Frost seen this season

Monday, February 13, 2012

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The occurrence of frost in the hinterlands is expected this cold season.

But farmers are ready to counter its effects on their crops even as the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist have not received reports of farmlands affected by frost.

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Provincial Agriculturist Lolita Bentres said even if frost or ‘andap’ is expected this cold month of February, she stressed frost does not cause any injury to plants.

Frost normally occurs from November to February.

It is usually experienced in Paoay in Atok, Madaymen in Kibungan and Natubleng in Buguias, said Bentres.

Seasoned farmers in the highlands now know measures to counter frost including using overhead sprinklers, according to Bentres.

Farmers use sprinkler or overhead irrigation overnight or early morning to counter the development of ice in plants. Frost does not immediately manifest and settle which takes around three days.

It also occurs in plantations found between mountains. There is no air movement or airflow leaving the plants undisturbed which is the reason why ice emerges, according to Bentres. (Susan C. Aro)