A new University of California San Diego study uncovers a hidden driver of global crop vulnerability: the origin of rainfall itself. Published in Nature Sustainability, the research traces atmospheric moisture back to its source. … They discovered that when more than about one-third of rainfall originates from land, croplands are significantly more vulnerable to drought, soil moisture loss and yield declines – likely because ocean-sourced systems tend to deliver heavier rainfall, while land-sourced systems tend to deliver less reliable showers, increasing the chance of water deficits during critical crop growth stages.

Other drought and agriculture news:

• Stanford Center on Food Security and the Environment: Rainfall tipping point predicts drought risk for crops
• City News Service: Study reveals source of rain is major factor behind drought risks for farmers
• KSBY (San Luis Obispo, Calif.): Drought-tolerant agave offers new hope for California farmers
• The Conversation: Blog: 2 ways you can conserve the water used to make your food