Field Notes

Twitchell Alfalfa: 2014-05-07 13:55:00 (DOY 127)
Author: Cove Sturtevant
Others: Joe

Summary: Alfalfa mown. Bees angry. Clipped alfalfa around boom, and grass around tower. AM25T crapped out. Need replacement. Took spectral.

Twitchell Alfalfa
2014-05-07

Joe and I arrived about 13:55 PDT. It was warm, sunny, and breezy. They had just finished mowing the field as we arrived. The bees were pretty pissed about it, they wouldnâ€™t leave us alone today.

We clipped the remaining alfalfa around the rad boom and the grass around the tower. Flux measurements were ok but all the AM25T channels were bad. There was an ant infestation in the CR1000 where the AM25T channels connected which we thought might be the problem. Joe cleaned it out and also cleaned out the AM25T but it turned out not to be the problem (thanks anyway, Joe!). The conclusion was that the AM25T was bad. We transferred the theta probes to the CR1000 (readings good) but the thermocouples will have to wait until next week to be transferred to a new MUX.

7500 readings:
CO2 = 402 ppm
H2O = 450 mmol m-3
signal strength = 93.7%
sos = 346 m s-1
t = 24.5 C
p = 101.3 kPa

Took spectral measurements.
Washed solar panels.
Cleaned radiation sensors.
Rad ok.

2 photos found

TA_autocam_20140506_1615.jpg ( 2014-05-06 16:15:01 ) Full size: 1920x1440
Tractor mowing the alfalfa