Effect of hail nets on the microclimate, irrigation requirements, tree growth, and fruit yield of peach orchards in Catalonia (Spain)

Grey and Black Anti-Hail Nets Ameliorated Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh. cv. Golden Delicious) Physiology under Mediterranean Climate

“…Thus, the best photosynthetic performance by trees under netting (Figure 1) must be due to changes induced in the microclimate. The likely reduction in air temperature, evapotranspiration, vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and wind intensity [3,9,14,33] might contribute to higher soil water availability and decrease the driving force for transpiration, promoting an increase in g s [34] and the CO 2 input (Figure 1). Although under the nets the promotion of g s contributed to reduce the A/g s and to increase the transpiration rate in some monitored periods (Figure 1), the tree water status was not impaired, being even better in some sampling dates (Figure 3).…”

“…Excessive solar radiation, heat and/or drought stresses can be detrimental to the trees due to higher oxidative damage, photorespiration and photoinhibition [4,5], which ultimately might also reduce productivity. Furthermore, damages to the fruit caused by hailstorms [6], the development of sunburn in fruit due to excessive solar radiation [7] and high sensitiveness of fruit growth to drought [8,9] may cause huge economic losses for growers. Farmers and researchers searched for practical solutions to protect orchards, the netting systems being one of the most promising.…”

“…Netting is the most effective method to protect from hailstorms and to reduce the intensity of the transmitted light and wind speed [2,3,6,[10][11][12], which may cause changes on orchard's microclimate, including the reduction in air, leaf, fruit and soil temperature. In addition, nets reduce evapotranspiration and increase soil moisture, which, in turn, increases soil water availability and reduces irrigation costs [3,9,13,14]. Therefore, nets might be of great importance in the context of climate change, particularly in conditions of extreme events, as the case of hailstorms and heat waves [15].…”

“…As nutrient uptake and the subsequent distribution within the plant, change according to plant needs and in response to environmental conditions [26], the influence of nets on nutrient dynamics deserves further attention. The shading influence on yield and/or fruit size also varies largely in response to a range of factors, being the most determinants the net colour and environmental conditions [2,6,9,18,[20][21][22]27].…”

Innovative Soil Management and Micro-Climate Modulation for Saving Water in Peach Orchards

“…If adequately managed, the canopy covering regulates the atmosphere water demand (Pirkner et al, 2014) in order to reduce water to be supplied through irrigation (Rana et al, 2004;Lopez et al, 2018). Orchard covering by shading hail net has been proposed as a technique to improve tree water status and water use efficiency where water is scarce (Nicolas et al, 2005;Corelli-Grappadelli and Lakso, 2007;Losciale et al, 2011;Abouatallah et al, 2012;Girona et al, 2012;Lopez et al, 2018).…”