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Frost protection with irrigation: taking another look

Sprinkler irrigation can protect sensitive crops from freezing temperatures because of the high latent heat of fusion of liquid water (Figure 1). For every 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water that freezes into ice, 144 British Thermal Units (BTU) of heat are released and it is this heat that protects the plants. Likewise, 972 BTU of heat must be supplied to change 1 gallon (3.8 L) of liquid water into water vapor (Schroeder and Buck 1970). This latent heat of vaporization can actually increase the cold injury to plants if sprinkler irrigation is applied unevenly or is stopped before the ambient temperature rises above freezing because water evaporation of actually drives temperatures below ambient conditions.


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Author(s): Diane L. Haase, Nabil Khadduri, Thomas D. Landis

Publication: Forest Nursery Notes - 2015 Summer - 2015 Summer Forest Nursery Notes Publications by Article