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Objectives
of this energy may also be absorbed by the soil and other objects, which
causes their temperature to rise.
5. Short-wave infrared radiation (IR) - energy that drives meterological
processes (primarily evaporation of water) in conjunction with other forms
of radiant energy that are absorbed and then converted to heat; wavelength
ranges from >700 to about 3000 nm
6. Long wave IR (thermal radiation is radiation emitted by the earth);
wavelengths are >3000 nm
3. Energy transfer processes and wavelength distribution at Earth's surface
1. Energy transfer to earth is by radiation; energy emitted by the sun
irradiates the earth (see Fig. 7.3)
2. Energy reaching the earth is reflected, scattered (up to 50 to 90% by
clouds), absorbed, or transmitted.
3. Distribution of energy at Earth's surface
1. UV represents about 3% of total incomding radiation. Selective
absorption by ozone in the atmosphere reduces UV to about 1% of
total radiation at Earth's surface. From a human health standpoint,
that reduction is significant.
2. PAR represents about 50% of the total incoming radiation. The
atmosphere is relatively transparent to PAR. The two components
of visible radiation are:
1. Direct - referred to as direct-beam radiation, which is
energy directly from the sun.
2. Diffuse - some direct-beam radiation is scattered by
particulate matter (dust, VOG, smog, water vapor and
droplets (clouds)); scattering can significantly reduce
energy receipt.
3. Infrared also is about 50% of total radiation reaching the Earth's
surface. Some IR is absorbed by CO2, methane (produced by
animals and swamps where anaerobic conditions exist), and water
vapor, especially at the longer wavelengths. Atmospheric models
show that increasing amounts of CO2 and methane can increase
retention of long wavelength IR and is believed to have increased
average atmospheric temperature slightly.
4. Radiation quality (fraction of energy in each wavelength range)
does not change much as a result of passage through the
atmosphere; however, there is measurably less UV and somewhat
more blue and less IR on cloudy days.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1. Crop productivity
1. There is a direct relationship between the quantity of light harvested per
unit of land area and crop yield; because time has value, it is often
included in the equation, i.e. productivity is measured in terms of kg m- 2
day-1
2. Canopy Establishment - rapid canopy establishment utilizes resources
most efficiently. Optimum fertility, water, pest control result in most rapid
growth.
3. Plant Spacing
1. Plant population = number of plants per hectare (area of one
hectare = 10,000 m2, abbreviated ha) or number of plants m-2;
plants per acre (ppa) x 2.47 = ppha.
1. If plant spacing is known, the area occupied by each plant
can be calculated and divided into area of one ha; 0.2 m2
plant; 0.2 divided into 10,000 m2 = 50,000 plants ha-1
2. plants per acre is calculated the same way except there are
43,560 ft2per acre so the calculation is not so easy; if each
plant occupies 2 ft2, there would be 21,780 plants acre-1
3. Spacing between plants and rows varies with the crop; may
be determined by field operations, which require than a
tractor be able to pass between rows or that there be
sufficient space to accomodate laborers
2. Spacing models
1. equidistant spacing where the space on all sides of a plant
is equal; the ideal but not always the most practical. The
diagram below is an attempt to illustrate spacing of plants
at equal distances within and between rows.
x---x---x--x---x
--x---x--x---x--x---x---x--x---x
--x---x--x---x--2. rectangular spacing
x--x--x--x--x
x----x----x row
| | | | |
or | | | interspace
x--x--x--x--x
x----x----x row
3. Within and between row spacing usually is determined by
plant requirements and field operations, which dictate some
less than optimum arrangement of plants