- Usage of a cavity screen (2x Luxous 1147, with a small cavity of ± 7 cm), to increase the insulation in winter and to further reduce the energy consumption.
- Aim for gas consumption for heat of maximum 15 m3/m2 and a peak consumption of maximum 0.7 m3 /m2/week.
- Reduction of CO2 usage to 22.5 kg/m2 and a peak consumption of maximum 0.8 kg/m2/ week.
- Keeping the crop in balance by applying fruit thinning.
In addition, a comparison was made with the neighboring company Quality Peppers. The results are included in the monitoring project (Raaphorst, 2018). The variety in the test and at the neighboring company was the yellow variety 'Allrounder'.
The planting date was December 1st. During the cultivation, there were a number of stumbling blocks from which valuable lessons were learned. The intended production forecast was not realized. The production measured in the greenhouse was 31.1 kg/m2, and the average fruit weight was 195 grams. The lower production is attributed to a number of factors: extra loss of light caused by the cavity screen; a period in March in which boron deficiency occurred (water and absorption of nutrients during the test was not optimal); limited dosage of CO2 and the use of fruit thinning.
During the summer period, qualitative problems were found with the fruits: water stains (burning of the shoulders) and cutting spots. This is mainly due to the high temperatures in combination with a high level of irradiance that was realized in June. The Allrounder variety proved to be more sensitive to this than the cultivation that was realized in 2016 with the Maranello variety. On the positive side, not one single fruit was found with inner rot during the cultivation after one week of storage.
The final report of the project is available here. (In Dutch)
Source: Kas Als Energiebron