What are the latest winter freeze-protection methods for citrus?

Citrus is grown extremely widely in China, both in the north and the south. In winter, low temperatures make citrus in many regions prone to freeze damage, causing economic losses. How to overwinter safely in winter and reduce freeze damage is also something fruit growers care about quite a lot. Below, Qinnong Web brings the winter freeze-protection techniques for citrus. Let's take a look.

1. Irrigation for freeze protection

Irrigation in winter can have a freeze-protection effect. Irrigation can increase the specific heat capacity of the soil and the air humidity, and can effectively suppress ground radiation and delay the drop in ground temperature. Generally, irrigating the planting area in winter can raise the low temperature by 1-2 degrees. But irrigation also requires attention to timing and method, and it must be decided according to the size of the plant and the soil's dryness and moisture. During frost, attention should be paid to irrigating in the afternoon at dusk, and draining the water away in the early morning.

2. Smoking for freeze protection

When winter temperatures are low and citrus suffers frost, smoking in the orchard can be used for freeze protection. Using local materials in the orchard, light a smoking fire in an open, ventilated place so that the smoke covers the entire orchard. This can raise the temperature inside the orchard by 2-3 degrees. But note that you should not produce large-scale open flames, and there must be a certain distance from the plants, and it should also be at the upper air inlet.

3. Film covering for freeze protection

Covering the plants with a layer of film is also a good freeze-protection method. Film covering can reduce a certain amount of cold wind, reduce the plant's evaporation and consumption of water, and also provide good insulation for the soil layer. But it also has its drawbacks: the film clings tightly to the leaves, its permeability is relatively poor, and on sunny days it easily scorches the leaves. So generally, when many people use this technique, they use supports to prop it up, which is equivalent to building a small greenhouse.

4. Spraying antifreeze agents

In many regions, fruit growers choose the method of spraying antifreeze agents for freeze protection. An antifreeze agent is a type of antifreeze plant foliar fertilizer containing plant hormone nutrient solution or trace elements. Their function is to maintain the stability of biological membranes, reduce damage to the membranes from low temperatures, lower the freezing point of the cell walls, and enable the plants to achieve a good freeze-protection effect.

The above are the winter freeze-protection methods for citrus brought by Qinnong Web. In addition to the above methods, there are other freeze-protection methods, such as increasing fertilizer application, using the heat-dissipating property of fertilizer decomposition to raise the temperature of the soil and root system for freeze protection, as well as plastic film mulching and other methods.