Chile assesses the effects of recent frosts on fruit growing
During the recent weekend, the country experienced moderate to extreme frosts, as well as snowfall, from the regions of Atacama to Los Lagos, reaching subzero temperatures in some places.
In this regard, the President of the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile AG (ASOEX), Ronald Bown, indicated: "It is still premature to deliver conclusive data on some type of damage to the fruit or plants. However, so far, according to the evaluations in the field that are being carried out by the technical and professional teams of the fruit producing and exporting companies, there would be no record of considerable damage. Although it is important to specify that the specific damages in fruits such as citrus fruits and avocados, can only be measured after 7 to 10 days, approximately".
Also the leader stressed that if new frosts occur, especially during the first week of August, there could be damage, given the phenological status of deciduous plants; many of which would be in the bud or bud period.
It should be noted that at this time the main fruit trees in production are citrus and avocados.
In this sense, Bown added that in the case of citrus, the Citrus Committee of ASOEX, is evaluating the situation in order to issue a report of effects. While in the case of avocados, given the geographical areas in which the cultivation of this fruit takes place, so far no damage would be reported.
According to the president of the ASOEX Citrus Committee, Juan Enrique Ortúzar, the observations made in the field indicate a very limited level of damage, since most of the orchards are located in positions that are more protected from the cold within the valleys. “The producers have learned the lesson and have put more cold-tolerant crops in the lower sectors of the valleys, where frost affects more intensely. From that point of view, the industry is better prepared for these events than ten years agoadded Ortuzar.
Finally, the President of ASOEX stressed that as "the frost damage in fruit trees are not immediately observable in full, we will continue to evaluate the situation to provide more detailed and quantitative information about it within the next week".
Temperatures
According to the frost report prepared by the Foundation for Fruit Development (FDF), through the Agrometeorological Network: www.agroclima.cl, corresponding to the 15 period to the 17 of July of 2017 from the regions of Atacama to the Lakes, the lowest temperatures were registered in the Araucanía Region, where in the Villarica commune a temperature of -7,6ºC was observed, during the morning of Sunday 16 of July, and -7,3 in Cunco, yesterday Monday 17 of July.
Meanwhile, in the regions of Atacama and Coquimbo, the lowest temperatures were concentrated in Vicuña (-1,4ºC) and Punitaqui (-2,1ºC), respectively, during the early hours of Monday 17 in July.
Also Monday, in the Valparaíso Region, San Felipe registered -4,4ºC, while in the Metropolitan region, the town of Til-Til recorded the lowest temperature with -7,7ºC.
In the regions of O'Higgins, and Maule the lowest temperatures were evident in Placilla (-4,3ºC) and Romeral (-5,1ºC), respectively. While in the Biobío Region, the Coihueco area reported -5,5 degrees, two days in a row (Sunday 16 and Monday 17 in July).
Finally, in the regions of Los Ríos and Los Lagos, the communes of La Unión (-4,5ºC) and Río Negro (-4,4ºC) were the lowest in the area, which were recorded on Sunday.
Source: SimFRUIT
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