Complete Guide to Crop Overwintering Methods: Frost Protection and Insulation Tips Explained in One Go
Every year as winter arrives, temperatures drop and the weather turns cold. During cultivation, grain crops can suffer frost damage with the slightest carelessness, affecting yields after the arrival of spring. To prevent grain crops from suffering frost damage during overwintering, the following methods are introduced to prevent frost damage. Farmers can adopt them as appropriate according to actual conditions.
1. Windbreak method
The method is to use straw to build windbreaks 1 to 1.5 m high adjacent to the vegetable plots, with 1 windbreak set every 3 to 4 plots.
2. Mulching method
In the afternoon before frost arrives, cover the vegetable plots and vegetables with straw, rice straw, etc., which can reduce mechanical damage from wind and cold. Use 100 kg of rice straw per mu. It should be spread loosely and sparsely, and the vegetables must not be completely covered, to prevent affecting photosynthesis.
3. Winter irrigation method
Irrigating before frost can raise the temperature by 2°C to 3°C after the cold wave passes.
4. Hilling method
Before freezing, in combination with intertillage, use broken soil to hill up around the roots. This can loosen the soil, raise soil temperature, and directly protect the roots. However, intertillage and hilling must be carried out before the soil freezes, and the depth should preferably be 7 to 10 cm.
5. Ditching and drainage method
Open the “three ditches” well to ensure that ditches, canals, and fields are unobstructed, so that frozen water can be drained promptly.
6. Ash scattering method
First, before low-temperature frost damage arrives, scatter a thin layer of plant ash on the vegetables; second, scatter plant ash between the rows.
7. Applying organic fertilizer and spraying nutrient solution
Before frost, use insulating farmyard manure such as pig and cattle manure or local mixed fertilizer, and place it around the roots and stems of the vegetables. This can raise soil temperature by 2°C to 3°C. Application as topdressing should be done on sunny days, at 1000 to 1500 kg per mu. At the same time, spray plant nutrient solutions such as “Yunda 120” brassin, Lüfenwei, and Aiduoshou to improve the cold resistance of the plants.
8. Smoking method
Pile weeds, straw, dead branches, fallen leaves, etc. around the vegetable fields. Before frost arrives, light smoke at the corners on the windward side, which can disperse the cold wave. But be sure to prevent burning the vegetables.
9. Nitrogen control method
During the seedling stage, appropriately reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer. Do not apply excessive nitrogen fertilizer, to avoid poor cold resistance of the plants. Topdressing should be done early to promote strong vegetable seedlings. Before low temperatures arrive, do not apply quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer. It is advisable to apply 1 round of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to enhance the cold resistance of the vegetables.
Although there have long been folk sayings passed down by word of mouth such as “a timely snow promises a good year” and “cold winter, abundant autumn,” in fact, cold protection work in winter must not be taken lightly. Timely snow and winter cold can kill overwintering pests, but as the saying goes, “things reverse when they reach an extreme.” If no prevention and control are carried out, cold weather can likewise kill overwintering crops. Therefore, preventing frost damage is especially important.