Impact in Agriculture

Frost Protection Strategies in Agriculture: Insights from the 2025 Niğde Frost Event in Türkiye

Onur Ata ¹ , Özlem Onay ²

Abstract

Late spring frost events represent a major climatic hazard for perennial crop production, particularly in regions with continental climatic conditions. In April 2025, Niğde Province in central Türkiye experienced a severe frost episode that caused extensive damage to fruit orchards during critical phenological stages. This study examines the characteristics of the frost event and evaluates frost protection practices implemented in the affected agricultural areas. A qualitative case study approach was employed, integrating meteorological observations, official damage assessments, field observations, and a comparative analysis of frost protection methods reported in the literature. Meteorological data indicate that the frost event persisted for approximately 12 hours, with temperatures declining to −9.3 °C during the most severe phase. The prolonged exposure to sub-zero temperatures resulted in substantial damage, particularly in flowering fruit trees across several districts of Niğde. Observations show that active protection measures, including sprinkler irrigation and combustion-based heating practices, were widely implemented by producers; however, their effectiveness was limited under prolonged and severe frost conditions. Passive measures such as site selection, cultivar choice, and soil management contributed to long-term risk mitigation but were insufficient as standalone solutions during extreme events. These findings highlight the need for integrated frost risk management strategies combining preventive agronomic planning, appropriate active protection technologies, and improved early warning systems in frost-prone agricultural regions.

Keywords: Agricultural frost; Frost protection; Late spring frost; Orchards; Climate adaptation; Frost risk

Acknowledgment

ChatGPT (OpenAI, GPT-5.2) was used solely for English language editing and grammar checking. The authors retain full responsibility for the content and conclusions of the manuscript.

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