Agrometeorology :: Microclimate and Plant Growth

http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/agriculture/agri_agrometeorology_microclimate...

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Agrometeorology :: Microclimate and Plant Growth

Soil Water Micro Climate in Relation to Crop Production Soil Temperature Dynamics Soil temperature and its importance in crop production 1. Soil temperature is an important environmental parameter for plant growth. 2. Variation in soil temperature is much more pronounced because of varying characteristics and composition of soil. Drought Flood Salinity Temperature Crop Planning Cropping Pattern Microclimate Temperature Wind Rainfall Farmers Association Publications FAQs ? Glossary Important Links Gallery TNAU Contacts Solar Radiation Relative Humidity Mineral Nutrition Plant Growth Regulators Yield Improvement Tips

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Drip Irrigation Soil temperature and plant 1. Soil temperature extremes influence the germination of seeds, functional activity of root system (Rice 10 C; Wheat 3 C). 2. Excessive high temperature is harmful to roots and also causes lesions of stem. 3. Extreme low temperature impede intake of nutrients. 4. Soil moisture intake by the plants stops when the soil temperature is at a temperature of below 1 C. 5. Day time soil temperature is more important because it is necessary to maintain favourable internal crop water status in the light of the high evaporation rate. 6. High soil temperature causes degeneration of the insets in potato optimum soil temperature for this crop is 17 C, tuber formation is practically absent above 29C. 7. Crop yield increases linearly as the 10 cm depth soil temperature increases from 15 C to 27 C for maize. 8. Extreme low and high temperature influences the soil microbial population and rate of organic matter decomposition. 9. Rate of decomposition is high under high soil temperatures. 10. Soil temperature controls the nutrient availability (eg., Nutrient release and N fixation)

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Agrometeorology :: Microclimate and Plant Growth

http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/agriculture/agri_agrometeorology_microclimate...

Micro-Sprinkler

Trash Mulching Factors affecting soil temperature: Slope: 1. Slope an important factor in temperate regions. 2. In the northern hemisphere a south facing slope is always warmer than a north facing slope (or) plains. Tillage: 1. Shallow tillage and creating dust mulch reduces the heat flow between the surface and sub soil. 2. Cultivated soil has greater temperature aptitude compared to uncultivated soil. 3. The air temperature an inch above the soil is 5 to 10C higher in cultivated soil compared to uncultivated soil during noon. Soil Moisture: 1. Availability of optimum soil moisture maintains the soil temperature at required level. Soil texture: 1. Sandy soil warm up more rapidly than clay soils, because of lower heat capacity of sandy soils. 2. Sandy soils have higher temperature in winter. Organic matter: 1. Organic matter reduces the heat capacity and thermal conductivity of soil, increased absorptivity due to dark colour. 2. When organic soils are dry they become warmer than mineral soil in summer and cooler Source: www.fao.org

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