CITRUS: Cold weather in Florida expected to harm orange groves

Since the end of January and the beginning of February, the state of Florida, in the United States, has been recording extremely low temperatures. Researchers from Cepea indicate that this scenario has been generating strong concern in the sector, given the already limited local citrus production. The current cold wave increases the risks to the orchard, particularly because the exposure of trees to temperatures below freezing point for periods exceeding four hours can cause significant damage both to the structure of the plants (trunk and branch cells) and to the leaves and fruits. In light of this scenario, citrus growers have started to adopt protective measures, such as sprinkler irrigation, with the aim of forming an insulating layer of ice, as well as using heaters in the crops. However, according to Cepea, the effectiveness of these strategies is limited when ...