cereal yields struck down as stressed crops senesced rapidly. Drought is