The use of natural gas heating to prevent spring freeze damage in the appalachian fruit region of the United States
✍ Scribed by V.J. Valli
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1970
- Weight
- 442 KB
- Volume
- 7
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0002-1571
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✦ Synopsis
A natural gas heating system covering 50 acres of apples in Hancock, Maryland, was used to prevent freeze damage during the night of April 19-20, 1969. Simple wind proof burners with cones are installed 40/acre. Each heater's B.T.U. output ranges from about 3&000/h at about 5 p.s.i. to 180,000/h at 20 p.s.i. This provides a maximum B.T.U./acre of 7 million. By starting at 5 p.s.i. at 23.30 E.S.T., increasing to 10 p.s.i. at 02.30 E.S.T. and 15 p.s.i. at 04.00 E.S.T., a heating effect of 4°F or more was maintained in the 5-15 ft. fruit zone through the night. Minimum in the test area at the 5-ft. level was 31 "F compared with the check 5-ft. level minimum of 23°F.