Quantification of the Risk of Damage by Late Frosts in Rafaela (Santa Fe, Argentina)

Abstract

Low-chilling requirements fruit trees are grown in the central area of Santa Fe province, in Argentina. Late frost occurrence during flowering and fruit set is one of the main constraints affecting peach and other deciduous fruit trees production. The probability of frost damage occurrence was quantified by the frost risk agroclimatic index (RAI) which takes into account the tree phenology and the probability of critical temperatures occurrence during different phenological stages. In the region of Rafaela, for the period 1970-2006, the RAI reached a medium value of 71 %. Considering the phenology of peach trees cv. ‘Flordaking’ the risk of frost damage occurrence was 1:1.4 years (moderate risk). These results indicate the suitability of using protective measures against late frosts.