Review of research on the impacts of climate change on staple grain crops in the three provinces of Northeast China

The reality of global climate change has already led to food crises and increased risk of starvation in some parts of the world. As a major grain production region, the three provinces of Northeast China are particularly vulnerable to climate change. In this article, we categorize the effects of climate change and extreme climate events on the production of maize, rice, and soybean in the three provinces of Northeast China. We then summarize the main research methods used to study climate change and its effects on staple grain crops as well as countermeasures to climate change, and further review the challenges of the major research methodologies and fields. 1) Statistical analysis, crop modeling, and field experiments were the main techniques used to investigate how climate change and extreme climate events affect crop growth and yield. Although crop modeling and field experiments offered the most powerful mechanistic insights, statistical analysis was the most extensively used practical approach. 2) Climate change is evident in the three provinces of Northeast China, whereas drought has steadily replaced low-temperature freezing damage as the main agricultural disaster over time. 3) Climate change has been favorable to crop yield in the three provinces of Northeast China, with global warming improving heat resources. Crop-growing areas are gradually moving northward, and varieties are undergoing a shift from early-medium maturity to medium-late maturity. 4) As global warming continues to intensify, it will be crucial to opt for crop varieties in the future that demonstrate robust resilience to high temperatures, drought, cold, and other environmental challenges. Additionally, agricultural irrigation systems should be enhanced to ensure resilience against drought and flood disasters. To safeguard the health of the soil and ensure food security, new agricultural management techniques should also be considered. 5) Research on CO₂ compensation, pests and diseases, and the improvement of crop models need to be intensified and enhanced to better address the adverse impacts of climate change on food security.