Maize yield under a changing climate: The hidden role of vapor pressure deficit

Temperatures over the next century are expected to rise to levels detrimental to crop growth and yield. As the atmosphere warms without additional water vapor input, vapor pressure deficit (VPD) increases as well. Increased temperatures and accompanied elevated VPD levels can both lead to negative impacts on crop yield. The independent importance of VPD, however, is often neglected or conflated with that from temperature due to a tight...