A warm spring does not necessarily mean bumper crops, according to researchers at the University of Leeds.
It had been thought that shorter winters and longer summers caused by global warming would mean longer growing seasons in Britain and other northern climes. But a team, led by Dr Wolfgang Buermann suggest that warmer springs have actually had adverse effects.
“The earlier onset of spring was thought to aid plant productivity. However when there has been an early warm spring, plant productivity pays the price later in the year.”
For example he said, early growth demands water and when used early by plants the supply may not be available in such abundance later.
