How to Cite:
Rodríguez, J. E. P., & Verdezoto, R. P. C. (2022). Impact of climate change on crop yield of
corn (Zea mays L.) in the Canton Junín, Province of Manabí. International Journal of
Health Sciences, 6(S2), 10779–10795. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS2.7664
International Journal of Health Sciences ISSN 2550-6978 E-ISSN 2550-696X © 2022.
Manuscript submitted: 27 March 2022, Manuscript revised: 09 April 2022, Accepted for publication: 18 May 2022
10779
Impact of climate change on crop yield of corn
(Zea mays L.) in the Canton Junín, Province of
Manabí
José Eduardo Palma Rodríguez
Programa de Maestría en Gestión Ambiental, Instituto de Posgrado, Universidad
Estatal del Sur de Manabí
Corresponding author email: eduardopr12@outlook.es
Rodrigo Paul Cabrera Verdezoto
Programa de Maestría en Gestión Ambiental, Instituto de Posgrado, Universidad
Estatal del Sur de Manabí
Email: rodrigo.cabrera@unesum.edu.ec
Abstract---Agriculture provides a significant fraction of the food
consumed worldwide. In Ecuador, a large area is dedicated to the
production of corn (Zea mays L.). However, the progress of current
projections in agriculture may be directly affected by climate change
and its effects. The present study aims to evaluate the impact of
climate change on maize (Zea mays L.) crop yields over the last 10
years (2010 - 2020) and to predict future yields under different
climate change scenarios proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC). Variables such as rainfall, temperatures,
heliophany, evapotranspiration, solar radiation, and humidity
recorded in the last 10 years on a monthly and annual basis were
considered. The data were obtained from two weather stations, and
their impact on the yield of this crop on different farms was analyzed
by linear regression. The ArcGis program was used to predict the 10-
year corn production (yield) under the different IPCC scenarios,
through the analysis of the Maxent model for Zea mays. The current
situation of maize (Zea mays L.) in the Junín canton is affected by
considerable climatic variations and other serious effects that are
detrimental to the local agricultural system. The elaboration of present
and future maps through the Maxent software forecast allows
concluding that the climatic variables that influence the yield of the
maize crop (Zea mays L.) are solar radiation and temperature, so it is
important to improve the conditions of the population by allowing field
support programs that are aligned in conjunction with a good
irrigation system planning and an effective improvement of the
product.