Weather factors, including humidity, temperature, solar radiation, and
precipitation, are crucial for crop scheduling due to their direct and
indirect effects on crop growth, development, and yield. These factors
influence various aspects of plant physiology, such as photosynthesis,
respiration, germination, and flowering.
1. Temperature: Temperature affects plant growth by influencing metabolic
processes, such as photosynthesis and respiration. High temperatures can accelerate
crop growth, leading to earlier maturity, while low temperatures can delay growth
and development. Extreme temperatures can also negatively impact crop yield and
quality. For example, high temperatures can cause dehydration and leaf scorching,
while low temperatures can lead to frost damage and reduced germination rates.
2. Humidity: Humidity affects crop growth by influencing the rate of
water loss from plants through transpiration. High humidity can increase the
rate of transpiration, leading to water stress and reduced crop growth.
Conversely, low humidity can reduce the rate of transpiration, leading to
reduced water use efficiency and reduced crop growth.
3. Solar radiation: Solar radiation is essential for plant growth, as
it provides the energy source for photosynthesis. The amount of solar
radiation reaching a crop is affected by the amount of water vapor in the
atmosphere, with clouds reducing solar radiation by reflecting it back into
outer space. The ability of a crop to collect sunlight is a function of leaf
surface area or leaf area index.
4. Precipitation: Precipitation affects
crop growth by providing water for plant growth. However, excessive
precipitation can lead to waterlogging, which can reduce crop growth and
yield. Conversely, insufficient precipitation can lead to water stress,
reducing crop growth and yield.
