Good Fruit Grower

April 1

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G rowers who use microsprinkler irrigation in their orchards may be able to use the system to gain some protection from frost and freezes. In Michigan last year, Dr. Julianna Wilson, Michigan State University's tree fruit integrated pest management outreach specialist, worked with two fruit growers and tree fruit educator Amy Irish-Brown to see how well that might work. The idea is to put water on the ground and get some temperature increase as the water cools and freezes. Water releases heat as it cools and much more as it changes from liquid to ice. Irish-Brown reported the results at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo while Wilson was on maternity leave. A frost event was predicted for May 12, 2013, in the Fruit Ridge of western Michigan. Prior to that, two farms were selected for monitoring: one near Comstock Park and one near Belding. Three locations within high-density apple blocks that had microsprinklers already installed, and one location in a block without microsprinklers (control-check), were selected at each farm. Three temperature loggers were installed at each location at three dif- ferent heights within the canopy: on the lowest branch (about two feet), 26 APRIL 1, 2014 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com Microsprinklers for frost protection Capturing the orchard heating power of freezing water. by Richard Lehnert

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