Field Notes

Bouldin Alfalfa: 2024-12-04 11:55:00 (DOY 339)
Author: Daphne Szutu
Others: Carlos

Summary: Wheat sprouts! Installed zcams

2024-12-04
Bouldin Alfalfa/Wheat

Carlos and I arrived at 11:55 PST. It was cool and sunny with a thick layer of smog in the Valley. Wheat is finally growing! Still plenty of alfalfa, which makes the field look green overall although the wheat is still sparse. Average height of the wheat was around 5cm. We parked at the side of the road and walked to the tower.

I downloaded met, cam, and USB GHG data. Carlos cleaned flux and rad sensors and checked that the precip bucket funnel looked ok. I checked the phenocam clock as part of its routine quarterly check and changed it -1min from 12:13 to 12:12 PST to match the laptop clock. I changed the eddy clock +2min from 12:12 to 12:14 PST to match the laptop clock and restarted logging.

Carlos took spectral measurements and didn’t report any problems.

The 7500 read: 491pm CO2, 524mmol/m3 H2O, 14.9C, 102.3kPa, 104SS—105 after cleaning
After cleaning, I reset the signal strength from 105 to 100.

I added two zcams with fisheye lens to the wheat (in a section with less alfalfa), sn RPI0W-007 and sn RPI0W-002. I took some pictures of the cameras to add to my picam setup document and accidentally ripped off one of the fisheye lens from the front of the enclosure. I’ll need to bring silicone next time to seal it again. I added a bunch of desiccant packs into the enclosures, powered them on and confirmed their clocks are still good. They will take photos every 30min, including nighttime photos (otherwise we miss some of the dawn/dusk photos).

Carlos pulled up some of the wheat growing directly under the tower so that it’ll be easier to manage once the wheat is fully grown.

We left at 12:40 PST.

Estimated Next Mowing: 2024-11-02

3 photos found

20241204BA_WheatSprouts.jpg ( 2024-12-04 12:00:18 ) Full size: 1920x1440
Wheat has finally sprouted on our "alfalfa" field. We parked on the side of the road and walked in.

20241204BA_Zcams.jpg ( 2024-12-04 12:38:19 ) Full size: 1920x1440
Installed two zcams in the wheat. One is in line with the wheat row and one is between the rows.