Abstract
The objective of the present study is to explore the effect of cooling irrigation (aspersion) on the beginning of bloom and on the micro-climate of the plantation. The results show that the water sprayed in the orchard by micro-jet influenced decisively the temperature of the plantation. At higher temperatures (around 20 °C), the drop of temperature may attain 5–7 °C. A low relative humidity of the air may increase the relative effect, The frequent repetition (20 minute intervals) may keep the temperature low also in the buds. The beginning of bloom may delayed for more than ten days. The dynamics of blooming was characterised by a logistic curve in the treated as well as in the control plot. In the treated plot, the curve was steeper than in the control in spite of equal temperatures measured in the plots. Under our (Hungarian) climatic conditions, the method is successfully used to delay blooming dates. The main result is the diminution of the frost damage in the spring and the security of yield. The costs and water requirement should be calculated later.
Highlights
Irrigation in national horticultural practice is mainly used for just water supply
At the same time the water sprayed irrigation has a powerful influence on the changes of temperature
The less difference was in the early morning hours: 0.5–1.0 °C
Summary
Irrigation in national horticultural practice is mainly used for just water supply. When the air’s temperature is high (about 20 °C or higher) the evaporative cooling irrigation significantly decreases the plant surface and air temperature. By using the cooling irrigation regularly the temperature of canopy can be decreased so that the beginning of blooming can be delayed. The cooling irrigations beneficial effect comes forward in the case of temperature reduction and frost protection. The freezing point the coexistence of water and ice provides for the flowers that the surface temperature remains around 0 °C, while the temperature of the surrounding air falls to even –8 °C. In national and international practice the frost protective irrigation is wide spread but with the use of cooling irrigation the protection against frost could be significantly escalates
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