microclimate effects on ornamental plants (2)

B. Temperature. Heat source on earth is from the sun where the temperature at the surface estimated at 6.000oC, and energy output of the sun's rays are emitted to all directions with a constant force. The amount of heat received by the earth and the atmosphere is only about 4 per ten million of the total energy emitted. Most of the energy of sunlight in the form of short wave. Sunlight on the Earth's atmosphere as much as 10% is the wave of ultra-violet rays, 40% light wave can be seen (visible), while the remaining 50% of infrared rays. The energy emitted by the sun is not directly received by the earth's surface, but some of which are reflected or diverted through multiple media uptake. In the atmospheric layer that absorbs ultra violet rays is ozone and oxygen gas. Two types of gas layer is very useful for plants, animals and humans because it protects life on earth is not strong against ultraviolet radiation. 

Understanding the temperature includes two aspects, namely: the degree and insolasi. Insolasi shows the heat energy from the sun with gram/kalori/cm2/jam unit, similar to the understanding of the solar radiation intensity. One gram calorie is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by 10C. Insolasi amount or temperature of an area depends on: a). The location of latitude (Latitude) of a region. Insolasi larger at the equator and varies slightly in comparison with tropical and sub-regions being. With the increasing latitude insolasi getting smaller, because the angle of radiation falling matahri the greater or the distance between the sun and the surface of the earth farther. However, insolasi total for one season plant growth is almost the same as day length is longer; b) Altitude (height above sea level places): the higher the altitude the lower insolasi, each rising 100 m the temperature dropped 0.60 C, c). Season effect on insolasi in relation to air humidity and cloud conditions; d). Wind also affects insolasi often, especially when the wind carries hot steam. 

In addition to the diversity of local Atar, temperature also varies by time, both air temperature and soil temperature (morning-afternoon-evening).  The effect of temperature on plant growth is known as a cardinal temperatures which include the optimum temperature (under these conditions the plants can grow well), minimum temperature (at temperatures below the plant can not grow), and maximum temperatures (at temperatures higher plants can not grow) . Cardinal temperatures for each type of plant does vary from one another.

The effect of temperature on plant growth and development are distinguished as follows: (1) temperature limits that help plant growth and development, and (2) limit the temperature which does not help plant growth and development. Ad. (1). Temperature limits that help plant growth and development known as the optimum temperature limit. In this limit all the basic processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, water absorption, transpiration, cell division, cell extension and cell function changes will take place well and will certainly earned the highest crop production. The optimum temperature limit is not the same for all plants, for example: apples, potatoes, sugar-beet requires a lower temperature than: citrus, sweet potatoes or gardenias. Based on this ornamental plant are grouped as follows: a. Plants that require a lower limit of the optimum temperature (winter crop), ie plants that grow well at temperatures between: 450 - 600F. b. Plants that require a higher limit of the optimum temperature (summer crop), ie plants that grow well at temperatures between 600 - 750F.