WE'VE GOT ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING COVERED!

Wind Speed and Direction

Wind is measured in speed and direction from which it is coming from. A wind gust is also monitored although a gust is a higher velocity it is of a short duration. Wind and velocity have an affect on crop growth in two ways: Physiological and Mechanical.

The Physiological affects include: a hot wind accelerates the loss of soil moisture and the drying out of plants and increases evapotranspiration, Mechanical effects include: plant foliage damage, uprooted shallow rooted plants and soil erosion.

Ambient Temperature

Farming is generally susceptible to ambient air temperature. Animals have optimal conditions they enjoy, in cold temperatures energy is used to generate warmth. Heat and humidity also affect the animals health and wellbeing. Plants have a temperature range over which they will grow best, temperature fluctuation will affect the growth. The key effects are with seed germination, leaf development, flowering, harvest, and production. When plants are grown outdoors there is very little to be done that will counter the effects of the ambient temperature.

Relative Humidity

See description above

Evapotranspiration

This is defined as water evaporation into the atmosphere from the soil surface and the water movement from the soil to the atmosphere via plants.

Leaf wetness [Dewpoint]

Prolonged leaf wetness and other unfavourable environmental conditions like humidity make plants more susceptible to infection and plant disease. It is important that a number of environmental conditions are monitored and would include: temperature, relative humidity, leaf wetness, rainfall and wind.