Effect of Total White Washing of Apple Tree on Its Internal Temperature, Fruit Yield and Its Relation to Use of Thidiazuron

Zermeño-González, Alejandro; Gil-Marín, José Alexander; Ramírez-Rodríguez, Homero; Hernández-Herrera, A.; Rodrı́guez-Garcı́a, R.; Benavides-Mendoza, Adalberto; Jasso-Cantú, Diana

doi:10.5154/r.rchsh.2009.15.040

Cited by 1 publication

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“…6 A,B). The white layer quite probably functioned as a temporary mechanical barrier against the radiation, similar to tree trunk whitewashing 56 , and leaf-coating by kaolin spray 57 , 58 . Nonetheless, the new growth is sensitive to salt accumulation; therefore, the evaporative cooling treatment should last no more than a few weeks when using low-quality water, otherwise substantial damage to the tree foliage might occur.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canopy-cooling systems applied on avocado trees to mitigate heatwaves damages

Lazare

Vitoshkin

Alchanatis

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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With climate change, spring heatwaves have become frequent in the Mediterranean region. High temperatures combined with wind and low humidity are problematic for subtropical crops adapted to high humidity and mild climate. Avocado is a valuable crop—nutritionally and economically—and many new orchards are planted in Mediterranean areas. Spring heatwaves increase avocado fruitlets dropping, severely decreasing yields. Addressing and solving the problem are necessary to maintain the crop's profitability. This study presents a sprinkler-based canopy cooling method that uses the existing pressurized irrigation system. The study aimed to test the system's performance during spring heatwaves, after the flowering season, in avocado orchards cultivated in a semi-arid region. The experiments examined the effect of various sprinkler types with varying flow rates and installation methods: sprayers, sprinklers and pulsing sprinklers, on foliage temperature, stem water potential, salt accumulation in the leaf, fruitlet survival and yield. The system reduced leaf temperatures by approximately 10 °C, significantly decreasing the trees' drought stress and increasing yields by 8–12%. Using low-quality water is possible, but requires adjustments to avoid salt damage to the leaves. The system can mitigate heat stress, and provides a relatively simple solution for handling spring heatwaves. The evaporative cooling system is modeled for semi-desert and desert conditions; the dry, windy climate contributes to the method's effectiveness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%