Saving Water with SHuR FARMS Cold Air Drain®

Although the SHuR FARMS Cold Air Drain® is suitable for and is most used as a stand alone frost protection method, there are huge benefits to using cold air drainage in conjunction with other frost protection methods. 

Because cold air drainage removes the coldest and most damaging air layers from the vineyard or orchard, the secondary method of protection is enhanced.  Over vine sprinkler irrigation protects the vines by encasing the buds in ice.  When the water droplets from the sprinklers hit the ice and freezes, there is a release of heat that will keep the ice encasement at around 32 degrees Fahrenheit.  The heat released from the freezing of the water is going into the ice on the buds.  

By removing the coldest air from along the ground, warmer air is at bud level.  If the air at the vine height is not cold enough to freeze all or some of the water from the sprinklers, this water will fall to the ground and freeze there.  The resulting release of heat below the vines will rise and warm the air around the buds.  The resulting cold air removal and air warming is a synergistic effect that enhances both methods. 

SHuR FARMS Cold Air Drain® is 100% compatible with all under vine and over vine sprinkler irrigation systems.  The resulting synergistic effect of the two methods will produce a protection factor greater than the sum of each method used separately.

How SHuR FARMS Cold Air Drain® Can Save You Water

Start the water system later and shut off earlier in the morning.
By removing the coldest air layers, the temperature in the vineyard remains higher allowing for a delayed start.  In the morning, cold air is removed quickly and the ice will melt faster. 

Less ice build up will intensify the effect of the irrigation.
By keeping the temperatures at the bud height warmer throughout the night, there is less ice build up.  This will intensify the effects of any water droplet that freezes and releases heat into the ice.

Less ice and water is safer for the plants.
Less ice buildup on the plant will reduce limb breaking and ice damage to the buds.  Less water in the vineyard lessens the potential for fungus, disease, phyloxia, and root rot. 

Reduces the effect of evaporative cooling – safer to use.
Warmer temperatures reduce the effects of evaporative cooling and make sprinkler turn on less risky.

Reduces emitter and line freezing.
Removing the lower layers of cold air will keep the water lines warmer and the emitters from clogging due to freezing.  Also, there is less danger of failure due to the water droplets freezing in mid air before they reach the ice on the buds. 

Protect to lower temperatures
SHuR FARMS Cold Air Drain® and water work together. Cold air drainage raises the temperature of the air, and the sprinkler system encases the buds and protects against the resulting temperature. 

Safe to use in any type freeze
The Cold Air Drain® is safe to use in any type freeze or weather condition.  This method can not cause additional damage.  During nights of changing conditions, the use of water may not be recommended, but the Cold Air Drain® can be safely used. 

An example of how one Pope Valley vineyard is saving water
with SHuR FARMS Cold Air Drain®

In a vineyard in Pope Valley, the water system is divided into grids, each serving several blocks. The frost monitor is located in the coldest block in each grid. 

When the frost monitor goes off, then the entire water grid is turned on as it is not divided into separate blocks.  By installing a SHuR FARMS Cold Air Drain® into the coldest block, and then another monitor into the second coldest block, the vineyard is able to reduce water usage substantially by not turning on the water when only the coldest block is at risk for frost damage.