Climate change more than any other sector has an impact on agriculture. Rising temperatures are bringing the flowering season ahead of time and exposing the crops to more vulnerability due to the sudden heat shocks that occur on a plant that is already in bloom, causing severe damage to final production. During frosts, the water within plant tissues solidifies and increases in volume, creating lesions to tissue cells, which are compromised, affecting in turn all subsequent phenological stages.
Strawberry tree covered with TNT
Perfarelalbero, an Italian e-commerce for agricultural products, has always been on the hunt for the most effective solutions and precautions to prevent frost, advising its customers on which strategies to adopt. Micaela Avignone, account manager of the large Italian e-shop, explains that: "While it is true that frosts have always occurred, this climatic emergency, however, has increased their frequency and danger because they affect plants at an already advanced phenological stage. After several days of spring weather, which allowed a vegetative awakening in many areas, the forecast announces a new drop in temperatures and the return therefore of rain, cold and even frost. It is necessary to be prepared, otherwise there is a risk that buds, and flowers will be burned."
The solutions to protect plants from frost in Perfarelalbero's catalog are different, but the most common and purchased turn out to be TNT (nonwoven fabric for both plants and vegetable garden), plant stimulant products and anti-frost systems, whose operation, however, requires a continuous availability of water, which is necessary for their activation.
The irrigation systems are activated when temperatures drop below freezing, allowing the formation of a thin layer of ice that acts as an insulator and protects the plant.
Perfarelalbero sells its products from the Trentino region to the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. "We contacted our customers and asked them how they usually deal with the risk of frost," continues Micaela. "From their stories, we have noticed a growing interest in those new products that stimulate potassium oxide-based resistance against frost and represent a less expensive and demanding strategy with sudden action. There are several products that we have included in our online catalog, with the intention of meeting the diversity of needs; our stakeholders said they have used them in recent years as an alternative strategy to traditional ones."
Citrus crops
"In the last 20 days, we have been seeing a strong demand for TNT from every Italian region with a strong agricultural vocation, also aided by a weather pattern that suggests possible cold weather returns. TNT is used on both horticultural and fruit crops, especially on young plants. There are two types available: full-fledged canopies or sheets to put on crops. We recommend the 17 g/sqm ones."
Click here to learn about other frost protection systems.
For more information:
Perfarelalbero
Via lido 13
75025 Policoro
(+39) 392 8081522 - 329 7407677
[email protected]
perfarelalbero.it