J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2015 Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045 (Online) Vol. 7, No. 2, p. 261-275, 2015 http://www.innspub.net RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS Mapping and analyzing the risk of frost and chilling damage on horticultural crops (study case: Taftan border area, Southeast of Iran) * Behrooz Kordi Tamandani , Dr. Mahmood Khosravi, Dr. Payman Mahmoodi Department of Climatology University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran Article published on August 31, 2015 Key words: Chilling, Frost, Taftan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Geographical Information System (GIS). Abstract Frosts have obvious effects on the energy, transport, and agriculture, while their greatest impact is on agriculture. Since chilling and frost cause’s lots of damage to crops in Taftan area, it is essential to examine the chilling and frost in this area. To study this phenomenon in Taftan area, the minimum temperature data of 4 synoptic stations (Zahedan, Khash, Nosratabad, Mirjaveh) and 4 climatology stations (Goharkouh, Karvandar, Cheshme ziarat, and Korin) were used. Early autumn and late spring frost dates at the desired thresholds (zero and lower) for chilling, and temperatures of 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4 ° C for frost damage were extracted, and duration, frequency of frost and chilling days and the growing season was calculated. Then, determining the appropriate probability distribution, the probability of early and late, chilling and frost was estimated. After examining the relationship between chilling and elevation, zoning maps were drawn by using the geographical information system (GIS), and finally using the Spearman correlation method, the relationship between chilling and frost and horticultural crops was analyzed. The results showed that the earliest autumn chilling and the latest spring chilling occur in Taftan mountains, and the latest autumn chilling and earliest spring chilling occur in the West and Southeast regions. The analysis and interpretation of the results also showed that spring chilling has the greatest impact on horticultural crops such as apricot, almond, and cherry. The relationship between the yield of horticultural crops and late chilling indicated that only horticultural crops at Taftan mountain border have suffered from frost damage. *Corresponding Author: Behrooz Kordi Tamandani [email protected] 261 | Tamandani et al. J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2015 Introduction date of the last spring cold weather and the first Alterations to the frequency and intensity of extreme autumn cold weather in radiative and advective temperature events, predicted with climate change, forms. pose a threat to the health of trees in many areas of the world (Allen et al. 2010; Williams et al. 2012). Thom and Shaw (1985) determined the dates of frost damage in Iowa, and showed that the dates of the first Frost damage is a serious concern for many types of autumn chilling and last spring chilling are temperate climate crops. Frost may damage leaves completely independent and stochastic, and their and fruit, impact on plant health and cause death, return period can be determined for any crop. depending on the severity of a frost and the susceptibility of a particular plant. Frost is generally Michalska (1986) examined the possibility of the divided into radiation frost, i.e. created in cloudless, occurrence of late spring frosts in the Netherlands, calm conditions by the longwave radiative cooling of and determined the proper planting date for corn in near-surface air, and advective frost, which is caused the spring. by large-scale cold air masses moving into an area in windier conditions(Richards and Baumgarten 2003). Timmer et al (1988) divided frosts into two types of advective and radiative, and concluded that advective Research on the factors affecting the frost and chilling frost is harmful for horticultural products. needs to study and understand the history of the chilling and the related factors. Considering that the Waylen (1989) in a study entitled as the statistical first autumn cold weather and the last spring cold properties of the frost date and duration of the weather surprise the farmers, and the lack of growing season variables, forecasted the occurrence necessary measures by them can cause severe frost of frost using the daily minimum temperature at Lake damage, it has long been an area interest for City station and Regina airport. For this purpose, he agricultural researchers. Crawford (1965) studied the used statistical methods as normal distribution, the effect of different types of heaters in reducing frost coefficient of skewness, elongation, regression, damage to fruit trees. correlation and the chi-square test for fitting the date of the first and last frost dates and duration of the The World Meteorological Organization (1981) growing season. studied the late spring frosts and discussed ways to prevent the damages in the last 150 years. This paper Aron and Gat (1991) drew curves of frost damage risk, showed that 120 to 180 years ago, the physical and and examined its probability of occurrence due to the meteorological conditions affecting late spring frosts topography of Israel. Watkins (1991) using the included free energy radiation in clear sky and well calendar of the date of the first and last daily known calm winds. Even, recommendations of smoke temperature of zero ° C and below zero in England and coating were made. In this paper, for the first (1989-1850), showed that early spring frosts have time a service of chilling prognosis was proposed and ended earlier annually, and autumn frosts have organized after establishment of the storm prognosis started with delay, and as a result, the duration of service. frost season has reduced 2 days per decade. Rosenberg and Myers (1962) believed the type of Miller and Downton (1992) examined the way how to chilling in agriculture is more important than its date estimate the losses caused by frost in Florida citrus of occurrence. They classified radiative and advective orchards, and demonstrated that the exact estimation cooling. They presented their results based on the should be based on the long-term knowledge of 262 | Tamandani et al. J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2015 climate. temperature on the risk of frost damage after harvest of loquat fruit, and calculating the browning index, Based on the five characteristics of chilling, Boer et al evaluated the effect of low temperatures on the (1993) divided one of Australia's rich wheat regions reshape of the fruit. into four homogeneous regions, and on the basis of weighted regression analysis concluded that elevation Vargas et al (2006) considered losses caused by is the best predictor of chilling features, and latitude seasonal frost on the size, color, and the taste of a and other factors are in the next levels of importance. peach tree in Chile. Cittadini et al (2006) studied Kozloskaya and Myalik (1998) found that the degree historical events related to the occurrence of harmful of damage to apple and pear buds as a result of low cold for Cherry with a threshold of 3 ° C in the temperature is varied. Grafted apple buds suffer more Patagonia region of Chile in order to determine severe due to the low temperatures compared to other suitable areas for the cultivation of that plant. ones. In the case of pear, damage to buds with the Sameshima et al (2007) examined the freezing risk main root system is more intense than the buds with for the soya in Japan, and using a network, showed it the branching root system. Rodrigo (2000) examined as a map based on the probability of occurrence of the effects of late spring frosts on the reproductive frost damage. organ of fruit trees in temperate regions. Khosravi et al (2008) examined the effect on risk of a Perry (2002) studied the effect of chilling in the late frost on orchards of Mahvelat. In this study, using reduction of horticultural products. He separated of GIS facilities, drew time-location curves of spring advective and radiative chilling to assess frost damage frost at two mild or severe frost damage threshold in horticultural crops. He also suggested methods to with the likelihood of 50, 75, 95, and 99% due to reduce frost damage. nearby stations and application of the correlation coefficient between the region’s elevation and the Zinoni et al (2002) studied the date of occurrence of thresholds. Overlapping these maps identified high late spring frosts in 161 locations in Emilia-Romagna risk, medium risk, and low risk regions. in Italy during the period 1987 to 2000. The researchers presented a frost risk index based on Mokarram (2012) studied the effect of frost damage phenology and made a relationship between the on the dry farming wheat crop for Lorestan province. minimum temperature of stations studied and the The results showed that in different return periods, risk index of station, and presented a map of frost risk the earliest frost beginnings and the latest frost in the region. endings relate to the northwest, north, and east parts of the province, and the latest onset of frost Madelin and Beltrando (2005) performed zoning for beginnings and the earliest frost endings are related risk of spring frost in the vineyard in France. Using to the south and southwest regions of the province. multivariate regression analysis based on digital Stations with the earliest frost have also the latest terrain model, obtained the minimum temperature frost, and southern regions such as Poldokhtar and distribution in the region, and based on that map, Doroud had the longest growing season, since those drew the distribution of frost risk for the entire region stations do not have spring frost. based on meteorological data of 20 stations. Nodehi (2013) examined the relationship between Lurie and Carlos (2005) examined the frost effect on early autumn and late spring frost and production peaches and nectarines under different climatic and yield of some horticultural products in Khorasan conditions.