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Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2003 Publication Date: 11/6/2003 Citation: KIMBALL, B.A. 2003. PROS AND CONS OF INFRARED HEATING FOR FREE-AIR CONTROLLED ENHANCEMENT OF TEMPERATURE (T-FACE). AGRONOMY ABSTRACTS. CD-Rom (A03-Kimball886112-poster). Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Global warming has been predicted as a consequence of the Earth's rising atmospheric CO2 concentration. Both the higher concentrations of CO2 and high temperatures are likely to affect the productivity of agricultural crops in the future. To study these phenomena under natural field conditions without the artifacts imposed by chamber walls, scientists have developed free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) technology for researching the effects of elevated CO2. Increasing temperature of open-field plots, however, is even more problematic, and few attempts have been made. Herein, the approach of using infrared heaters for T-FACE (temperature free-air controlled enhancement) is examined. A major concern was that such heaters emit shorter-wave morphogenetically active radiation in addition to thermal radiation, but tests showed that at least one commercially available heater emits only at wave lengths longer than about 1000 nm. Examples of heating patterns, estimated operating costs, and other advantages and disadvantages are presented. |
