CubeCap Canada’s, DripCap is a simple plastic cap that is placed on top of a stone wool propagation cube, coco block and other medis. The basic function of the cap is that it serves as a vapor barrier to hold in the moisture for a longer period of time.
The water does not evaporate prematurely in the air, so the salt does not stay behind increasing the EC of the block. It also has a unique, patented propagation feature built right into the DripCap, eliminating the need for drip stakes. There are two locations available on the top of the DripCap for the grower to attach their propagation hose. The two propagation chambers split off into four outlet locations underneath, allowing for an even disbursement of water onto the growing medium.
Commercial trials
Gallo explained that that the few commercial growers that are currently and successfully using their DripCaps have not allowed CubeCap Canada to publish, use or speak about their results. He says that the reason for this is that it gives them an edge over their competition and they do not want competing companies to know about the lower production costs achieved when using DripCaps."When you actually get out your calculator and figure out what a 32.9% reduction in resources translates to, it’s very large number that is hard to believe by most growers.” According to Gallo, a greenhouse in the United States has reduced water usage by over 400,000 Liters and increased their net profit by over 20,000$ USD, per acre, per year”.
Problems with drip stakes
The DripCaps were invented/patented 8 years ago, and manufactured to replace the inefficient & problematic, commonly used drip stakes. Gallo explained that there are currently approximately 6 billion drip stakes being used in greenhouses each year, world wide."This is the currently the most popular method for watering & fertilizing used in today's greenhouses.” Most greenhouse growers are not aware of some very costly & correctable problems occurring in their greenhouse on a daily basis as a result of the drip stakes.
According to Gallo, the problems stem from using a drip stake to water while ambient heat causes evaporation. His group ran an 11-month trial at the GreenQ Improvement Centre (currently Delphy) in Holland to analyze and verify the evaporation of common drip stake irrigation versus irrigation with DripCaps.
"The evaporation rate as a result of standard drip stakes in a 22 degree Celsius greenhouse is approx. 32.9%, higher ambient temperatures can push this percentage even up to, and over 50%. This causes a lot of water with fertilizers to evaporate, before it has even a chance to reach the plant."
"Costly & harmful problems associated with so-called premature evaporation of irrigation water," said Gallo. "When a growing medium dries out too fast it leaves a high mineral deposit of salt in the block, which decreases the growth, and more water & fertilizer is needed to replenish the dry medium."
Minimizing algae
Furthermore Gallo said that the DripCaps can also prevent a moist, wet, exposed surface, in order to minimize Algae accumulation and stems from coming into contact with moisture, rotting. “Less algae means less fungus gnats & root eating larva have access to the stem and roots. As well as this, the algae reduces the oxygen to water ratio available to the plant.The DripCaps are biodegradable and can be easily disinfected or replaced after a cultivation round or when disinfection takes place to prepare for a new crop.
Free trials
Gallo currently is looking for growers who would like to take advantage of DripCaps solutions and are willing to agree to publish their results. CubeCap is offering free DripCaps for trials with large scale commercial producers, so they can see with their own eyes what effect this system can have on the operational costs of their business.CubeCap will be exhibiting at the GreenTech in Amsterdam this year at stand #8.536
For more information:
CubeCap Canada
Steven Gallo
info@cubecap.ca
www.cubecap.ca