Trends and effects of agro-climatic resources and main meteorological disasters during Lycium barbarum L. growing seasons in Ningxia

In order to adapt to climate change, and rationally and efficiently use agro-climatic resources, and to facilitate the high-quality development of the Lycium barbarum L. industry, the climate change trends of the major meteorological factors during the L. barbarum growth period were evaluated, and the major meteorological disasters and their possible effects on the L. barbarum industry were investigated based on meteorological data from 10 national meteorological observation stations in L. barbarum-producing areas of Ningxia from 1961 to 2021. The results showed that the temperature and the number of high-temperature damage days during the growth period of L. barbarum increased. Compared the recent 10 years to the period of the 1960s, the average, maximum, and minimum temperature increased by 1.51 ℃∙a⁻¹, 1.25 ℃∙a⁻¹ and 2.06 ℃∙a⁻¹, respectively; and the number of high-temperature damage days increased by 12.2 d∙a⁻¹, which abruptly change in 2001, and after then the number of high-temperature damage days increased by 9.2 d∙a⁻¹. Accordingly, the heat resources also showed a significant increasing trend. The active accumulated temperature (≥10 ℃) in summer and autumn double harvest areas increased by 266.1 ℃∙d∙a⁻¹ and 132 ℃∙d∙a⁻¹, and both of them abruptly changed in the 1990s, and after then increased by 10.6% and 9.1%. The active accumulated temperature (≥10 ℃) during the whole growth period of L. barbarum in single harvest areas increased by 319.9 ℃·d∙a⁻¹, and abruptly changed in 1997, after then the integrated temperature increased by 11.4%. In addition, the interannual variability in precipitation and precipitation days was large in the L. barbarum area, and sunshine hours during the autumn fruit stage showed a decreasing trend. The growth process of L. barbarum was generally earlier by 11−13 d, and the entire growth period was prolonged owing to climate change. Among all meteorological disasters, the risk of spring frost disasters increased overall, and the middle to severe frost risk increased significantly since 2010. High-temperature damage days increased significantly and abruptly chaged in 2001, with an average increase of 12.2 d∙a⁻¹ compared to before. The occurrence of rainy days increased, and the interannual variability was also large. Hailstorm disasters showed a decreasing trend, with an average annual decrease in six station-times over the past 10 years compared with the 1960s. This study analyzed the evolutionary trend of agro-climatic resources during the growth period of L. barbarum in Ningxia, reasonably explained the advantages and disadvantages of the changes in the growth and development of L. barbarum, and analyzed the changes in the main meteorological disasters affecting L. barbarum, providing a scientific reference for the quality improvement of L. barbarum in Ningxia. It is suggested that the major meteorological disasters affecting L. barbarum induced by climate change should be fully recognized, and early warning and defense capabilities should be strengthened.