Articles
Top covers, from nets and screens to photovoltaic panels: possible solutions to coping with climate change in open field crops
Article number
1437_47
Pages
363 – 370
Language
English
Abstract
In areas with mild winters, the effect of climate change is usually manifested all year-round.
During the spring and summer, it is associated with an increasing number of extreme heat waves accompanied by recurrent drought.
Winters become warmer, characterized by high-intensity storms with high-speed winds, hailstorms, and heavy rains.
These changes provide serious challenges to the productivity of unprotected crops, especially fruit trees.
Structures with top covers can mitigate the microclimate, thereby potentially providing a partial solution to the negative effects of climate change.
In this report, two types of covers are presented and discussed: netting and photovoltaic panels.
The mitigating effects of netting on microclimate, which include reduced radiation, wind breaking, reduced temperature, and induced humidity during the summer, are well documented.
These effects improve crop physiology and enhance water relations, thus reducing water consumption.
Use of photoselective nets, partially altering the light spectrum, might have additional beneficial effects, as demonstrated by the use of low-shading red net in citrus, which improved tree performance as compared to pearl, transparent, and white nets.
Photovoltaic panels represent a relatively new technology aimed at producing electricity while maintaining, and even improving, yield and yield quality.
A few case studies have shown that the microclimate in the summer is mitigated under the panels, with induced humidity and reduced temperature, thus resulting in improved water relations and reduced water consumption.
However, optimal electricity generation usually runs counter to yield production, mostly due to a serious shading effect.
Improved panel technology, such as semi-transparent panels, might provide a partial solution.
Moreover, a cost-dependent option would be to use some of the produced electricity to generate light inside the canopy.
In summary, regardless of their beneficial effects on microclimate, both technologies, top netting and photovoltaic panels, challenge optimal productivity.
During the spring and summer, it is associated with an increasing number of extreme heat waves accompanied by recurrent drought.
Winters become warmer, characterized by high-intensity storms with high-speed winds, hailstorms, and heavy rains.
These changes provide serious challenges to the productivity of unprotected crops, especially fruit trees.
Structures with top covers can mitigate the microclimate, thereby potentially providing a partial solution to the negative effects of climate change.
In this report, two types of covers are presented and discussed: netting and photovoltaic panels.
The mitigating effects of netting on microclimate, which include reduced radiation, wind breaking, reduced temperature, and induced humidity during the summer, are well documented.
These effects improve crop physiology and enhance water relations, thus reducing water consumption.
Use of photoselective nets, partially altering the light spectrum, might have additional beneficial effects, as demonstrated by the use of low-shading red net in citrus, which improved tree performance as compared to pearl, transparent, and white nets.
Photovoltaic panels represent a relatively new technology aimed at producing electricity while maintaining, and even improving, yield and yield quality.
A few case studies have shown that the microclimate in the summer is mitigated under the panels, with induced humidity and reduced temperature, thus resulting in improved water relations and reduced water consumption.
However, optimal electricity generation usually runs counter to yield production, mostly due to a serious shading effect.
Improved panel technology, such as semi-transparent panels, might provide a partial solution.
Moreover, a cost-dependent option would be to use some of the produced electricity to generate light inside the canopy.
In summary, regardless of their beneficial effects on microclimate, both technologies, top netting and photovoltaic panels, challenge optimal productivity.
Publication
Authors
A. Sadka
Keywords
top netting, photoselective net, microclimate mitigation, agro-photovoltaic, climate change
Online Articles (57)