A three-year profile (2016-2018) of temperature and humidity in a coffee field located in Sabanilla de Alajuela, Costa Rica
Abstract:
To determine the extent of climate variability over a short duration can be useful in assessing how plants such as coffee may react from season to season. Climate change is one of the most important issues facing humans and especially in regions where agriculture products such as coffee help to support thousands of families. To determine the variability of temperature and humidity in a shade-grown coffee field in Sabanilla de Alajuela, Costa Rica (10° 5′ 33″N, 84° 12′ 13″W) we deployed Onset HOBO data loggers over a three-year duration (Jan 2016-December 2018). Results indicate that there are consistent and distinct seasons throughout this study. The warmest temperatures occurred between December through March after which temperatures declined and bottomed in late May to mid-June. Correspondingly, the humidity during this period remained higher with less variability. The evaluation of all of the data over these three years indicates that maximum temperatures from May to July are not as high compared to other months. We did not detect any significant temperature changes when analyzing data from 2016, 2017, or 2018. We did, however, see maximum temperatures reaching 33 degrees or slightly higher from mid-March to April during 2016 and 2017. Prolonged temperatures at these levels are detrimental to the growth of coffee plants.
Introduction:
Historically, climate plays a pivotal role in determining the agricultural activities that can be carried out in any country. Climate varies from one part to another depending on the location of that nation and the season. Crops perform excellently in different climatic regions. Some yield highly in hot areas while others in cold areas. Climatic changes especially the short time changes have a significant influence on determining the type of crops that can be cultivated in a particular region. For instance, in Sabanilla, the temperatures in the area vary from time to time thus favoring the growth of a variety of crops. Climate incorporates the changes in temperatures, rainfall, relative humidity, and light intensity. The changes can be determined by measuring using HOBO data loggers that can be programmed and deployed for both indoor and outdoor environmental data collection. In Costa Rica, the climate change in shade-grown coffee the high temperatures registered during data collection varies from month to month. The hottest month which recorded higher temperatures compared to other months include December, January, and February, march while the remaining months registered the low heat. Relative humidity, on the other hand, varies with slight changes throughout the year of study. High temperatures favor the performance of coffee while low temperatures hinder the smooth growth of the crop. Relative humidity in Costa Rica according to the data collected shows an average return over the months of the year. The humility in the area also works to the advantage of coffee. Taking into consideration the three years that are under study, the maximum temperature that ever recorded is 33 degrees o which works in favor of the crop under investigation.
Methods:
In a study involving the climatic measurements, some ways can be employed to achieve the results of the investigation. In this context, the instruments that compose the weather station can be used to collect the required data but cannot fit best in this kind of study since the study is carried out the indoor coffee plantation. For clarity, HOBO data loggers are used to collect the temperature data and humidity. The method involves integrated sensors for temperature and humidity measurements in an indoor environment wherein some minimal and maximum ranges of temperature are well factored in. The methods use LCD to show current readings, alarm, battery, and operating status. The RH measurements range with a +0.21degrees calicoes and 2.5 % RH accuracy. HOBO data loggers are considered as the best method in collecting data related to environmental data, and its accuracy has credible recognition globally.
The HOBO method is again affordable, fast deployment and is highly recognized in the industry giving it an upper hand over the other ways in this case. There are other methods that are being employed other than the HOBO loggers used to collect data. Some of these methods are used in analyzing data collected and also presenting it. The mean, mode, and standard deviation are used to analyze data from the coffee shade. Lastly, as a method of displaying the analyzed data, graphs are incorporated as one of the critical processes.
Results:
The outcome of the study as represented in the graphs indicates notable changes in the climate over the short period of three years. The lowest ever recorded temperature in three years is 10 degrees while the highest ever recorded is 33 degrees. The average temperature determined through calculation of the mean of the three years is seen to be most upper beginning from December and continues to late June in both years. 2016 recorded the highest temperature of 21.700 in the said months followed closely by 2017 with 20.700 then by 2018 with 20.200. Relative humidity, on the other hand, is seen to be lower at the beginning of each year and later rises between March and mid-July. The average moisture then varies with a small difference in the remaining months making it somehow constant. 2017 in the said months recorded the highest humidity of 98 % than 2016 registered 85% followed closely by 2018 with 83%.
Discussion:
Many patterns can be seen from the analyzed results throughout three years. Starting from 2016, the temperature pattern is observed to begin rising in December from 25 degrees to 33 degrees in mid-March. The average temperature of 22 degrees was recorded over the year, and the lowest ever recorded temperature is 13 degrees Celsius. The pattern is almost similar for the rest of the years since the study is carried out in one place that is Sabanilla in Costa Rica. The site experiences similar climatic changes during a particular season of the year; hence the results seem to be the same for the subsequent years of the study.
In most cases, Costa Rica experiences high temperatures beginning from December to March every year. Relative humidity recorded the highest percentage of 100 in 2017 and the lowest of 62 percent in 2018. Rain seems to be low at the start of the year in Costa Rica and starts rising from April to mid-July. The level then remains constant until November when it starts decreasing. The pattern spreads to the subsequent years. The model deducted from RH can be described to favor the growth of coffee in the area since it maintains above average throughout the year.
Future Directions:
Following the results from the study keenly, the individuals living in Sabanilla in Costa Rica can be strongly advised to borrow the ideas of the findings of the study to predict the right season to plant and harvest their crops. Also, the results can be applied in determining the alternative crops that can perform well given the above temperatures and relative humidity. The farmer of Sabanilla can work with the temperature patterns provided in the findings to predict the climatic changes to adjust their agricultural calendar to suit with the changes. By so doing, the farmers will be able to produce quality yields of coffee and other agricultural products in the future.
Acknowledgment:
The agricultural research institutions in Costa Rica, methodologists, farmers, and residents of Sabanilla are worth the response for the corporation during the three-year data collection about climate changes in the area. Also, data analysts and statisticians cannot be left behind for their likely work.
Conclusion
In Sabanilla, according to the results of the study, we can conclude that the area experiences high temperatures beginning from December which continues to March. Relative humidity can be said to be average and seems to maintain a constant graph over the years studied especially starting from April to July. The outcome of the investigation can assist the farmers and research institutions in Costa Rica to determine the right crops that can perform excellently in a particular season of the year.