The quality of the primary water supply is very important when operating within a closed hydroponic system. Rain water is pure and so it is naturally your best primary water source. Make sure you know the quality of your primary water supply by having it analyzed by a reputable laboratory, and invest in sufficient rain water storage capacity.
“We know from the work we have undertaken with the Wageningen University & Research that 100% recycling of drain water is possible today”, says Andrew. Of greatest concern to many growers when recycling drain water is the risk of spreading diseases. So make sure to always disinfect your drain water before using it as irrigation water, by e.g. advanced oxidation.
Why would you discharge valuable nutrients when they can be used again? By accurately managing nutrient levels, growth disorders can be avoided, and crop growth and yield can be optimized. Do not economize on a frequent analysis of slab and drain water (our advice: once a week) and take a close look at the prices of nutrients.
Investing in the future
The global call for reducing the environmental impacts associated with crop production will only increase in the coming years. Andrew adds: “In ten years’ time, I believe we may see a revolution in the way the total irrigation system is designed and operated inside the greenhouse. What is certain is that legislation will be in place across the globe that will prohibit drain water emission to the environment. Thankfully due to collaboration in the chain we have the knowledge and the technology available to start doing this today.”
For more information and tips on water management in the greenhouse, download the Best Practice Guidelines for Greenhouse Water Management.
If Grodan were a country, it would be one of the most successful recycling countries in the world. In 2022 alone, Grodan achieved a recycling rate of 65%! By comparison, Germany, considered the most efficient recycling country in the world, has a recycling rate of 68%. Nevertheless, we are not satisfied yet and are working on better and more recycling solutions worldwide.
In summary, utilizing new high-tech devices and software, such as the new Grodan GroSens sensor and e-Gro, in cultivation facilities is vital for achieving precision, efficiency, productivity, compliance, risk mitigation, and maintaining a competitive advantage. These tools empower growers with accurate data and advanced analytics, leading to improved cultivation practices, higher yields, and better crop health.
Due to various challenges facing growers nowadays, it is becoming increasingly interesting to cultivate strawberries in high-tech greenhouses all year round. Stone wool is known to achieve demonstrable benefits as a growing medium for various other protected crops. However, little practical research has been conducted into its suitability for strawberries. That’s why Grodan decided to validate the performance of stone wool growing media in a real-life trial together with the Delphy Innovative Soft Fruit Centre (ISFC) in the Netherlands. We asked Vera Theelen, Researcher Soft Fruit at Delphy ISFC, to tell us more about the trial results so far and their implications for the strawberry market.
This year, the focus of the United Nations observance is how to accelerate the change needed to solve the water and sanitation crisis. The global campaign is called “Be the change”. The aim is to encourage society to take action and change the way we use, consume and manage water. As Grodan, being an active member in this society, our aim is to provide the best solutions and provide high-end services that can support growers to “Grow more, with less” and change towards a sustainable way of growing while respecting natural resources.
We are a global leader in the supply of innovative stone wool substrate solutions for the professional horticultural based on Precision Growing principles.
