Impacts of Sandstorms on Wheat Yield in Northern China

Sandstorms, exacerbated by global warming and distinct from industrial sources of air pollution, have significant detrimental effects on various socio-economic factors. However, evidence of their impact on agricultural production and the adaptation strategies employed by farmers remains limited. This paper estimates the impacts of sandstorms on crop yields and examines the associated adaptation strategies. Using data from 288 counties in China's winter wheat production regions spanning 2000 to 2007, we uncover a substantial 14.8% reduction in winter wheat yields in northern China due to sandstorms. Each additional hour of sandstorm during the winter wheat growing season corresponds to a 1.4% decrease in yield. Household-level data further reveal that sandstorms not only threaten food security by reducing crop yields, but also lead to a significant decrease in planted areas. Furthermore, we find that farmers increase their investments in fertilizer and labor as adaptation measures to mitigate the negative impacts of sandstorms on crop yields. Our results suggest that timely irrigation following a sandstorm, especially in areas with less precipitation, can effectively mitigate its adverse effects, offering valuable insights for reducing the economic impact of sandstorm events. These findings underscore the need for adaptive strategies to safeguard agricultural productivity in the face of increasing sandstorm risks, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders engaged in agricultural resilience planning.