Abstract
<p>The objective in this work was to study the influence of the North-South plantation alignment with respect to microclimatic, growth, and mineral nutrition conditions in order to quantify the variables and to point out possible consequences for the coffee tree. The experiment was carried out in a 6-year-old conilon coffee <em>(Coffea canephora)</em> crop with a mean height of 1.6 m, cultivated in full sun and spaced 3.5 m x 1.0 m. The data were collected on four dates from December 2016 to September 2017 in North Espírito Santo State, Brazil. The irradiance, air temperature, and vapor pressure deficit variables were quantified by means of external data loggers. The leaf temperature was determined by means of thermal images, and the plant growth and nutrient concentration in the leaves on both sides of the plant (East and West) were evaluated. The West side of the plant showed higher values of irradiance, temperature, and vapor pressure deficit in the afternoon, reaching a difference of 5°C between the two sides. The leaf temperature had similar behavior to air temperature, reaching a difference of approximately 12°C between the two sides in the afternoon. Although significant differences were observed for some nutrients between the sides of the plant, macro and micronutrient leaf contents remained within the range considered adequate for the coffee tree.</p>
Highlights
Solar radiation is the source of energy for carbon fixation, so it is one of the main environmental factors that affect the development of plants, especially through photosynthesis
The mean irradiance on the East side of the plant presented higher values than the West side in the morning for all dates of the experiment (Figure 1). This is because the East side receives the incidence of direct solar radiation from morning to noon
The Eastern side of the plant no longer receives the direct solar radiation, and the side of the plant facing West receives this radiation, so higher values were obtained for this side at all dates of the experiment with the exception of on 09/20/2017
Summary
Solar radiation is the source of energy for carbon fixation, so it is one of the main environmental factors that affect the development of plants, especially through photosynthesis. The solar radiation is fundamental in the characterization of the other climatic factors related to the growth of plant species. It is influenced by the orbit of the Earth around the sun during the year and by the inclination in its imaginary axis of rotation in relation to the plane of the terrestrial orbit (FERREIRA et al, 2012). The solar radiation captured by a crop is an important meteorological variable responsible for determining the transpiration and photosynthesis of the plant (ANGELOCCI et al, 2008). It is known that high irradiation values combined with high temperatures can damage the leaves, hindering several foliar metabolic processes and increasing the production of highly reactive molecules of chlorophyll and oxygen (RAMALHO et al, 1998; DAMATTA; RAMALHO, 2006).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
