1) Coverings: without a doubt the most effective. There is neither method nor management that assures the protection that provides the coverings against rain. Their indiscriminate use, without management and the adequate materials could influence in the quality and condition of fruit, but with management in accordance with the objectives proposed, it can not only prevent damage due to rain, but it can also improve the characteristics like caliber and even new technologies in the use of plastics, furthering phenologic states.
2) Turbo-mist sprayers without filling: originally they were used to make applications in orchards, but in this case they are used to generate air flow that allows the removal of water, they must go to full power, never empty, but with a little water so that the pumps never work dry. The first time through must be fast, however it may be necessary to have a second time through in order to get rid of all the water on the plants. It is also effective to do a pass over in parallel with two machines in adjoining rows, this makes the wind flows overlap and have greater effectiveness in removing the water from the foliage and fruit.
3) Wax and polymers: making successive and well controlled applications to achieve the objective; the important thing is that the products be applied over the fruit in a homogenous way therefore objective tests must be done, pedicle cavity and stylar zone, because it is where we must lower the risk, since we know that prolonged exposition to water in these sectors winds up in a split.
4) Use of hydrophobic films (Biofilms): With products formulated especially for this job, we have seen good performance in Chilean investigations in rain that’s not very intense or long.
5) Use of Ca Chloride (CaCI2): Before and after the rain this strategy allows rainwater to stay a longer time off the fruit due to the effect of an osmotic balance.
6) Drying: Ideally with helicopters and blowers, in an efficient way and just after the rain. Frost control propellers may be activated that generate wind flow allowing the water on the fruit to run which could ultimately create damage.
In the case of helicopters, their route and height may be defined according to the size and power that they have. It’s important that at the helicopter’s flight time the soil have enough humidity to avoid dust lifting, since this could damage the plants and complicate work visual.
The height of flyover must be calculated empirically through trial and error with the objective of discarding water efficiently with the least impact possible to plants in order to avoid mechanical damage like bruises and pitting.