Israel-based irrigation solutions company Netafim, part of Orbia Advance Corporation, has launched Mega-PULSAR, a pulsing sprinkler system that cools orchards during extreme heat. The technology creates a humid microclimate across the canopy to protect crops such as avocados, mangoes, grapes, and cocoa from heat damage, while using up to 40% less water than conventional systems.
This introduction comes as Netafim, which also has headquarters in Boston, Mexico City, and Amsterdam, marks its 60th year of operations in precision irrigation solutions, expanding its portfolio of extreme weather mitigation technologies.
Heatwave Threat to Orchard Productivity
As climate patterns shift, growers are facing more frequent and prolonged heatwaves that put fruit yields and quality at risk, particularly during fruit set and pre harvest stages. These phases are highly sensitive, and heat stress can lead to irreversible damage. For crops such as avocado, mango, lychee, wine grapes, and cocoa, the ability to maintain optimal growing conditions has become critical to both productivity and profitability.
Mega-PULSAR addresses these challenges by delivering uniform pulses of low volume water across the orchard canopy. This approach creates a localized micro climate that lowers temperatures and raises humidity, helping to protect crops from severe heat stress while complementing existing irrigation systems in water scarce environments.
Proprietary Pulsation for Cooling Efficiency
At the core of Mega-PULSAR’s operation is a proprietary pulsation mechanism that applies water in a fine “light rain” pattern, closely resembling natural rainfall. This method enables two cooling effects: direct cooling, where droplets lower the temperature of leaves and fruit surfaces, and evaporative cooling, where air temperatures are reduced as water evaporates.
The system is designed for wide spacing installation, allowing for greater coverage with fewer units while maintaining very high uniformity. It supports multiple flow rates and spacing configurations, enabling growers to tailor the system to different orchard layouts and topographies. The pressure compensated mechanism ensures consistent water delivery even over broad pressure ranges, preserving uniform cooling performance across the orchard.
Operational Advantages and Resource Savings
Mega-PULSAR has been engineered to minimize operational and resource costs. Its modular design reduces the total number of stands required per hectare by up to 90% compared to localized coverage systems, lowering both installation and maintenance needs. Water use efficiency is a key feature, growers can save up to 40% more water in tree plantations compared to high flow sprinkler systems offering full coverage. This reduction in water volume also cuts energy consumption and infrastructure costs.
The system is suitable for on-surface installation, with sprinklers placed above the canopy, and performs effectively in both flat fields and terrains with topographic variation. It is built to withstand challenging water conditions while providing consistent performance in extreme heat scenarios.
Field Results from Early Installations
Mega-PULSAR was first deployed in orchards during spring 2025. Initial observations from these installations have shown improved relative humidity and measurable reductions in temperature within the orchard environment. These results validate the system’s potential as an effective heat mitigation tool for orchard crops facing climate related stress.
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Integrated Design Support through NetSpeX
To support optimal implementation, growers can use Netafim’s NetSpeX design tool. This platform enables quick and professional system design by application, allows performance optimization for existing sprinkler models, and provides comparison features for evaluating different sprinkler solutions.
Orit Katzir, Global Product Manager at Orbia Precision Agriculture, noted that Mega-PULSAR was developed in response to the evolving climate challenges faced by growers. The technology, she explained, provides scalable and efficient protection for orchards at all growth stages, aligning with Netafim’s six decade mission to enable farmers to achieve more with fewer resources.
“We developed Mega-PULSAR in direct response to the evolving needs of our growers, offering a scalable and efficient way to protect orchards from every angle and at every phase of orchard growth. This innovation follows our ongoing mission over the past 60 years to help farmers grow more with less, even in the face of unprecedented challenges.”
With the introduction of Mega-PULSAR, Orbia Netafim is expanding its suite of solutions designed to help growers adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather conditions. By combining water use efficiency with full area cooling coverage, the system offers a strategic response to climate induced risks that threaten both crop yield and quality. As early field deployments continue to demonstrate its effectiveness, Mega-PULSAR positions itself as a practical and adaptable tool for orchard management in a warming world.