crops

The big problem with putting solar panels on crops is shade. The University of Jaén has found a solution

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In search of fulfilling the decarbonization goalswe are filling the field with solar panels. Giants like China can do it combining other activities well, but in the case of smaller countries, things change. Spain is an examplewith a field irrigated by crops that is also being plagued by panels. Now, a research team from the University of Jaén has found the key to continue deploying solar panels without interfering with crops. A panel with minimal shading that does not compromise its energy generation. The agrovoltaics. Different reports have pointed out how the temperature will increase by 1.5 to 3.2 degrees If we continue the same as until now. For this reason, the European Union marked the milestone of 30% of its energy comes from renewables by 2030 to, in 2050, achieve climate neutrality. Wind is important, but what almost all countries are embracing is photovoltaics. The price of the plates has fallen to the ground thanks to the China overproduction and it has begun to be deployed massively. The problem is what we mentioned: it takes up a lot of space, which opens a direct conflict with the farmland. There, agrovoltaics is becoming established as a solution to place panels that do not interfere with the cycle of some crops, and mixes with beekeeping and the livestock. But if we want to continue expanding photovoltaics, panels that provide less shade are needed. Panels and photosynthesis. That is where the solution devised by the University of Jaén comes into play. In a study Published in Science Direct, researchers detail a technology that allows a panel to efficiently generate electricity, while allowing crops to receive enough light to perform their optimal photosynthesis cycle. To do this, the team has taken into account two technical parameters: the average visible transmittance and the average photosynthetic transmittance. In practice, they indicate the amount of light useful to the plants that reaches them after passing through the panel, and they point out that different studies estimate that, for most crops, the minimum value should be around 60%. In that spectrum, plants produce normally. Status of the “transparent” panels“The photovoltaic industry has been working on this for some time. There are two approaches: Non-wavelength selective panels: They are those that absorb a large part of the solar spectrum and achieve transparency by reducing the color of the material or leaving gaps between the cells. With them, transparency is not adequate. Wavelength Selective Panels: They are those that absorb, above all, ultraviolet and near-infrared radiation, but allow a large part of the visible light to pass through. It is what the plants need and, in this case, the transparency of the panels is greater and more suitable for crops. RearCPVbif. In the two groups the industry is testing very different technologies, from polycrystalline silicon to organic cells and color-sensitized panels, but the Spanish team’s approach is somewhat different. The semi-transparent photovoltaic modules They are the STPVs, but what is proposed by the University of Jaén is a system called RearCPVbif, or “Bifacial Rear Concentrator Photovoltaic.” Unlike conventional semi-transparent designs, this technology concentrates and redirects reflected light towards the back of the bifacial cells, generating an increase in electrical production without reducing optical transparency, which is what allows light to reach the plants. It is an STPV, but with rear optical concentrators. In statements to PV-MagazineÁlvaro Varela-Albacete, co-author of the research, points out that STPV technology is being underused and that, with these rear concentrators, there is “a substantial increase” in energy generation without compromising optical transparency. “And how much is the transparency factor? 60%, according to the study, so it would be suitable for most horticultural crops. Next steps. In the study they also mention that they have taken into account that a crucial aspect for agricultural viability is thermal behavior, indicating that, in their tests, the cell temperature was below 70 degrees. This is important so that the panels do not create a “greenhouse” that affects crop patterns. And most importantly: this technology has already attracted attention. Numerous promising studies are published throughout the year, but their application is not always clear. In the case of this ReadCPVbif technology, the co-author of the study, Eduardo Fernández, points out that they are already engaging in conversations with different organizations to accelerate the development of the technology. Now, the route hour includes an evaluation of the benefits for crop growth, with different test campaigns on real crops. In any case, it aims to be a particularly relevant technology in the intensive horticulture that occurs in regions of Spain such as Almería, where apart from the sea of ​​plastic, also the photovoltaic sea is rising. If the two things can be combined, it would be a great step for both sectors. Images | University of Jaen, Σ64 In Xataka | Almería has been Europe’s great “sea of ​​plastic” for years. Now it wants to be another sea: that of solar panels

India needs more crops and solar energy than any other country. So you are installing solar panels in height

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When a solar energy company offered Harpal Dagar a fixed pay for 25 years in exchange for installing solar panels on their cultivation fields, he thought it could be a scam. Today he says that his income has tripled and sleeps quieter. “Too good to be true.” That was what this Indian farmer thought when the company Sun Master proposed to install elevated solar panels on its land on the outskirts of Delhi. I could continue working the land and, in return, would receive an annual payment for 25 years. According to a report of BBC NewsDagar had lost entire crops because of the Monzones, so he accepted the installation of the panels to have fixed income. “Today I think it was the best decision I have made,” he told the British environment. Harvest food and energy at the same time. The systems that combine agriculture with solar energy generation in the same land have a name: agrovoltaic. And in the most populous country in the world they are emerging as the most promising solution to produce clean energy without sacrificing the land necessary to feed the population. The agrovoltaic part of a simple idea: take advantage of the vertical space. Instead of choosing between a crop field or a solar park, They both haveonly that photovoltaic panels are mounted on high structures, at a height of at least three and a half meters so that tractors and other agricultural machinery can pass below. India cannot do without cultivation soil. In India more than 55% of the population It depends on agriculture. As the country approaches the 1.7 billion people in 2050, it will have to produce about 350 million tons of grain At the same time, India has pledged to meet ambitious climatic objectives that will require dedicating solar and wind energy between 55,000 and 77,000 square kilometers of land. According to a report from Mongabay Indiaagrovoltaic would resolve this paradox of “food security vs. access to energy”. Not everything that shines is gold. Sun Master pays Harpal Dagar about $ 500 per hectare per year, plus a monthly salary of 170 dollars for the maintenance of the panels. Dagar cultiva turmeric, which benefits from the microclimate created by the solar panels. Its shadow protects the cultivation of extreme heat and decreases water evaporation, reducing irrigation needs. It is not always beneficial. Depending on their disposition, solar panels reduce between 15 and 30% the light that reaches plants. This makes basic cultures that need a lot of sun, such as wheat, rice or soybeans, are not viable. Anand Jain, another farmer who has experienced with the system, says he succeeded with strawberries and tomatoes, but “the cauliflower did not work so well.” The green leafy vegetablesginger and some flowers have also benefited. The slow takeoff from agrovoltaic. The adoption of agrovoltaic in India is being slow, especially compared to China, which has 12 times more projects in operation. Incompatibility with some crops is one of the problems, but there is an even greater financial problem: raising panels more than three meters from the ground has a price. The installation of an agrovoltaic system is between 20 and 30% more expensive than that of a conventional solar park. Small farmers cannot afford these systems, so they depend on companies with capital that want to rent their land with a 25 -year contract. Technology will solve some challenges. For companies to be willing to assume that risk, more efficient and profitable systems are already being developed. “Farm-Forward” solar panels with More space between panel ranks to maximize the entry of light and further facilitate the step of machinery. And new software to simulate how much light and heat receives each sheet, how it affects photosynthesis and, ultimately, what performance of the harvest. The potential is simply gigantic. A GIZ technical report He estimates that agrovoltaic in India can point to a capacity of between 3,156 and 13,803 gigawatts. To put it in perspective, the total installed capacity of photovoltaic energy worldwide is 2 GW. In Xataka | One of the most arid areas in China is reverde. The reason: a plant with seven million solar panels

This year it seemed destined to be the recovery of the crops. Heat waves and fire are changing this

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The last years have been convulsive for the Spanish field. After more than a year suffering a drought that put many against the strings, the arrival of an exceptional humidity period between autumn of 2024 and the recent spring seemed to bring the long -awaited relief. However, the arrival of summer has brought a script. Heat and fire. The intense heat seen in recent weeks has been the climax of a remarkably hot summer, with an exceptionally warm month and one month of August on the way to be (if the imminent cooling does not avoid it). Both extreme heat, as the fires associated with this heat wave have introduced new threats For crops. Direct and indirect damages. The damage associated with heat and fire can be both direct and indirect. It is evident that fire can destroy crops whole and that heat It can also affect to the productivity of plants, but the effects are even more complex. Fire can be an indirect risk. For example, areas that have not been affected by the flames They can be inaccessible During the fires, either due to smoke or by the cut of access roads. Extreme heat can also limit the time that workers can dedicate to work abroad. To this can be added the impact that heat and fires have on the Water availabilityincreasing the ghost of water stress even after almost a period of extraordinary economic bonanza. The oil. Recently, Agricultural Associations such as Asaja, Coag, UPA and Union of Unions They pointed to EFEAGRO Some of the crops that could be more affected by heat and flames. Among them, one about to go through one of its critical points: oil. The Olivar sector fears that this season is not kind to the olive harvest. Water stress can affect the maturation of the fruit so the sector believes that the current situation could lead to olives, dynamiting the (Already scarce) Hopes to recover from the sector. The other crops at risk. The list of harvest at risk by heat is wide. Includes crops like the vineyardpotato, tomato and fruit trees. In the case of grapes, for example, lack of water can replace its phenolic maturation with maturation by dehydration, they explain from the sector, which impacts the quality of the product. Not even crops such as cereals are saved. Although a good part of the harvest has already been collected, in some areas fires can prevent farmers from finishing the collection of these crops. What is true for agriculture can also be for livestock. They are not rare the times that fires are primed with farm animals: even when the fire does not put them directly, their pastures and their abbrevics can disappear overnight. More quantity, less price. Heat and fire add uncertainty to a year marked by Important drops in prices of agrarian products. A very marked fall in some crops but that in general responds to the recovery of agricultural productivity after years of drought. A recovery for which now the sector fears. The good news is that they await us a few days, Maybe weeksof thermal relief. The issue now is whether it is down the temperatures and rainfall that is expected these days are able to relieve this situation. In Xataka | We thought we were facing a “historical” oil harvest. Farmers now foresee a reality bath Image | Matt Palmer / Eberhard Grossgasteiger

In 1980 Europe manufactured 700 aircraft to fumigate crops. Now they carry guided air-air missiles to “fumigate” Russian drones

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After more than three years since the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the war has transformed many of the conceptions that had modern battles. We do not speak just about technological advanceswhere The drones and the AI They have become fundamental pieces that the rest of the powers will apply to their defenses, but also from that artillery mixture of the past where The ingenuity (Due to lack of resources) it has been equally key. The latestfarm planes. Another improvised defense. Yes, Ukraine has incorporated a new piece into its arsenal of improvised solutions against drones: an agricultural plane ZLIN Z-137 AGRO TURBO MODIFIED To carry missiles Aire-Aire R-73one under each wing. This apparatus, normally used for crop fumigation, retains its civil aircraft silhouette, but It has been repainted With a military gray scheme and white stripes in the rear fuselage to reduce the risk of friendly fire. The video which shows its flush flight over a Ukrainian cornless does not require date or place, but confirms that the country continues to take advantage of resources available to reinforce its air defense. Designed in Czechoslovakia as a turboproproproprobous evolution of the Z-37 čmelák, the Z-137 entered into service in the 1980s and were manufactured More than 700 unitswidely used in the eastern block. The exact amount that could be available for Ukraine is uncertain, as well as the operational state of this armed specimen. The R-73 missile and its role in hybrid systems. He R-73called AA-11 Archer by NATO, is a short-range missile with high maneuverability infrared search engine and ability to hook whites up to 75 ° outside the front axle with the help of hull viewers. His Maximum range It is about 30 km against front and 14 km targets against whites in pursuit. Ukraine has reused him in multiple improvised platforms known Like Frankensamincluding land systems such as The serioushawkvehicles Osa antiacera Modified and Naval Drones Be dragon. The integration in the Z-137 seems to use APU-73, although no external sensors are observed, which suggests that the pilot would have to maneuver to place the objective within the field of vision of the missile, or that the installation of a flir system for day and night operations is contemplated. The connection of the plane to the National Surveillance Network, with radars, observers and acoustic sensors, would allow to receive Radio or Digital Link data For interception. Additional loads and future adaptations. In addition to missiles, the device shows cylindrical deposits or containers In internal supports whose function is not clear. They could be remains of their agricultural function, supplementary fuel tanks, weapons pods or auxiliary equipment. Its structure could adapt to other missiles already delivered to Ukraine, such as British Asraam, Sidewinder Americans or even AIM-9X latest generation. This versatility makes it a test bench to integrate weapons into platforms not originally designed for air combat, maintaining a low cost and a quick deployment. Tactical function and limitations. A plane of this type, although much slower than a hunt or an attack helicopter, could serve as “air picket” In specific areas, patrolling sectors where drone activity is foreseen and reacting to low -cost incursions for the enemy. Its limited speed reduces the ability to intercept multiple objectives at a great distance, but in delimited areas its presence It could be decisive. Operations of this type would be complemented with other media, from mobile equipment with machine guns and spotlights to complexes Patriot systemsusing each resource according to the threat detected. Strategic context and value in the wear war. Plus: the adaptation of Z-137 reflects the constant pressure that Ukraine suffers to defend against a high volume of Russian drones, especially The Shahedand the need to allocate the most advanced anti -aircraft systems to threats of greater entity. Faced with the shortage of modern batteries, these improvised solutions serve as a containment force, maintaining a balance between cost and effectiveness. The ability to build civil platforms with military missiles demonstrates a high degree of operational and technical flexibility, and emphasizes that in a prolonged war the war Inventiveness and speed of adaptation can be as decisive as technological sophistication. International precedents and parallels. Finally, we must remember that the use of agricultural aircraft for military functions is not exclusive to Ukraine. The United States Air Force recently introduced The OA-1K Skyraider IIa militarized version of Air Tractor at-802although with a different role and even in definition. Both in this case and in the Z-137 Ukrainianthe central idea is to take advantage of simple and resistant platforms as armament vectors, something that Russia has also tested with rudimentary solutions such as fixed weapons under slow aircraft wings. A trend that reflects A global pattern: In a scenario where drone threats proliferate, even aircraft designed for agricultural tasks can become armed hunters. Image | X, VITALY V. KUZMIN In Xataka | Russia has had an idea to make your kamikaze drones more lethal: launch them on Ukraine at 500 km/h In Xataka | Russia’s most advanced nuclear submarine was a secret. Until Ukraine has revealed everything, even his failures

There are dozens of crops with weeks late

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A few days ago began to circulate online A map in which the distribution of rains could be seen in the last two months. Although I had errorsthe distribution of rainfall was fine and showed a very clear photograph: while Central Europe lived a peculiar drought, in the Peninsula he had not stopped raining. And it’s true. So much so that Aemet itself recognized that the soils of much of the country are saturated. That is, they no longer admit water and all the rain was running directly to the channels. That has been causing problems with the hope that the worst of the situation would happen soon. However, the models point to a new atmospheric block in northern Europe. Is Spain in a situation of receiving more water or all that falls will end up being missing (while destroying everything in its path)? We will not be exaggerating a bit? After all, water is water. We have been complaining about droughtNow that it rains we will also manage them to complain? However, abundant rains are already having a direct impact on the field. It is true that crops such as cereals, vineyards and olive groves have benefited; others instead are In full red alert. A clear example is watermelons and melons. As with Huelva’s strawberries, high rainfall raised moisture levels causing a sudden “proliferation of pests and diseases such as Botrytis (a fungus) or Mildiu“They end up rotting plants. But, little by we stop to analyze it, we see that the problem is greater (because it affects much less striking plants). Let’s talk about the chickpea. 30% of the national chickpea production is concentrated in Seville. Well, as the Secretary General of Coag Sevilla says in The debateat this time “the plant would have to measure a span and still without sowing” because the accumulation of water on the grounds makes it unfeasible. In general, the chickpea has to be more than 100 days in the countryside and “this year, hopefully, will pass 60”. That is turning it into a mousetrap and is making many farmers shuffle to sunflower (up to the limits that the PAC allows). And what will happen? That we probably begin to notice a certain shortage of Spanish chickpea in July. That does not mean that the general prices will rise (those of the native varieades probably yes; but that is inevitable). Most likely, large distributors compensate for local shortages with imports from Mexico and the US – if the commercial war allows it, of course. What if in April the same thing happens in March? Well, the thing is complicated. Between April and May the flowering of many fruit trees occurs. Citrus, for example, moisture It is not very good for them And we already know that the olive tree’s plot asks, above all, tranquility. That is, another month of historical rains would be a problem. Also for the water system in general. Because, although we have Even much storage roomwe are not used to working with the reservoirs, the channels and the full pipes. The final result of more rain would be a waste. What if not? Taking into account that March It has been a historic monthmost likely we do not approach the accumulated of the last weeks. That would force us to make bobbin lace (as in the case of chickpeas), but a good part of the field will depend on the meteorology being consistent and does not “deceive” the plants in their development. Do not forget that March has been The coldest month in three years (in terms of thermal anomaly) and that has disoriented the biological machinery of all plant, animal or thing. In short: the long road to summer begins and we will need a little luck if we do not want this Historical blow of luck become an poisoned candy. Image | In Xataka | After the rains of March and with the reservoirs of Media Spain to overflow, another battle begins: who stays that water

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