Polydome Concept Overview V.3 Pest and Weed Management There has never been an agricultural production facility safe from the scourges of pests, diseases, and weeds. However, despite academic research from the last three decades, most agricultural facilities do not take full advantage of Integrated Pest Management techniques or the latest knowledge on beneficial crop interactions. As mentioned above, the strategic use of companion plants and support plants can have a significant impact in reducing pest attacks and diseases. In addition to these measures, the purchase of beneficial insects for release inside the greenhouse will probably still be necessary on an annual basis. It is also possible that additional pest control measures will be required beyond these efforts. In this case, it would be ideal to experiment with sprays made of plant extracts, that have been shown in some trials to be successful against pests. The goal is to avoid chemical pest control at all costs, since it would violate the original objectives of such a facility. Weed suppression in the greenhouse can be accomplished primarily through careful mulching practices (between 10 and 20 cm of much material is a good amount for covering bare soil). Some controlled livestock interaction (giving the chickens access to the greenhouse) can also serve as a form of weed control. Substrates Soil is not a common substrate of choice in Dutch greenhouses. Most growers these days opt for a hydroponic setup with Rockwool or another type of fiber as a root stabilizing base; only biological greenhouses are required to grow in soil for certification reasons. Soil is considered problematic for several reasons: • • • pest infestations, particularly soil nematodes the need for additional washing of crops if they have come in contact with the soil much greater water consumption than hydroponic production Despite these issues, we have recommended the use of soil for a large part of the Polydome greenhouse because it offers several common sense benefits. In following the “low-tech where possible” principle, soil is an obvious choice since it is already present. It doesn’t need to be manufactured elsewhere or shipped in. It requires very little effort to choose to grow crops underneath a hanging hydroponic installation as an added value measure if the required growth medium is already present, which in the case of soil, it is. Soil is also a unique growth medium that has specifically co-evolved with plants. The role of bacteria, fungi, and other soil microorganisms in supporting plant growth and health is difficult to overestimate. It is clear that there is more to the Polydome: High Performance Polyculture Systems 31 Ladybug), used in natural pest management strategies. Pagina 30

Pagina 32

Interactieve web webshop, deze folder of whitepaper is levensecht online geplaatst met Online Touch en bied het online bladerbaar maken van internet PDF-en.

473 Lees publicatie 163Home


You need flash player to view this online publication