Projected impacts of sowing date and cultivar choice on the timing of heat and drought stress in spring barley grown along a European transect

Barley is one of the most important cereals for animal and human consumption. heading grain filling are especially vulnerable to heat drought stress, which projected increase in future. Therefore, site-specific adaptation options, like cultivar choice or shifting sowing dates, will be necessary. Using a global climate model ensemble phenology we spring barley maturity dates 2031–50 climatically contrasting sites: Helsinki (Finland), Dundee (Scotland) Zaragoza (Spain). We compared future with baseline period (1981–2010) described corresponding stress conditions how they were affected by i.e. date + /- 10–20 days, choosing early late cultivars combining both agroclimatic indicators. At all sites occurred earlier (up three weeks earliest sowing) than period. Along European transect, periods hotter under but advancing alleviated notably. Different indicators signaled more severe 2031–50. Helsinki, delayed exposed less likely because typical summer droughts avoided. Zaragoza, fewer, yet intense, rainfall events during cultivars. Only scenario RCP4.5, at slightly wetter Our study provides unique overview along climatic transect quantifies effects different adaptations barley. The approach can extended coupling crop modelling.