Frost Fighters Quiz Quiz

Explore key methods and strategies used in agriculture to counteract frost damage, comparing their effectiveness and practical applications through scenario-based questions. Enhance your understanding of how farmers protect crops in frosty conditions.

1. Selecting a Frost Protection Method

   A farmer in an orchard uses large fans to circulate air on a calm, frosty night. Which frost protection method is being used?

   1. Mulching
   2. Wind machines
   3. Row covers
   4. Overhead irrigation

   Explanation: Wind machines are designed to mix warmer air from above with cooler air near the ground to prevent frost settling. Overhead irrigation applies water to release heat during freezing, mulching insulates soil rather than directly affecting air temperature, and row covers provide a physical barrier rather than air movement.

2. Understanding Overhead Irrigation

   Why do some vegetable growers use overhead sprinklers during frost events, even though the water may freeze on the plants?

   1. It prevents dehydration
   2. Water releases heat as it freezes
   3. It washes away pests
   4. It speeds up plant growth

   Explanation: Overhead irrigation helps protect plants because as water freezes, it releases latent heat, keeping plant tissues at or just above 0°C. Preventing dehydration or pest management is not the goal in this context, and frost conditions do not speed up plant growth.

3. Choosing Materials for Mulching

   Which material is commonly used as mulch to protect soil and roots from frost damage?

   1. Glass shards
   2. Straw
   3. Plastic bags
   4. Iron filings

   Explanation: Straw is widely used as mulch for its insulating properties and biological compatibility. Plastic bags are less effective and can cause moisture issues, iron filings do not insulate, and glass shards are unsafe and ineffective.

4. Limitations of Row Covers

   What is an important limitation of using lightweight row covers for frost protection in agriculture?

   1. They only provide a few degrees of protection
   2. They require expensive machinery
   3. They are harmful to plant roots
   4. They increase soil erosion

   Explanation: Row covers typically protect against light frosts by trapping heat but offer limited temperature increase. They are not harmful to roots, do not facilitate soil erosion, and generally do not require expensive machinery.

5. Site Selection and Frost Risk

   Why do agricultural planners often choose elevated sites for orchards with frost-sensitive crops?

   1. Elevated sites have richer soil
   2. More sunlight always prevents frost
   3. Insects avoid high altitudes
   4. Cold air drains away from higher ground

   Explanation: Cold air naturally flows downhill and accumulates in low areas, making elevated sites less prone to frost. While soil richness and sunlight affect growth, they do not prevent frost events, and insect pressure is not the main concern for frost site selection.