Crop yield, water use efficiency, and grain quality could be affected by climate change due to limited evapotranspiration and reduced soil water storage (SWS) caused by higher temperatures and changing rainfall patterns. However, this is not backed up with direct observations so far and is often investigated more indirectly by model simulations or soil moisture observations. Therefore, we aimed the current study to investigate the response of key variables to climate change by using high-precision weighable lysimeters. According to a “space-for-time” concept, intact soil monoliths that were moved to sites with contrasting climatic conditions have been monitored to analyze effects of climate change. A characteristic decrease of the SWS for soils with a finer texture was observed under a drier and warmer climate. Longer drought periods showed a potential to reduce the SWS capacity. Crop yield was significantly higher, without affecting grain quality, and evapotranspiration was lower for the same soil under drier and warmer climate. Results confirmed a more efficient crop water use under less optimal soil moisture conditions. The decreasing SWS capacity and a change from a wet-cold to a dry-warm climate reduced the groundwater recharge substantially. Potential soil structural modifications due to climatic changes should be considered when trying to develop adaptation strategies in the agricultural sector.
