R. D.Brazee, R. C.Derksen, C. R.Krause, K.A. Williams, M. G.Klein, M.Reding, R. D.Fox (Collaborator), Application Technology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Wooster, Ohio; D.Herms, Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio; D.Lohnes, Communications and Technology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio; R.Lyons, Owner, Sunleaf Nursery, Madison, Ohio; W.Hendricks, Owner, Klyn Nursery, Perry, Ohio; and R.Zondag, Ohio State University Extension, Lake County, Painesville, Ohio.
Weather is among the key factors to be dealt with in managing nursery field operations. In recognition of this and as part of a cooperative field research program, the Application Technology Research Unit of USDA/Agricultural Research Service; nursery growers in Lake County, Ohio; and cooperating staff of The Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center began development of a research weather network in 2000.
Initial efforts involved implementation of a portable weather station as part of a multi-year, field research project designed to compare efficacy of conventional axial-fan (airblast) and air-curtain spray application systems in control of scab disease in crabapple.
Permanent meteorological stations have been installed in northeastern Ohio production nurseries to archive weather data during horticultural experiments. Insect and disease management research require detailed knowledge of weather conditions. Data such as soil moisture and temperature, air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure and leaf surface moisture that directly impact disease and insect development are being recorded.
Unique to this cooperative project is that this research data is also available to growers as displayed on the USDA, ARS, ATRU website and the NRCS weather network. Impacted by the USDA, ARS, ATRU weather station network are studies on soil insects, sprayer efficacy on apple scab disease, nursery crop phenology, and plant conditioning.