Technical Installation + Long-term Vision
A control system today requires diagnosis, engineering, and technical support from the start. Therefore, before installing any equipment, we guide our clients through a rigorous process that ensures each component fulfills its function at the most critical moment: when the temperature drops.
Everything begins with the frost exposure diagnosis. It is essential to analyze the historical and current conditions of the area where the property is located: frequency and intensity of frosts, duration of events, and the dates they usually occur. It is also important to consider which phenological stages coincide with these events since the crop's sensitivity varies dramatically between budding, flowering, and fruit set. Without this information, determining the type of protection needed and the system activation timing is not possible.
Next comes one of the most important points: water availability. Since the systems we implement operate through controlled pulse emission—like the Pulsator 205™—it is necessary to have a reliable water source during the frost risk season. Unlike continuous micro-sprinkler systems, this technology allows operation with much smaller volumes, making implementation feasible even in conditions of limited water supply. The source (reservoir, well, canal) is evaluated, along with the useful volume available in winter and the water quality.
With this basis, a characterization of the crop and the property is carried out. Protecting a cherry orchard is not the same as a citrus, avocado, or kiwi plantation. Each species has a different level of cold sensitivity and is managed with different planting frameworks, which affects the density and arrangement of the system and its associated investment. This analysis allows defining the coverage strategy according to the type of tissue to protect, its phenology, and the exposure within the property.
In the technical design phase, the planting framework is thoroughly evaluated, and based on the available flow rates, a specific installation framework is designed. At Tierraverde, we work with a low precipitation and total coverage approach, using pulsing with flow rates of approximately 1 mm/h, which is three times lower than traditional focused coverage systems (3 mm/h). This enables an affordable investment, efficient operation, effective protection, and water usage adapted to the field's real constraints.
Hydraulic sectors are defined, pump capacities are assessed, emitters like the Pulsemax 360° are selected, sub-matrices, distribution lines, fittings, and valves are planned, tutors are distributed, and pressures are adjusted per section, all to ensure uniform coverage and immediate response at the event's onset.
The installation must be supervised by trained technicians. Beyond that, it is essential to conduct a pre-season start-up, including cold tests, pressure verification by sector, effective flow measurement, and operational simulation. This allows for detecting possible adjustments before the first frost occurs when there is no room for error.
Moreover, before each season, a complete preventive maintenance is indispensable. Lines must be cleaned, emitter integrity checked, potential blockages detected, and worn parts replaced. This ensures the system maintains its operational efficiency over the years.
At Tierraverde, we do not provide standard solutions. Each hydraulic engineering design is unique and dedicated because each orchard is. We apply engineering, agronomic knowledge, and technical support to ensure that your investment not only works but also protects what is most valuable: the quality and production of your harvest.
📩 Are you considering protecting your field this coming winter and spring? Write to us. We can help you from diagnosis to operation.
