Heat

Farmers irrigate their crops to protect them from heat because water has a high specific heat capacity, meaning it can absorb or release a large amount of heat with little change in temperature. This property helps maintain a cooler environment around the crops during hot weather, preventing heat stress and damage.
The high specific heat of water stabilizes temperature fluctuations, thus protecting plants from rapid temperature changes. When water evaporates from the soil and plant surfaces, it also helps in cooling through evaporative cooling.
- Low specific heat would mean water heats up quickly, which is not beneficial for crops.
- Latent heat relates to phase changes (like evaporation) but is not the primary reason for irrigation in heat protection.