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How Grodan and Walker Environmental Solved a Waste Management Challenge

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Medicinal crops whitepaper

Whitepaper: The future of medicinal crop cultivation

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Medicinal crops whitepaper

Whitepaper: How Grodan and Fluence are mastering the art of growing medicinal crops

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Medicinal crops article: How Perfect Plants converted the crisis into new opportunities

Whitepaper: Optimal irrigation strategy for large-scale production of medicinal crops

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Effect of early stop time and gift/radiation on EC behaviour

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Light levels are now increasing rapidly as are the outside temperatures. The ventilators will be opened, subject to restriction with adequate P-band settings and outside weather influences to prevent cold air entering the glasshouse. Consequently, water uptake by the crop will increase but the weather can also fluctuate massively at this time of year, especially in Europe and Canada. However, maintaining a stable substrate EC is not difficult so long as correct settings are implemented. Again the standard graphic that depicts WC, EC & radiation is a useful tool to use.
 
In order to maintain the correct generative/vegetative balance in the crop as the first harvests are taken and the fruit load is stabilized it is important to maintain a stable root zone environment. Not least a stable substrate EC. As such irrigation must now be matched to the light levels and enough drain has to be achieved over 24 hrs, especially on bright days to level EC and balance the substrate nutrition.
At this time of year, almost all growers tend to become nervous of the substrate EC. In some circumstances, a first reaction may be to decrease the dripping EC as soon as the days become brighter while keeping the stop time fixed so as not to give too much water on the darker days.
 
Figure 1 illustrates two irrigation strategies. The start time is fixed for both as is the dripping EC at 3.2mS. However, in this trial Grodan researchers have structured one strategy to stop at a fixed time setting of 14:30 hrs (light blue WC curve) allowing the other to continue irrigating beyond this time but based only on light intensity setting (dark blue WC curve). The result, in the latter case, is a stable substrate EC (orange line) as sufficient irrigation is supplied in line with crop activity.
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Figure 1

Effect of early stop time on substrate EC. Example illustrates a cluster tomato crop but which ever crop you grow the principles for EC control with an adjusted stop time are the same.

Focus now on the stop time to help you control substrate EC, particularly on brighter days as at 14:30 hrs the light intensity can still be high. It is best practice to let the irrigation run on light a setting until 250-200 W/m2 outside light remains to keep the EC stable as illustrated from practice in Figure 2.  In this example, taken from a commercial glasshouse the stop time can be seen to vary by +1.5 hrs on a bright versus darker day, yet EC and the decrease in WC overnight remain stable despite the widely fluctuating light levels.

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Figure 2

Optimal start and stop times and irrigation gift maintain stable root zone conditions in variable weather. Example illustrates a cluster tomato crop but which ever crop you grow the principles for EC control with an adjusted stop time are the same.

Summary

There should be no reason to lower the dripping EC too far i.e. for cluster tomatoes less than 3.0mS with sufficient irrigation in line with crop activity towards the end of the day. With a targeted stop time on a bright day, EC can remain 3.0-3.5mS to help the balance in the crop. Stopping too early on bright days will result in an uncontrolled increase in the substrate EC. This has been the case at several growers this year where irrigation is stopped approximately 14:30 hrs with outside light levels still around 400-600 W/m2. Lowering the drip EC too far at this time of year can have a negative impact on plant development making harder to achieve the correct balance in the crop for maximum summer production.  For further guidance on how to structure the start and stops in the climate computer please refer to the relevant Grodan 6 phase reference tables for you slab/crop.

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The opportunities of indoor strawberry cultivation

Global strawberry cultivation is at a turning point. Growers are faced with sharp cost increases, while they also need to continue to guarantee high quality and consistent products, as consumers demand healthy, fresh fruits throughout the year. That is why strawberry propagators and growers are constantly looking for ways to optimise their growth strategy, maximise their yields and minimise their costs.

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Mock-up strawberry whitepaper higher value is here

Whitepaper: Higher value is here

A recent trial by Grodan has demonstrated that strawberries can be propagated and cultivated on a stone wool substrate while maintaining high quality and attractive fruit size. Additionally, the yields and Brix values were higher than with traditional methods.

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Importance of data driven growing

Data science and AI technologies present us with so many opportunities to collect and mine data in the greenhouse. This paper will help you begin your journey to get the best out of your greenhouse data. There’s a bright future ahead!

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The start of data driven growing

High-tech greenhouse horticulture is preparing for a new, global transition to data-driven growing practices. In Horticulture 4.0, countless sensors and measuring systems collect a constant flow of data on growth conditions and the functioning of crops, from both visible parts of the plants as well as in the root zone environment. These multiple data flows and their correlation are analysed centrally and translated real-time into setpoints using sophisticated growth models and smart, self-learning software. The recommendations can be used to maximise the expected operating results. This is the ultimate form of Precision Growing.

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Unlock the potential of AI driven decision making

In today’s conditions, growing crops can be likened to performing sport at elite level. Green fingers and a passion for growing no longer guarantee good operating results. The goalposts are constantly being shifted. Stringent environmental regulations and legislation, excessive demands placed by customers, fierce competition and small margins force growers to maximise the potential of their crops efficiently and sustainably. At the same time, the continuing trend of upscaling, the tight labour market (smaller pool of available labour) and dwindling numbers of experienced crop managers (vanishing expertise) are all obstacles along the path of achieving business continuity and success. Not just today, but also tomorrow and in the years ahead.

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Monitoring nutrient balance, pH & EC in the root zone

The composition of the nutrient solution should be appropriate to the needs of the crop. One of the benefits of using Grodan stone wool substrates is that the nutrient composition is under total control of growers. However the uptake of particular nutrients varies constantly with growth and fruit load therefore the nutrient balance, pH and EC in the root zone is also constantly changing.

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Steering and control of EC and WC in the slab under summer conditions

How does one optimise the slab EC and WC? As the longest day approaches, keeping the slab and the crop in the proper ‘rhythm’ is necessary for peak production and fruit quality under the most stressful and demanding period of the year.

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Making informed decisions in respect to water and EC management

How to fine tune the irrigation strategy during spring & summer to avoid costly mistakes using tools such as the Grodan GroSens system and the graphics function of the climate computer.

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Movement of water through plants

How a plant uses water and the interaction between root zone and aerial environments

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Understanding and steering the root zone environment

Goals and targets for crop and root zone management in response to changes in plant development, fruit load and light levels.

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Steering WC & EC at the start of the cultivation

Starting a new crop is always an interesting time of year. It’s an eagerly awaited fresh start however some decisions and actions we make now can have a big impact later in the cultivation.

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Improving tomato fruit quality

Have you ever wondered why at certain times of the year tomato crops are more susceptible to fruit quality disorders? For the most common physiological disorders namely blossom end rot (BER) and uneven colour (blotchy ripening) this whitepaper explains their cause and prescribes simple solutions to avoid / minimise risk of symptom expression in the first place.

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Irrigating in changing weather conditions with minimal drain volumes

The volume of irrigation water applied per square meter is linked to radiation sum as a general rule in the ratio 3.0 ml per joule. The exact figure will ultimately depend on outside weather influences such as wind speed, humidity as well as the greenhouse vent position. The question is whether this total drain volume is necessary or not? So what is the role of drain and what is a sufficient volume of the drain?

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Maintaining summer fruit quality

Maintaining a good nutrient balance along with a well-executed irrigation strategy can help to avoid many of the common fruit quality disorders which are experienced over summer. Standard feed recipes are available from all analytical laboratories and it is important that you take samples of water from within the slab on a regular basis so that the feed solution can be adjusted in order to maintain the correct nutrient ratios throughout the summer.

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Optimizing nutrition to minimize fruit quality disorders

Maintaining a good nutrient balance in the root zone can help avoid many common fruit quality disorders. Standard feed recipes are available from all analytical laboratories and with a regular analysis of the root zone solution the feed solution can be adjusted so that optimum nutrient ratios are maintained.

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Switch to Clean

Hydroponic lettuce and other leafy greens will soon start to dominate sales at supermarkets and chain restaurants. With up to 12 times the number of crops a year than from open fields and twice the crop density, no other production method can compete. Production environments must however be clean. Stone wool is both clean and inert, making it ideal for producing hydroponic lettuce and other leafy greens.

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What is EC?

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Effect of cycle size on EC refreshment and EC stability

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EC management

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Root zone management

Root zone irrigation management

‘Precision Growing’ literally translates into growing more, with fewer inputs. In this context GRODAN focuses on root zone management solutions, yet understands the need for a holistic approach towards the cultivation. This page describes ‘Precision Growing’ with respect to root zone management. It focuses on substrate choice; design and use with respect to optimizing the water supply.

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Grodan User Instruction Videos

To further enhance the 6phase e-mail service we recently launched a series of User Instruction Videos, to enrich and visualise the advice provided.

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Cutting drainage holes in stages

A good start to a crop grown in substrate will ensure good plant and root development. In this context it’s worth paying extra attention to the cutting of the drainage holes, says Grodan’s technical specialist Gert-Jan Goes. “We advise growers to cut the holes in our slabs in two stages, to promote healthy root development in the slab, more uniform growth in the control phase and a substantial reduction in the amount of water that needs to be recycled or purified.”

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Bacterial canker

Bacterial canker: How to identify and treat bacterial canker in tomatoes. Download the Nursery management plan to learn more about the prevention of bacterial canker and how to threat the disease.

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What is EC?

Electrical conductivity or "EC" is a measure of the “total salts” concentration in the nutrient solution (drip, slab or drain). The higher the “total salts” concentration in a substrate the higher the EC. An EC will only be registered when inorganic ions are present in solution.

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What is pH?

The unit of measure of nutrient solution acidity or alkalinity is termed "pH". It is a description of the concentration of the H+ ions in the feed solution, substrate or drain water.

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We are a global leader in the supply of innovative stone wool substrate solutions for the professional horticultural based on Precision Growing principles.

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