The atmospheric CO₂ concentration is predicted to increase from a current value of 385 ppmv to about 500-650 ppmv by 2050, to generate a rise in global surface temperature and to change seasonal precipitation. This could aggravate the severity of summer drought conditions and affect crop yields. A study of wheat grown at high CO₂ concentrations of 671-684 ppmv shows that CO₂ enrichment increased wheat biomass and grain yield by more than 44% under drought stress conditions. The findings thus indicate that the increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration could attenuate the effects of summer drought on wheat grain yield.

Drought stress effects on wheat are mitigated by atmospheric CO₂ enrichment
Remy Manderscheid and Hans-Joachim Weigel
Agron. Sustain. Dev. 27 (2007) 79-87
DOI:10.1051/agro:2006035

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