Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
observed that with the increase in chilling exposure, the days required for
bud break were reduced. Further, the impact of climatic conditions during
winter, spring and summer are being assessed for studying the relationship
with fruiting parameters of Delicious apple.
4.3.1 HAIL STORM-A MAJOR CLIMATIC CONSTRAINTS
FROM FLOWERING TO FRUIT GROWTH/HARVESTING
The productivity and quality apple is influenced by: (i) winter conditions
(December-February); (ii) spring conditions during flowering (April); and
(iii) postbloom summer conditions (May-June). The important climatic
components affecting the productivity and quality parameters are temper-
ature, rainfall, hails and frost.
The bud break to petal fall is the most sensitive stage when hail can
reduce the prospective good crop year to almost 'off' year. It does not only
inflict direct injury to buds, flowers and leaves but can causes sublethal
injury to the developing fruits and spurs as well. Hails during the fruit de-
velopment have more serious effects, however, the frequent occurrence of
hailstorms in Himachal Pradesh has created havoc in fruit setting in apple.
It is feared heavy crop loss for the last 3-4 years may be due to hails as
computed in present studies. During 2009-2010 area affected by major ca-
lamity like hailstorm was 32,244 ha, 2010-2011 it was 106,467 ha, and in
2011-2012 it was 166,207 ha while in the current year the affected area is
24,350 hac with net loss of apple crop worth 1540 crores up to April, 2012.
4.4 MID SEASON CORRECTIONS TO MITIGATE LOSS DUE TO
HAIL STORM
4.4.1 PLASTIC NETTING
Hail netting though fool proof method has not been readily adopted by
fruit growers, mainly because of high cost, and partly because of concerns
relating to tree growth and fruit quality under the plastic nets. It has been
shown that shading from some netting materials decrease photosynthesis
especially black may interfere with the development of red color in apple.
White nets reduce radiation by 4-8% and black net by 33-37%. Hence,
 
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