EFFECT OF CLIMATE FACTORS ON NURSERY PRODUCTION

The most important meteorological factors influencing the growth of young plants are: temperature and insolation, rainfall and air humidity, as well as winds and hail.
Air temperature is a very important factor in the production of rootstocks and trees. The start and end dates of plant growth depend on the temperature course in summer, growth intensity, lignification of shoots and preparation of trees and shrubs for winter dormancy. The length of the growing season also depends on the temperature system (number of days with an average daily temperature above 5 ° C), which for the production of rootstocks and fruit trees should not be shorter than 200 days. The minimum temperatures in late autumn are the most dangerous, winter, and also in the early spring. Freezing temperatures are especially dangerous after long-term warming in winter or early spring, because they freeze shoots and trees, budding discs, and sometimes damage to the root system.
For green plants, light is a source of energy necessary for the production of organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water. The stronger it is (naturally to a certain optimum) insolation, the more intense the photosynthesis takes place. In sunny years, therefore, we get better-grown rootstocks and trees. In less favorable sunlight conditions, the nursery material is less developed.
Periodic water shortage in soil inhibits the growth of young plants. The distribution of precipitation is important in nursery production, especially in the spring time, when plants need water the most. The amount of precipitation during the winter is also important for the production of trees. The snow cover protects the soil from freezing, and thus protects the root system of the trees from damage. Air humidity is also related to precipitation.
Winds are dangerous for young trees in late spring,when young maiden trees are poorly attached to the rootstock. Strong winds cause leaning, breaking and bending tree trunks. So you should avoid setting up nurseries in areas exposed to strong winds. If necessary, it is recommended to plant rows of rootstocks parallel to the direction of strong winds. Hail causes damage to young shoots and leaves. The degree of damage to the shoots, trees and shrubs depends on the size of the hail nuggets and is sometimes so strong, that the plants cannot be placed on the market. The greatest losses occur among young cherry and sour cherry trees. Areas should be avoided in the production of tree and shrub rootstock, where hail falls frequently.