Climatic changes in Central Italy and their potential effects on corn water consumption

The results of the analysis show that rainfall has decreased generally everywhere and the temperature has either remained unchanged or have increased. In particular, in two areas an asymmetric warming results in a decreasing evapotranspiration level. The trends, when present, are stronger in southeastern Umbria; this observation is valid for all the meteorological and agrometeorological indices analysed. At some sites the risk of crop damage due to frost has decreased and sowing time in spring can be anticipated; increasing trends in crop water requirements are expected only when high positive trends in reference evapotranspiration and negative trends in precipitation occur at the same time. Therefore, the regulating function of the soil water zone and the specific plant ability to modify its phenology seem to mitigate the water shortage peaks and the irrigation water requirement potential trends.