With a stretch of cold weather coming up and many vegetable crops already planted, here are some resources on protecting your crop.
Rebecca Shortt – OMAFRA
Q. I don’t have complete sprinkler coverage and can’t frost protect (e.g. drip, traveling gun). Should I irrigate before the frost event?
A. If the soil is dry then, YES, an irrigation today, BEFORE the soil cools, will help (can protect 1 degree C or so). Do this before evening – you want the plants to be dry tonight.
Links:
Should I Irrigate Ahead of the Coming Freeze? – MSU
Irrigation For Frost Protection – OMAFRA
Frost Protection Tools – OMAFRA
Moist, non-cultivated soil retains more heat – MSU
Frost/Freeze protection using irrigation – Irrigation-Mart
Freezing crops and soil – Iowa State Extension
Anne Verhallen – OMAFRA
Comments on irrigation water temperature
- Where is the irrigation water coming from – in regards to temperature – is it cooler than the soil currently (years ago researchers at Harrow looked at watering from the well on site – it actively cooled the soil which was a problem early on with tomatoes – and yes I realize they are more cold sensitive)
- What is the forecast in terms of sun – moist soil will hold heat but it needs sun to build heat (again years ago working with windstrips again in tomatoes, I never worried if we were sunny before a cold night – the worrisome ones were the cool cloudy days followed by the clouds disappearing and a cold clear night)
Effect of Different Soil Surfaces on Temperatures at 4 ft – Original Source
Soil | Relative Temperature |
---|---|
Bare, firm, moist soil | Warmest |
Moist soil, shredded cover crop | 0.5 F colder |
Moist soil, low cover crop | 1 to 3 F colder |
Dry firm soil | 2 F colder |
Freshly disced soil | 2 F colder |
High cover crop | 2-4 F colder |
Pingback: Frost Protection Resources — ONvegetables | onspecialtycrops
Hola, muy interesante esta investigación y consejos.
Me demuestra que en nuestra zona y a pesar de estar tan distante de Uds, el fenómeno frió, suelo seco y helada nocturna, tienen el efecto similar a lo acontecido con su localidad.
Cada vez que recibo sus informes, los leo atentamente, comparto la información, los guardo y son de mucha utilidad en nuestra actividad agrícola.
Disculpen haberme extendido, pero es necesario que lo sepan Uds.
Muchos saludos y cuídense !!!