"China: "First steps into hydroponics brought 150% yield increase"

With the help of seminars, research and demonstration projects, the Chinese government is promoting modern agriculture throughout the country. According to Yang Zhang of Galuku, many growers are now interested in new ways to improve their business; they want to use less water and pesticides and achieve higher yields with the help of simple improvements. "That is why more greenhouse growers are now showing interest in using substrate in their operations and the first steps into hydroponics have been made.

China is a large market with many greenhouses; more than 2.3 million hectare. Only a small part of this acreage is medium or high tech. 99% of the growers are cultivating flowers and mostly vegetables in traditional solar greenhouses, and occasionally in simple tunnel greenhouses. In most cases they grow their crops directly in the soil; with inefficient irrigation, fertilizer spills and low yields as a result.

Melon cultivation in a solar greenhouse in Changchun, Jinlin Province

"We have been helping growers to achieve better results with the help of coir coco peat substrates", said Yang Zhang, regional manager of coco peat substrate manufacturer Galuku. For 5 years now, the company has been active in China. Zhang told us that the interest for coir substrate in China is developing slowly. "Most growers did not use substrates because they were not aware of how to use them. But since we are informing them about it and guiding them in the process, they realize that they can achieve much better profits.

Strawberry tunnel greenhouse in Zhoukou, Henan Province

As an example Zhang told us about strawberry growers that have been adapting Galuku substrates. "Our products have become popular among Chinese strawberry growers; they realized yield increases of 50 to 150%. As well as this their quality increased significant and they were able to achieve higher prices for the picked fruits."

Tomato cultivation in a solar greenhouse in Zibo, Shandong Province

The products used by the commercial growers are most likely growing bags and the so called easyfill bags. Growers of crops like Melons, Cucumbers, Strawberries and Tomatoes have achieved good results with it.

Cucumber crops in a solar greenhouse in Zibo, Shandong Province

As well as this, Galuku is also active on the retail side of the horticulture industry. "Home gardening is also very popular in China, and with so many residents, it is an important market for us as well. Every year our sales of retail products for home gardening are increasing and nowadays this is responsible for 30 percent of our sales."

For more information:
Galuku China
Yang Zhang
Regional Manager, Greater China
E: yang@galuku.com
+61 2 9337 7504
www.GalukuChina.com
Skype: GalukuChina