Poster on Low-cost weather station network: climate challenge, research question, practice description, technical aspects, implementation, results and contribution to climate-smart agriculture (CSA) pillars. Author: CCAFS Latin America. Please credit accordingly.

1. CCAFS Latin America
International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
Km. 17 Recta Cali-Palmira. Palmira, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Low-cost
weather station network
The high variability in rainfall and dry seasons
increases uncertainty about the appropriate dates for
planting, applying agricultural inputs, identifying
potential emergence of pests and diseases, and other
post-harvest activities.
Climate challenge
Practice description
Each weather station is comprised of a rain gauge and a Six's thermometer. The location of the stations are
determined by an agroclimatic analysis in the climate-smart village’s area. In addition, soil moisture is measured
by a tensiometer to determine the soil water requirement. The station is monitored every day, and the community
discuss about the behavior of the different variables. This information is expected to provide feedback to Cauca’s
Local Agroclimatic Committee.
Technical aspects
The practice emphasizes adaptation as it seeks to improve farmers' decision-making processes by monitoring
climate variables. Also offers co-benefits in mitigation by achieving a better application of agricultural inputs.
Implementation and results
Contribution to CSA pillars
How can farmers' decision-making processes be
improved by monitoring climate variables?
Research question
The stations consist of a plastic
rain gauge of 120 mm and a
Six's thermometer with its
own weather coat.
A tensiometer has also been included
to measure the soil moisture at 30 cm depth
and its pH.
The main network comprises Four stations
with altitudinal difference between them
of 100 masl, in a range of 5 km. The support
network comprises 16 additional stations.
0
200
400
600
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DIC
Piedra Negra rainfall station
multiyear 2011-2016 monthly averages
2011 2012 2013 2014
2015 2016 Average
Dry
season
VEGETABLE PLANTS / m2
PRICE (COP/USD)1
CARROT
CUCUMBER
CHARD
RADISH
PARSLEY
BEET
CABBAGE
LETTUCE
TOMATO
ONION
CELERY
SPINACH
65
2
10
20
25
25
4
8
2
4
8
50
Quarterly production of vegetables per square meter
12.000 / $4.00
15.000 / $5.00
25.000 / $8.33
10.000 / $3.33
25.000 / $8.33
10.000 / $3.33
4.000 / $1.33
8.000 / $2.66
10.000 / $3.33
2.000 / $0.66
4.000 / $1.33
5.000 / $1.66
1 Prices converted to US dollars with a exchange rate of 3.000COP / USD
Aspects of the geographic environment,
technical conditions and sociocultural
characteristics of the communities
were considered for the network design.
0
100
200
300
400
500
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DIC
Monthly multi-year precipitation
SATE Station ‘Piedra Negra’ Farm
The data collection is done every day
between 6 and 7 am, and a facilitator
collects and transfers information
to the CSV technicians for processing.
IDEAM 1970 a 2015, 1470 msnm. CSV 2001 a 2016, 1470 msnm, 1590 msnm