Crop Assessment
Crop & comments for the Pacific at large (from Bell & Taylor) |
Marshall Islands evaluation Changes from Bell & Taylor because (a) as atolls, the Marshalls are more susceptible to sea level rise than the Pacific at large; (b) the Marshalls region is not expected to experience as many storms and such increased rainfall as the Pacific at large, at least within 40 years; (c) other comments as shown. |
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Short Term (2030) |
Medium Term (2050) |
Long Term (2090) |
Additional comments
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Staple aroids / tubers |
Sweet potato (Ipomea) Sensitive to waterlogging; high temperatures could affect tuberization |
Low to moderate |
Moderate to high |
High |
Sandy soils avoid waterlogging |
Cassava or Tapioka (Manihot) |
Low to moderate |
Moderate |
Moderate to high |
The major cause of lowered productivity during this period is expected to be sea level rise; drought will be a second cause of lowered productivity. |
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Taro (Colocasia) Increased temperature may favor taro leaf blight |
Low to moderate |
Moderate to High |
High |
Grown in pits; sensitive to sea level rise. Dryland varieties of Colocasia will do better as pit varieties will be affected by salt water intrusion. |
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Giant swamp taro (Cyrtosperma) |
Moderate to High |
High |
High |
Grown in pits; sensitive to sea level rise
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Giant taro (Alocasia) |
Low to moderate |
Moderate |
Moderate to high |
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Arrowroot (Tacca) (not addressed by Bell & Taylor) |
Low to moderate |
Moderate |
Moderate to high |
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Other traditional staples |
Breadfruit (Artocarpus) |
Low to moderate |
Moderate to high |
High |
More sensitive to salinity than many atoll trees |
Banana (Musa) |
Low to moderate |
Moderate |
Moderate to high |
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Bele (Abelmoschus manihot) |
Low to moderate |
Moderate |
Moderate to high |
Must be grown inland, away from salt |
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Bob (Pandanus) (not addressed by Bell & Taylor) |
Low |
Low to moderate |
Moderate |
Likely to be the most salt and drought tolerant food plant of the Marshalls |
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Commercial |
Coconut (Cocos) Senile plantations susceptible to wind; impacts lower for replanted trees |
Low to moderate |
Moderate |
Moderate to high |
Salt and drought tolerant. Marshalls experiences fewer storms than Pacific average |
Horticultural crops |
Papaya (Papaya) Wet weather favors fungal diseases |
Moderate |
Moderate to high |
High |
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Mango (Mangifera) Fruit set affected by wet weather |
Moderate |
Moderate to high |
High |
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Citrus |
Low to moderate |
Moderate |
Moderate to high |
Lime |
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Watermelon High rainfall bad |
Moderate |
Moderate to high |
Moderate to high |
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Tomato High rainfall, temperature bad |
Moderate |
Moderate to high |
Moderate to high |
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