Influence of anti-hail net on the habitat and growth of apple

The orchard habitat, hail damage and growth of apple had been determined in the orchard which covered with an anti-hail net in loess hilly-gully region of northern Shaanxi Province. Results showed that anti-hail net had increased temperature and overshadowed. Using anti-hail net, orchard air temperature, temperatures at soil surface, 20 cm depth and 40 cm depth of soil had been increased slightly in morning and evening, while decreased slightly in afternoon, and daily average temperature had been increased a little, but daily temperature difference had been decreased. The order of anti-hail net influence on orchard temperature were air temperature ＞soil surface temperature ＞soil temperature at 20 cm depth ＞soil temperature at 40 cm depth. Anti-hail net did not have obvious influence on air humidity and soil moisture, but it had significantly decreased illumination intensity at fine day and wind speed, and the effect was enhanced as wind speed increasing. Anti-hail net decreased photosynthetic rate a little, significantly weakened branch growth, decreased fruit yields, but it did not have significance influence on fruit quality. It decreased fruit and leaf damage percent and index, thus significantly increased fruit price. Anti-hail net should been used and popularized in the region with hail frequently.