Analysis of Plant and Livestock Weather Relationship

I. INTRODUCTION
An area's climate affects the types of plants that can grow there. Plant growth is dependent on
precipitation and temperature. If the precipitation level is too high or too low or if the temperature is
too high or too low, plants may not grow well. Some climates are better for growing crops than others.
Like here in the highlands we plant crops base on what benefited the climate most. With the
temperature here where it is sometimes cold and sometimes hot where there are instances that the
crops depend on it. Farmers plant potatoes mostly on the month of November to April where there are
times that the rain comes on a moderate basis.
Weather has it’s bad and good effect on every plant on every different area in the locality.
II. OBJECTIVES
1. To explain the plant and livestock weather relationship;
2. To differentiate the weather elements; and
3. To understand the effect of the weather elements on the growth and development of plants
and livestock.
III. MATERIALS
Internet resources, devices (i.e. cellphone, laptop, etc.), social media platforms (i.e.
Facebook, twitter, etc.), appropriate references (book, journal, e-book, e-journal etc.) and
drawing paraphernalia.
IV. PROCEDURE
1. Research on the different weather elements that significantly affects the growth and
development of plants and livestock, provide a sample picture with proper labeling
and description.
2. Enumerate the parameters that is need to be considered on measuring physical
growth characteristics for plants and livestock.
3. In your own words of at least 1 paragraph with a minimum of 15 sentences, explain
the effects of each weather elements in plants and livestock.
V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
1. Precipitation
The timing, amount, and, to a lesser degree, the type of precipitation received may impact both the
quantity and quality of a crop.
Too much rain during germination may saturate soils, resulting in poor germination and reduced
stands. However, too little rain during germination may reduce germination and leave plants ill-
prepared for future growth and development challenges. The timing of precipitation may also impact
length of growing season. In the spring, wet soils may limit a farmer’s opportunity to complete field
work, delaying planting and potentially shortening the growing season. Length of the growing season
is important since different crops and varieties of each crop have different time requirements to reach
maturity.
Using corn as an example (Fig. 1), a short-season corn may mature in 120 days where a long-season
corn may require 180 days to reach maturity. A long wet spring, in which planting is delayed due to
field conditions, may mean planting a different variety or switching to a different crop altogether.
Humidity
The fourth factor affecting plant growth and development is humidity. Humidity can impact plant
turgor pressure (or turgidity), which is a measure of the pressure between the plant cell membrane and
the cell wall. Turgor pressure is an indication of the flow of water into the and out of the cell. The
relationship between humidity and cell wall pressure is such that high humidity slows cellular loss of
water through transpiration, maintaining the plant’s turgor pressure. (Fig. 2)
What does that mean in practical terms? When humidity is low, moisture evaporates from plants,
causing a decrease in turgidity which, in the case of drought, leads to wilting of the plant and
decreasing plant productivity. When humidity is high the rate of transpiration declines, increasing
turgidity, curtailing evaporative cooling and in extreme cases leading to the overheating of plants.
Humidity may also affect the onset of various plant diseases. Molds and some fungi spread quickly
when humidity is high. Under ideal conditions, mycotoxins — forms of fungi — may spread
throughout pastures quickly and cause health issues for horses and other livestock. When weather
conditions are right, mycotoxin levels in pastures have been shown to increase or decrease
dramatically in the course of just one or two days. This variation in mycotoxin presence can make it
difficult to diagnose health issues in livestock.
Temperature
Plants can survive or grow only in a specific temperature range. Since enzymes involved in metabolic
activities have different performances at different temperatures, the temperature on plant growth also
has three essential points: the lowest, the most suitable, and the highest temperature. The three critical
points in temperature for the development of different plants are different.
For some particular plants, their seeds can germinate when the soil temperature is above 1 ℃. But if
you want to keep seedlings emerging neatly, you had better sow the seeds when the soil temperature
is above 8-10℃. The optimum temperature for germination is from 25 to 35 ℃. But the highest
temperature should not exceed 45℃. The higher the temperature is high, the faster the germination.
The suitable growth temperature is 10-15℃ for the seedling stage; 18-30 ℃ for the rapid growth
period (19-25℃ are the most suitable); 18-20℃ for flowering and fruiting. The seed can survive at 3-
5℃ and lower temperature within 10-15 days after germination. When the temperature gets down to -
5℃, the growth of seeds will be delayed. However, if you provide sufficient water and nutrients, the
low temperature at the seedling stage will not hurt the subsequent development and yields.
After they enter into the flowering period, they are less tolerant to low temperatures. The plant
budding is easy to die when it encounters sub-zero temperature. It is known that the average
temperature of day and night has a significant influence on plants' growth. Especially from budding to
the end of flowering, the stems grow the fastest. At this period, you should keep the optimal
temperature at 16 (night)-25 ℃ (daytime).
Temperature increases could accelerate the growth of pathogens and/or parasites that live part of their
life cycle outside of their host, which negatively affects livestock. All animals have a thermal comfort
zone, which is a range of ambient environmental temperatures that are beneficial to physiological
 functions. During the day, livestock keep a body temperature within a range of ±0.5 °C. When
temperature increases more than the upper critical temperature of the range (varies by species type),
the animals begin to suffer heat stress. Heat stress on livestock is dependent on temperature, humidity,
species, genetic potential, life stage, and nutritional status. Heat stress decreases forage intake, milk
production, the efficiency of feed conversion, and performance. Warm and humid conditions cause
heat stress, which affects behavior and metabolic variations on livestock or even mortality. Heat stress
impacts on livestock can be categorized into feed nutrient utilization, feed intake, animal production,
reproduction, health, and mortality.
Solar Radiation
Plants use solar energy, in combination with water, to fix carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,
creating carbohydrates that sustain the plants. Fixing carbon dioxide is the process of taking inorganic
carbon and creating an organic product – carbohydrate – that provides energy for the plant (also
known as photosynthesis).
Both the duration and intensity of solar radiation impact the level of energy available to the plant.
Southern states enjoy greater intensity of solar radiation while northern states experience longer day
length during the summer months, making the total energy produced for plant use fairly similar in
both regions. While many factors determine the rate of photosynthesis in a plant, it is safe to say that a
growing season with an over-abundance of significantly overcast days will slow plant growth and in
extreme cases, reduce crop yield.

2. Measuring Plant Growth

- To capture enough data on the overall health of your plants, we recommend that you record at least
one final weight measure, one measure of root health, and all of the observation measurements that
pertain to the type of plant you are using.

Weighing Plants: Fresh vs. Dry Weight

 Measuring Fresh Weight: While you can technically measure the fresh weight of plants without
harming them, the simple act of removing a plant from its growing "medium" can cause trauma and
affect the ongoing growth rate and thus your experiment. Measuring the fresh weight of plants is
tricky and should probably be saved as a final measure of growth at the end of the experiment. Here is
the process for measuring fresh weight:

1. Remove plants from soil and wash off any loose soil.
2. Blot plants gently with soft paper towel to remove any free surface moisture.
3. Weigh immediately (plants have a high composition of water, so waiting to weigh them may lead to
some drying and therefore produce inaccurate data).
 Measuring dry weight: Since plants have a high composition of water and the level of water in a plant
will depend on the amount of water in its environment (which is very difficult to control), using dry
weight as a measure of plant growth tends to be more reliable. You can only capture this data once as
a final measure at the conclusion of your experiment.

1. Remove the plants from the soil and wash off any loose soil.
2. Blot the plants removing any free surface moisture.
3. Dry the plants in an oven set to low heat (100° F) overnight.
4. Let the plants cool in a dry environment (a Ziploc bag will keep moisture out) - in a humid
environment the plant tissue will take up water. Once the plants have cooled weigh them on a scale.
5. Plants contain mostly water, so make sure you have a scale that goes down to milligrams since a dry
plant will not weight very much.
 Root Mass

Root mass is recommended as a final measurement as the plant must be removed from its growing
medium in order to capture accurate data. There are quite a few different methods for measuring root
mass depending on the type and structure of the roots

 Grid intersect technique:

 Remove the plant from the soil.
 If you are working with thin or light roots, you may want to dye the roots
using an acidic stain.
 Lay the roots on a grid pattern and count the number of times the roots
intersect the grid.
 Trace the roots on paper, measure each of the tracings, and calculate root length from the tracings.
 Count the number of roots.
 Measure the diameter of the root. This is especially useful for root vegetables such as beets, carrots,
potatoes, etc. that have a large root.

Root Shoot Ratio

Roots allow a plant to absorb water and nutrients from the surrounding soil, and a healthy root
system is key to a healthy plant. The root:shoot ratio is one measure to help you assess the overall
health of your plants. Your control group of plants will provide you with a "normal" root:shoot ratio
for each of your plant types, any changes from this normal level (either up or down) would be an
indication of a change in the overall health of your plant. It is important to combine the data from the
root:shoot ratio with data from observations to get an accurate understanding of what is happening
with your plants. For example, an increase in root:shoot ratio could be an indication of a healthier
plant, provided the increase came from greater root size and NOT from a decrease in shoot weight. To
measure the root:shoot ratio:

1. Remove the plants from soil and wash off any loose soil.
2. Blot the plants removing any free surface moisture.
3. Dry the plants in an oven set to low heat (100° F) overnight.
4. Let the plants cool in a dry environment (a Ziploc bag will keep moisture out) - in a humid
environment the tissue will take up water. Once the plants have cooled weigh them on a scale.
5. Separate the root from the top (cut at soil line).
6. Separately weigh and record the root and top for each plant. (Dry weight for roots/dry weight for top
of plant = root/shoot ratio)
7. The root/shoot ratio can be calculated for each treatment.
8. Plants contain mostly water, so make sure you have a scale that goes down to milligrams since a dry
plant will not weight very much.

Observation

There are many different features of a plant that can be measured through observation to determine
the extent of plant growth/health. The following table describes some of the measures that you can
make and also recommends how frequently you should make these observations during the course of
your experiment.

  Measurement Procedure Frequency of

When starting with First Cotyledon
seeds
Measurement
Record the number of days from planting Once
to the emergence of the first cotyledon
("seed leave(s)" that are the first to
emerge from the ground).
   Percentage of Calculate the percentage of seeds that Once
seeds that germinated under each of the variables in
germinate your experiment.
When starting with Plant height Measure the height of the main plant from Every 2-3
young plants the border of the container to the top of days
the main plant stem.
Note: you do not want to measure from
the top of the soil, as the soil may
condense with watering over time.

  Number of Counting Leaves: Every 2-3

leaves (indicates days
a plant's Count and record the number of leaves on
physiological each plant.
age) Count every visible leaf on the plant,
including the tips of new leaves just
beginning to emerge.
You may want to place the plant over
some graph paper to avoid counting
errors.

  Surface area of Method 1: Trace the leaves on graph Every 2-3

leaves paper and count the squares covered to days
give you an estimate of the surface area
for each leaf. Repeat this for each leaf on
a plant and for each plant in your
experiment.
Method 2: Trace out each leaf on paper.
Make sure to use the same type of paper
every time AND make sure that the paper
is not wet. Cut out the leaf tracings and
weigh them. Weigh the cutouts and divide
the total weight by the number of leaves
to give you the average leaf area for each
plant. Repeat this for each of the plants in
your experiment.
Method 3: Digital image analysis: Using a
digital camera capture an image of a plant.
Using special software, analyze the
surface area of the leaves.

  Plant color Record any observations on changes or Every 2-3

differences in plant color. days
When you are using 1st Flowering Record the number of days since initial Once
flowering plants these planting to the first flower.
two measurements
serve as an additional
indication of plant
health
  Number of Record the number of flowers on each of Every 2-3
Flowers the plants. Buds should be included in days
your flower count.

Measuring Livestock Growth

 There are various ways of measuring growth, as actual weight, percentage increment J or
weight per day gained. Which method is used will depend on the purpose for which it is required. For
agricultural purposes the third method is generally! adopted, as it forms a basis for daily food
requirements and, conversely, also enables the rate of growth to be controlled exactly by regulation of
the food intake. The live-weight growth curve of the animal as a whole is made up of the sum of the
different parts and tissues of the body, each of these growing at different rates. The maximum growth
rate for bone is attained before that of muscle, while fat is latest in development. Similarly, for
different parts of the body, the head matures early, the neck later and the loin last. In late-maturing
breeds and under low-plane feeding the curves for growth of the different tissues and parts of the body
are extended in time, whereas in early-maturing breeds and under high planes of nutrition they are
compressed.
The main requirement in farm animals is to obtain an overall measure of the changes taking
place in the form of the animal as it grows up, and for this purpose a photographic system has been
adopted. In doing this it is important to adopt as a standard for the basis of comparison an early
developing part of the body, as then an orderly change in the proportions of the other parts will
become evident. Moreover, such early developing parts are least affected by the plane of nutrition on
which the animal is reared or by other environmental conditions. For example, when the overall
changes in form during evolution and embryonic; life are being compared, an early-developing part
such as the brain weight, cranium or eye to ear length is particularly useful, for then all the changes in
form up to the; time of birth in the horse (fig. 4 ) proceed in one main direction (relative length of leg
for speed), while after birth a different phase of development begins (lengthening and deepening of
the body for power), the Thoroughbred and the draught-horse respectively being extensions of these
two phases of growth changes in form.
Another example of how, by selecting as a basis for comparison an early developing part of
the body such as head size and animals on a low plane of nutrition, it is possible to obtain an overall
picture of the evolution of form in the domestic pig is shown in figures 5. When an improved breed of
pig is reared on a low as compared with a high plane of nutrition, and the weights of the different
parts of the body at 8 weeks old, it will be seen that the parts of the body are affected by nutrition in
the same relative order as they have developed in evolution; the head is least affected, then the
shoulders and legs, while the loin shows the greatest effects.

 3. The weather elements that affects in plant growth and livestock play a great role where it all
effects on how they advance. The temperature may be the first to be identically most affect both
livestock and plant towards their growth. Different temperatures affect how plants react on how they
will depend on it. Rate of plant growth and development is dependent upon the temperature
surrounding the plant and each species has a specific temperature range represented by a minimum,
maximum, and optimum. For example, the difference between two plants shown in Figure 6 where in
a short time the plant responds as it goes cold the plant starts to change. Weather plays a major role in
determining the success of agricultural pursuits. Most field crops are dependent solely upon weather
to provide life‐sustaining water and energy. Livestock are also dependent upon weather for their
comfort and food supplies. Occasionally, adverse weather conditions can cause production losses,
especially if experienced during critical stages of growth. An example is drought where it may
threaten pasture and feed supplies. Drought reduces the amount of quality forage available to grazing
livestock. Some areas could experience longer, more intense droughts, resulting from higher summer
temperatures and reduced precipitation. For animals that rely on grain, changes in crop production due
to drought could also become a problem. Individual elements of weather influence crops and livestock
in particular ways. However, the combination of weather elements occurring simultaneously can have
additive effects.
VI. CONCLUSION
Weather plays a major role in determining the success of agricultural pursuits. Most field
crops are dependent solely upon weather to provide life ‐sustaining water and energy. Livestock are
also dependent upon weather for their comfort and food supplies. Occasionally, adverse weather
conditions can cause production losses, especially if experienced during critical stages of growth.
Individual elements of weather influence crops and livestock in particular ways. However, the
combination of all-weather elements occurring simultaneously can have additive effects.
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of effects the individual elements of
weather (solar radiation, temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind) have on the physiology and
production of agricultural plants and animals.

VII. REFERENCE(S)
(References should be at least from year 2010 to 2021. Use APA format in citing your
references)
Yoder, M. (June, 2014). Four Weather Factors for Plant Growth. Retrieved From:
https://climate.ncsu.edu/blog/2014/06/four-weather-factors-for-plant-growth/
ViperSpectre. March, 2021). 5 Factors Affecting Plant Growth. Retrieve from:
https://www.viparspectra.com/blogs/home-grower/5-factors-affecting-plant-growth

VIII. APPENDIX.

Figure 1. Corn having to be highly sensitive to precipitation.

Image courtesy NC Organic Grain Project
 Figure 2. Corn affected by the Aspergillus flavus fungus.
Image courtesy NCSU Plant Pathology Extension

Figure 3. The effect of light & temperature on plant growth.

Image from Commercial Farming
Figure 4. Horse Growth Stages
Horsesandus.com

Figure 5. Pig Growth Stage

Pinterest.com
Figure 6. Plant’s response to Temperature
Springer.com