This machine allows you to safely ripen the last tomatoes of the season

Dosing ethylene is becoming increasingly popular in Dutch greenhouse horticulture. Last year, the first systems were approved to speed up the ripening of fruit and vegetables by using gas at the end of the season. As expected, the use of ethylene gas cylinders will follow.

Ripening
The ripening of tomatoes comes into play with the last batches of the season. The idea is to finalize the production as fast as possible, ensuring the highest possible quality. Growers sometimes use ethephon, which is progressively converted into ethylene and triggers ripening. In recent years, the direct use of ethylene has also come into the picture. Last year the use of a device that converts ethanol into ethylene gas was approved. In Belgium and the Netherlands, intensive research is being done into the use of ethylene in gas cylinders in horticulture. It is expected to be approved for horticulture this year: first in Belgium, and later in the summer also in the Netherlands. To this end, trading company "PD" has already included the Scenty Control in their range of products. This makes it possible to dose a combination of nitrogen and ethylene or pure ethylene.

No chemistry
"The benefits of ethylene are known to most tomato growers. You do not need chemical means, this gives you a residue free product”, says Scheffler. “With the system you can safely spread a dose of ethylene.” Apart from tomatoes, it is also possible to ripen peppers with ethylene. The technique to dose ethylene comes from banana ripeners and storage bins for potatoes. In potatoes and onions it can prevent the potatoes from sprouting - with other fruit vegetables ripening is triggered.

Scenty system
The Scenty system offers possibilities for analyzing and dosing. The set consists of a dosing unit, a reading unit and an electrochemical sensor. The concentration of ethylene in the greenhouse is measured, and with this information and the settings, the correct dose of ethylene is released. Internationally, a dozen growers work with the system.

"Our main goal is the control you have as a grower”, says Scheffler, "and the safety of the system. You can accurately adjust the dose you want and you know that it will be dosed safely.” Although the use of ethylene in gas cylinders is awaiting approval, he already wants to publicize the system. “We want to make sure that when the use is approved, everybody knows of this safe way of using ethylene in gas cylinders."

For more information:
Niels Scheffler
PD Handel
Bijsterhuizen 21-52
6604 LG Wijchen
Tel: +31 (0) 24 3565688
+31 6 10 99 49 99
Fax: +31 (0) 24 3565682
E-mail: niels.scheffler@pdhandel.nl
Website: www.pdhandel.nl