No snow, HP growers create ice cover to save apple crop

Snowfall has been scanty over the past few years in Himachal Pradesh, posing a serious threat to apple cultivation. In the absence of natural snowfall, which provides multiple benefits to apple plants, some growers are attempting to recreate winter-like conditions to provide the required chilling and moisture to their orchards. These growers, largely engaged in high-density apple cultivation, are using sprinklers and foggers to convert water into ice to cover their plants.

“We turn on the foggers around midnight when the temperature is low. The water turns into fog and spreads to every corner of the orchard. By morning, the entire orchard is covered in ice,” said Pankaj Thakur, an orchardist from the Aani area of Kullu district.

Apple plants require chilling hours, ranging from 500-600 to about 1,200 depending on the variety, for prolonged dormancy, uniform flowering and good fruit set. Growers say they are using the ice treatment in the hope of meeting this requirement. “For the Gala variety we grow, the chilling requirement is around 600 to 800 hours. This practice helps us enhance the chilling hours to around 1,200 and has enabled us get better quality fruit,” Thakur said.

Apart from chilling, growers believe the practice helps control insects and pests that harmful for the plants. “Several pests attack plants during dry winters. The layer of ice kills these pests,” said Ramesh Khachi, an orchardist from Theog in Shimla district.

However, some progressive growers caution that the practice could harm the plants. “Low temperature and moisture are good, but ice can cause skin injury to plants, leading to diseases such as canker. This practice must be used cautiously. It may be better to freeze ice on the ground rather than covering the plants with ice,” said Lokinder Bisht, president of the Progressive Growers Association.

SP Bhardwaj, a former professor at the University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, called the practice harmful, especially if used frequently. “Chilling occurs through air temperatures between 0° Celsius and 7.2° Celsius, not through ice or snow. Covering plants with ice can cause serious damage and hit production in the long run,” he said.