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Prac-3

The document outlines the importance of measuring maximum, minimum, and soil temperatures for crop growth and development, emphasizing the role of air temperature in water use and grain yield. It describes various instruments used for temperature measurement, including the Stevenson Screen, maximum and minimum thermometers, dry and wet bulb thermometers, and soil thermometers. Additionally, it details the observation hours and procedures for accurate temperature recording.

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9 views5 pages

Prac-3

The document outlines the importance of measuring maximum, minimum, and soil temperatures for crop growth and development, emphasizing the role of air temperature in water use and grain yield. It describes various instruments used for temperature measurement, including the Stevenson Screen, maximum and minimum thermometers, dry and wet bulb thermometers, and soil thermometers. Additionally, it details the observation hours and procedures for accurate temperature recording.

Uploaded by

papinders32
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Measurement of Maximum, Minimum Temperatures and Soil Temperature

Objective: To study about temperatures

Air temperature plays a vital role in crop growth and development. Crop water use increases
with the increase in temperature. There are three cardinal temperatures (viz. maximum,
minimum, and optimum temperature ranges) for germination, flowering and other crop
developmental processes. The range of temperatures present also determines final grain yields
during the crop-growing season and hence, the observations of air temperatures at different
hours of the day as well as maximum and minimum values for the day are important.

Description of the instruments:

Stevenson Screen (Single size):

It is a wooden box in which (1) Dry bulb (2) Wet bulb (3) Maximum thermometer and (4)
Minimum thermometer are exposed. It provides all the essential conditions for the exposure
of the thermometers i.e. Free access of air to the bulb of the thermometers Protects the
thermometers from the direct exposure to sunrays and raindrops. It is a double louvered
wooden box, with a dimension being 2‟X 2.5‟ X 3.0‟ with double roof. The upper one
projecting 2” beyond the sides of the screen and slopping from front to back. The front of the
screen is hinged as a door and can be opened downwards. The Stevenson screen is to be
erected on four iron posts with the door opening to the north. The bottom of the screen
should be kept 120cm. above the ground level.

Maximum Thermometer:
 It is a mercury in glass type of thermometer ranging from –35°C to +55°C, having a
mercury constriction which does not allow mercury to come down when the
prevailing temperature falls, unless mechanical jerk is given.
 It records the highest temperature reached since last observation.
 The thermometer is to be set at 0700hrs. LMT by giving jerks.

Minimum thermometer:
 It indicates the lowest temperature reached during last 24 hrs.
 It is an alcohol / spirit in glass type thermometer ranging from –40°C to +50°C,
having a light narrow index.
 Reading is taken from the end of index, which is away from the bulb.
 It is set at 1400 hrs. LMT by tilting the thermometer with the bulb upwards.

Dry bulb Thermometer:


 It is an instantaneous instrument, which gives the current temperature of the air. It is
mercury in glass type thermometer.
 It is just like an ordinary mercury thermometer ranging from -35°C to 55°C, used for
calculating the relative humidity, dew point temperature and vapour pressure.
 The least count of the thermometer is 0.5°C but reading is recorded up to 0.1°C.

Wet bulb Thermometer:


 It is same as the dry bulb thermometer except that the bulb of this thermometer acts as
an evaporating surface.
 The bulb is enclosed with muslin, which is connected with a thread dipped in distilled
water container.
 The water flow is maintained through the thread and keeps the bulb of the
thermometer wet.
 This temperature is used for calculating dew point temperature, relative humidity and
vapour pressure.
 Maximum and Minimum thermometers are kept inside the screen horizontally where
as dry bulb and wet bulb are hanged vertically.

Double Size Stevenson Screen:


Its construction is similar to that of single size Stevenson Screen except that it is
double in length. In this screen self-recording instruments like Thermograph,
Hygrograph or Thermo hygrograph, Evaporigraph Barograph etc are kept.

Thermograph:

It is an instrument used for recording continuously the temperature of air. Common


type of thermograph is Bourdon tube, which has a flattened, curved metal tube filled with
liquid, sealed and fastened rigidly at one end. With change of temperature, there is
unequal expansion or contraction of the liquid and the metal, producing a change of
curvature in the tube thus moving the free end. This movement is communicated to a
pen, which is caused to moving up and down on a drum that is being rotated by a
clockwork arrangement within it. In this manner a continuous record of temperature is
traced on the graph sheet surrounding the rotating drum.

Thermo hygrograph: It is an instrument used for recording continuously temperature


and relative humidity both on a single graph paper.

Soil thermometer:
Soil thermometers are used for recording the variation of soil temperature with time and
depth in the layers which are affected by diurnal variation and with which crops are
primarily concerned. Diurnal range of soil temperature is the highest at the surface and
this range decreases rapidly with depth and becoming practically negligible at a depth of
1 ft. These thermometers are held by the iron stands in inclined position making 60° angle
with soil surface. Soil thermometers commonly used are of three depths 5, 10 and 20 cm.
Thermometers should face south direction. These are placed 45 cm apart in a plot of size
120x180 cm.
Grass Minimum Thermometer (The Terrestrial Radiation Thermometer):
This instrument is used to measure the actual minimum temperature
experienced by the plant near ground surface. The grass minimum
temperature is lower than the air temperature at screen height. The readings
of the thermometer indicate the possibility of occurrence of ground
frosts. A ground frost is likely to have occurred when the instrument
records 0OC (32°F) or below it. Its construction and working is similar to
that of minimum thermometer. The thermometer is exposed 1” above
ground surface on its support over the grass plot in the evening and its
reading is noted before sunrise in the next morning. After reading the
instrument in the morning, it should be removed to the observatory room
or some shady place (indoors)to avoid direct exposure to solar radiation.

Hour of Observation:

 Reading of grass minimum thermometer is taken before sunrise.


 Temperature observations viz. dry bulb, wet bulb, maximum,
minimum and soilare recorded at 0700 and 1400 hours LMT.
 After sunset sunshine card is changed and grass minimum
thermometer isexposed.
Air temperatures reported is always measured inside a thermometer shelter
Wooden Legs

Fig 4. Stevenson Screen


Fig 1. Maximum Thermometer

Fig .2 Minimum Thermometer

Fig 3 . Dry Bulb Thermometer

Fig 4. Wet Bulb Thermometer

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