AB Plant and Livestock Systems and Environmental Control Engineering

PLANT AND LIVESTOCK MICROCLIMATE

Introduction:
Weather and climate influence both farm animal production and agronomic production. However,
there are many differences, some obvious and some subtle, in the way animals and plants respond
directly and indirectly to given environments. Management intervention is needed not only to improve
the genetic potential of the animals but to ameliorate the constraints on production set by the climate,
the physical environment and the health hazards in a region. On-farm decisions usually involve
selection, design and management of production facilities, while the collective impacts may guide
regional or national policy, determine responses to potential large-scale changes, or influence other
decisions. The case for understanding the implications of regional and local climates affecting those
decisions is self-evident, as is the need for timely forecasts to trigger management anticipation and
response to adverse conditions.
Climate-related agricultural vulnerabilities, as well as their implications for food security and farm
livelihoods, have been extensively documented. Extreme weather events such as floods, droughts,
heat and cold waves, hailstorms, strong winds, cyclones, and other weather events have increased the
exposures of agriculture to climate risk. These processes are hampered by a lack of appropriate climatic
elements, resulting in an unfavorable drop in crop productivity. Increased frequency and intensity of
droughts and floods, as well as erratic precipitation patterns are predicted to increase year-to-year yield
variability in crop production.

MICROCLIMATIC COMPONENTS
Microclimate
 These are dynamic, localized interactions between various processes in the surface layer, such
as energy and matter exchange, radiation processes, and underlying surface effects.

 Refers to the climatic elements in the immediate vicinity of the plants, is critical because it
regulates and affects the physiological reactions of the plants as well as the energy exchange
activities between the plant and its surroundings.

Crop microclimate
 Refers to the climate just above and within the crop canopy and in the soil root zone that can be
influenced by day-to-day management practices at various time scales.
 It refers to any climatic condition that exists within a few meters or less above and below the
Earth's surface, and within vegetation canopies.

The best crop microclimate is one that provides the most favorable environment for the desired
plant response, that is, the response that maximizes crop productivity. The phrase is most commonly
used to describe the surfaces of terrestrial habitats, but it can also be used to describe the surfaces of
oceans and other bodies of water.

Microclimate modification
 It is an attempt to change or regulate the elements of climate on a micro scale, resulting in a
climate that is favorable for plant growth.

Temperature, humidity, wind and turbulence, dew, frost, heat balance, and evaporation all
influence microclimatic conditions. Key plant responses to microclimate can be managed for either
radiation budgets, heat balances and moisture balances. Microclimates are greatly influenced by soil
type. Sandy soils, as well as other course, loose, and dry soils, are vulnerable to extremes in surface
temperature, with high maximum and low minimum temperatures. Vegetation is also important because
it regulates the amount of water vapor released into the atmosphere through transpiration. Furthermore,
vegetation has the capacity to insulate the soil beneath it and reduce temperature variability.
Microclimates regulate precipitation and control evaporation and transpiration from surfaces, making
them crucial to the hydrologic cycle-that is, the mechanisms involved in the circulation of the Earth's
waters.

Animal production problems associated with weather and climate go beyond an understanding of
the processes and variations in the atmospheric boundary layer, and the role of local ground cover and
topography in those variations. Also required is a knowledge of how potential environmental stressors
(ambient temperature, humidity, thermal radiation, air speed) can directly and adversely affect animal
performance, health, and well-being when coping capabilities of the animals are exceeded. The indirect
consequences of weather episodes, such as feed quality and availability, must also be recognized.
 MICROCLIMATIC COMPONENTS

A. Soil moisture and microclimate

When soil moisture is present, the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of the soil are
considerably boosted. As a result, soil moisture-rich locations have a more balanced microclimate with
lower air and soil temperatures. This not only helps plants develop, but it also has an impact on weather
and local rainfall patterns. Soil biotic life can thrive when there is enough moisture in the soil.
Microorganisms help soil fertility by breaking down organic materials and releasing nutrients. When
moisture occupies roughly 60% of the available soil moisture, optimal conditions are achieved. An
abundance of water obstructs the delivery of oxygen, causing microbial activity to stall, cease, or turn
anaerobic, negatively impacting plant growth.

B. Soil Characteristics and Microclimate

The relative amounts of clay, silt, and sand particles in the soil affect the texture. Clay particles
are the tiniest, have the biggest surface area, and have the greatest ability to absorb water. Sand has
the biggest particles and the least ability to absorb water. As a result, sandy soils have a lower moisture
availability and a faster evaporation rate than clay soils. Clay soils, on the other hand, can harden in
drought-prone locations, reducing infiltration and increasing runoff, reducing water availability. The soil
structure is made up of soil texture, soil organic matter, and biological activity on the surface and below
ground. The structure has to do with the development of micro- and macro-aggregates, which are the
ways that distinct particles are held together. A good structure can reduce the wind and water erosion,
as well as induce water infiltration and storage.

C. Soil Temperature and Microclimate

Incoming radiation, as well as the soil's thermal conductivity and heat capacity, determine the
temperature of the soil. Soil color has an impact on how much incoming radiation is absorbed or
reflected. Darker soil absorbs a greater percentage of solar energy, whereas lighter soils reflect sunlight
and are colder. During the day, heat transfer into the soil moves heat away from the direct surface,
resulting in lower temperatures. When the surface temperature drops at night, the soil's heat transfer
direction reverses, and heat is released to the surface, bringing the extremes back into balance. Over
longer time scales, the same process happens, with heat being stored during warmer months and
released during cooler months. The temperature of the soil promotes crop growth by supplying the
warmth required by seeds, plant roots, and soil microorganisms. Plant growth can be hampered by high
soil temperatures, while excessive temperatures can halt microorganism biological processes. Low soil
temperatures, on the other hand, impede plant water intake, hinder nitrification, diminishing soil fertility,
and exacerbate desiccation when air temperatures are greater. High and low soil temperatures both
affect plant evapotranspiration by increasing or lowering it.

D. Air Temperature and Microclimate

The most important factor of local air temperature is incoming and outgoing radiation. Local
vegetation can promote transpiration, which lowers the temperature. Vegetation can also provide
shade, preventing radiation from reaching lower-lying plants or surface levels (partially). Using the
cooling effect of soil moisture to reduce total air temperature can result in higher crop yields by reducing
extreme temperatures. The reflectivity of a surface determines how much sunlight is absorbed, which
is referred to as albedo. It has a significant impact on determining local air temperatures, and it changes
greatly depending on the weather. Local location has a significant impact on incoming radiation such
as the direction in which a slope faces, influences the amount of energy received as well as shade. The
albedo of the soil is determined by its moisture content. Because precipitation changes the local albedo
and provides moisture for evaporation, the interaction between rainfall and air temperature is
significant. A dry soil has a higher albedo than a wet soil in general. Croplands have a higher albedo
than forests, which means they reflect more sunlight back into the sky and produce less surface heat.
Surface processes and qualities interact with temperature, moisture, and wind. Through shade,
vegetation alters the radiation balance while also acting as a wind barrier,

E. Air Humidity and Microclimate

High humid air absorbs water vapor more slowly than dry air, thus reduce plant transpiration.
The existence of local wind is necessary to mix the environment since it moves damp air away from the
vegetation. Dew formation was shown to be aided by mild breezes in unsheltered areas, but dew
formation was found to be inhibited by moderate to high winds. Dew production and duration are
influenced by the presence of vegetation that acts as a windbreak or offers shade. Windbreaks can
help generate dew by reducing wind speeds, but they can also minimize it because local warmer air
layers are not eliminated. Vegetation provides shade, which serves to lower local surface temperatures,
increasing the odds of dew formation. The ability of wind to move air humidity can have a substantial
impact on local humidity levels, both increasing and decreasing.

F. Wind and Microclimate

Wind has the ability to cool plants by removing the warm air-boundary layer that surrounds them.
The removal of the layer and replacement with unsaturated air, causes higher transpiration, may also
alter the plant's water intake. Furthermore, air circulation in the vegetation canopy is necessary for
maintaining good CO2 levels for growth, removing excess humidity, and lowering the general humidity
level, minimizing the risk of illness. Depending on the ambient temperature, wind can make
temperatures warmer or cooler.

MICROCLIMATIC MODIFICATIONS
I. Plant Production
Extreme weather conditions exist above and below ideal weather condition. Climate change is
projected to amplify the frequency, intensity, and consequences of certain types of extreme weather
events. These variables affect the development and growth of the plants. Rainfall/moisture,
temperature, solar radiation, evaporation and evapotranspiration, and wind are all important
meteorological characteristics. If one of those features is out of the box, the growth of the crop will
suffer.
1. Modification of water balance and temperature through Mulch application
In a variety of ways, residue mulch left on or applied to the soil alters the crop microclimate
above and below the soil surface, as well as within the mulch. Farmers all across the world use a variety
of strategies, including residue retention, mulch application, and/or live mulch planting to modify solar
radiation, reflection and absorption, shade, thermal radiation, temperature, humidity, wind/air
movement, evaporation (crop and soil), soil moisture (surface and inside), and crop composition,
structure, and growth. Mulch helps to store moisture, decrease the temperature of the soil, inhibit weed
development, and promote fertility and soil health. Mulches reduce the rate of evaporation from the soil
and conserve soil moisture for use by the plants by obstructing the exchange of water vapors.

2. Modification of solar interception through Plant density and spatial arrangement

Row spacing has a significant impact on canopy temperature and crop radiation absorption. When row
spacing is increased, the crop's ability to absorb radiation declines, more radiation falls on the soil
surface, and the soil temperature rises. If row spacing is reduced, however, radiation interception by
the crop increases and transmission to the soil surface decreases, lowering soil temperature. Planting
the crop on N-E side of the ridge also reduce the solar load in crop plant by avoiding the di rect sunrays.

3. Modification of Precipitation through artificial rain making

Cloud seeding is a methodology for altering the weather. Artificial rain is created in this process by
spraying dry ice or silver iodide aerosols into the upper part of the cloud in an attempt to stimulate
precipitation and form rain. Airplanes and rockets can be used to stimulate the brain. Silver iodide is
the most commonly used substance because it is inexpensive and readily available.

4. Modification of wind through windbreaks and shelterbelts

Windbreaks are a row or a group of trees, shrubs or structural elements used to block and direct the
wind (e.g., fences). Windbreak trees protect a field from prevailing wind patterns, reducing wind speed
significantly before it reaches the crops. By limiting wind speed, windbreaks alter the climate in the
areas they cover. Reduced wind speed has a variety of consequences, including moderated soil and
air temperatures, increased relative humidity, reduced evaporation and increased soil moisture, and
changes in snow distribution.
 5. Modification of plant growth through Fertilizer management
Crop nutrients, whether organic or mineral, are the foods that nourish the plants, which in turn nourish
the people. As a result, fertilizers are essential for food security.

6. Modification of heat waves through Protected cultivation

Protected cultivation makes it possible to obtain increased crop productivity by maintaining a favorable
environment for the plants by reducing the heat waves. The use of netting and other type of covering
has been shown to restrict air movement around the growing seedlings in higher temperature. Protected
cultivation, on the other hand, is used to protect plants from harsh climatic conditions by providing
optimal lighting, temperature, humidity, CO2, and air circulation for optimal plant growth and quality.
Increased air temperatures inside the house combined with improved moisture status and root
development, increased nutrient uptake, favoring leaf conductance and chlorophyll content.

7. Modification of flood through dam, and land-form change

Construction of dams and detention basins can help to reduce flood peaks. Dams can hold a large
amount of water during a flood and help to reduce the peak volume of water during a flood. Ponds,
tanks, and surface storage structures, in addition to dams, help with flood control and water harvesting
during dry seasons. Raised Beds are a revolutionary way to prevent water logging that increases
productivity significantly.
 II. Livestock Production
To alter the microclimate of an animal effectively through housing or environmental modification, we
must consider altering one or more of the following factors: temperature and/or emissivity of the
surroundings; air temperature; air velocity; air vapor pressure; radiation or shade factors; and
conductivity of surfaces that animals might contact. Success is possible in improving production and
efficiency in most climates if a rational approach is followed.

1. Partially or totally enclosed shelters

Enclosed shelters are not recommended for tropical climates because the decreased natural air
velocity and sanitation. In temperate regions, partially enclosed shelters can reduce the thermal
radiation received by animals during hot weather.

2. Genetic improvement for adaptation

Acclimation and adaptation are different processes. Animals are considered acclimated to a given
ambient when body temperature returns to pre-stress levels (Nienaber et al., 1999). Systemic, tissue,
and cellular responses associated with acclimation are coordinated, require several days or weeks to
occur and are therefore not homeostatic in nature (Bligh, 1976). Furthermore, when stress is removed
these changes decay. Adaptation, on the other hand, requires modifications of the genetic structure
and is a process involving populations, not individuals. Genetic improvement is an evolutionary action;
evolution should be defined as a continuous process of adaptation of the populations of organisms to
the ever-changing geological, biological and climatic conditions (Dobzhansky, 1970).

3. Environmental Modification
Direct wetting of animals is often used as an emergency measure, and can be a very effective
protective device. The wetting by sprinklers has been used as a routine technique for swine (Nicholas
et al., 1982) and beef cattle (Morrison et al., 1973) with measurable benefits, but not in other cases
(Morrison et al., 1981).
Air cooling using evaporative coolers designed to reduce ambient temperatures in livestock shelters
can be quite effective. Other options exist for hot environments, up to complete mechanical air
conditioning. While air conditioning is technically feasible, high initial and operating costs preclude its
use in almost all areas and situations. Cooling of roofs or other surrounding surfaces by evaporation of
water can effectively reduce the radiant heat load on animals (e.g., by using water sprinklers on the
roof).

References:
 • Roberto Gomes da Silva. Weather and Climate and Animal Production, Retrieved from
http://www.agrometeorology.org/files-folder/repository/amp_chapt11.pdf

• Udit Debangshi. Crop Microclimate Modification to Address Climate Change,

International Journal of Research and Review, Vol.8; Issue: 9; September 2021, Retrieved
from https://www.ijrrjournal.com/IJRR_Vol.8_Issue.9_Sep2021/IJRR050.pdf

Activity 1
PLANT AND LIVESTOCK MICROCLIMATE

Answer the following questions:

1. Define microclimate. How does it affect plant and livestock production?

2. Give at least one item that influences microclimate conditions and discuss its effect to plants
and animals.

3. Discuss one microclimatic condition and its usefulness in plant and livestock production.

4. Discuss one plant and one animal microclimatic modifications and include the benefits derived.

5. Add one microclimatic modification not included on the lists above which you believe can be of
great help in plant and animal production and briefly discuss it.