Abstract

Peach production in Tennessee has suffered a decline in the past decade due to late and severe spring freezes. East Tennessee is an area of diverse topography. It may be possible to use topoclimate exposure to ameliorate the low temperatures in spring and therefore lessen the damage to peach buds. Exposure also may also influence the accumulation of chill units and growing degrees, therefore affecting the stage of peach bud development when the freeze occurs. Five automated weather stations were located in topoclimatically different areas of a peach orchard in Dandridge, Tennessee, from September, 1990 to May, 1991. Hourly chill units (base 6.1 °C) and growing degrees (base4.4 °C) were calculated. Twigs from peach trees close to each weather station were forced every three days to determine the date of completion of rest. Hourly freeze data were collected from each weather station. Preliminary results on the effects of topoclimate on spring freeze characteristics, accumulation of chill units and growing degrees, and peach phenology will be presented.

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