Air is the main means of transporting water from plants to the atmosphere through evaporation. Therefore, air temperature has a great influence on the process of evaporation of moisture and on the consumption of moisture by plants.
As air temperature rises, its ability to hold water vapor increases. This means that at higher air temperatures, the evaporation of water from the leaves of the plant will occur faster, since the air better absorbs water vapor from the surface of the plant and transfers it to the atmosphere.
In addition, as air temperatures rise, plants tend to evaporate more water to cool their leaves. This happens because the heat generated by evaporation helps to cool the surface of the leaves, and plants use this mechanism to regulate their temperature.
However, if the air temperature is too high, it is possible that the plants will stop taking up water from the soil and evaporating it through the leaves, as evaporation will be too fast and may exceed the plant's ability to absorb water. Therefore, there is an optimal temperature range in which plants can make optimal use of water and regulate their temperature without experiencing water shortages or overheating.
The air temperature data that we received from the weather station shows that during the time period, the air temperature during the daytime reached 30℃ and even higher on certain days.
Next, you need to pay attention to how much moisture evaporates into the atmosphere.
From August 3 to August 16, about 61 mm evaporated from the surface of the leaf and soil. Without timely watering, this can lead to detrimental consequences for the plant.
If we look at the readings of soil temperature, we can see how an increase in air temperature affected the increase in soil temperature in all soil horizons, then we observe a decrease in soil temperature, due to a decrease in air temperature, and thus a decrease in evaporation occurred.
Now you need to pay attention to how the plants used the available moisture due to high temperatures.
What can we tell from the data received from the soil sensor?
The decrease in the volumetric moisture content in the soil occurs from a depth of up to 50 cm. The root system of the potato is very well developed, so the plant's moisture consumption is very active. Due to the fact that the farm has not been irrigated for a long time and there was no precipitation, the plant began to experience a moisture deficit.
Since August 14, there has been a decrease in air temperature, thereby reducing the moisture consumption of the plant. Watering is not done due to the fact that in two weeks the farm will be harvesting potatoes.
In this case, this is the wrong decision. If we look at the graphs, we will see that since August 13, at most depths where root activity was previously noticed, it is now not observed. Soil moisture has approached wilting moisture and soon the root may die.
But cleaning will be done in two weeks. These two weeks the plant will still drink (not much, but it will). These two weeks still need to maintain life in plants, water a little more By the time of harvesting, we need to lower the soil moisture to the lower border of the green zone (taking into account the dynamics of the fall in humidity, determine the date of the last watering.) At the time of harvesting, the soil should not be wet, but also dry (for a long time) it should not be either, since overdried soil for a long time harms the quality of potatoes and complicates the harvesting process (the tuber is damaged).
We recommend low maintenance watering.