One of the main factors determining the amount and quality of the yield is the weather, which describes the state of the atmosphere at a given place and time. Specific weather conditions such as sunlight, temperature, rainfall, wind, and humidity affect the entire plant production process, from seedbed preparation to harvesting. In addition, we are dealing with extreme weather conditions such as drought, flood, or hail more and more often. Scientists predict an increasingly intense occurrence of dangerous phenomena, which already cause from 8-20% of losses in the yield of cultivated plants. Hence, it’s worth making an ally from weather forecast in the planning of field activities.
Why is weather so important for agriculture production?
First, it affects the vegetation of plants, influencing the course of all life processes taking in them. Second, it determines the possibility of performing various activities in the field. In other words, the weather is the first thing that determines if a farmer can enter the field to perform some activity or not.
Hence, monitoring the weather is imperative, especially when planning field activities such as:
- Sowing/planting
Every crop requires a specific minimum and maximum temperature for germination and growth. For this reason, tracking weather conditions may significantly help in the determination of optimal date for sowing/planting. By choosing an optimal date for sowing/planting, a farmer can also avoid the possibility of frost in the most sensitive crop stages.
- Fertilization
Proper fertilization requires specific weather conditions such as low wind speed, medium temperature, and low possibility for rain after it’s performed. Otherwise, it will not give the expected result, only additional cost to a farmer.
- Protection
Similar to fertilization, optimal time for protection performance depends on the forecasted weather conditions. To achieve the best results, it’s important to take care that there is no possibility for rain after the application, as well as to spray at low/medium temperatures.
- Harvesting
Heavy and prolonged rain at the time of full crop maturity can cause severe crop damage and yield loss, even for a few days. For that reason, it’s extremely important to ensure the best possible conditions for harvest to secure the quality of harvested crops. In other words, harvesting requires perfect planning, particularly regarding the weather conditions.
Today, there are many weather forecast providers of which some provide detailed weather with different parameters, while others provide only basic weather information. Regardless of the number of weather parameters, it’s extremely important to have accurate weather information. For this purpose, one of the best options might be a private weather station or a farm management application that will collect and show data specific for a given field location.
By tracking accurate weather, farmers plan their activities more precisely and minimize additional field trips or the quantity of used products. That way, farmers can reduce production costs and the negative impact on the environment, thus ensuring sustainable crop production.
Each activity related to the plant and field has its own requirements in the term of weather conditions and time of application, which, if considered, will allow obtaining high and quality crop yield. To save your yield and produce healthy and quality crops, you can get this powerful ally by using AGRIVI application. The only thing needed is to enter all your fields and mark them on a satellite map. That way, you can get an insight into accurate weather forecast in just few clicks, anytime, anywhere. Remember to monitor the weather and make your decisions based on the real data from the field when planning field activities.
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