Brazil: Hydroponic leafy greens in modern plastic greenhouses Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo
In the countryside outside the city of Sao Paulo, a lot of soy, sugar cane and coffee are grown. The growers in this area are mostly second generation Japanese. Their parents moved to Brazil in 1950 and made a go of horticulture. The current generation is one of driven entrepreneurs. In modern tunnel greenhouses, leafy crops are grown on water.
During the visit, Horti-Consult visited the company of Japanese growers Jorge Morikawa and Eduardo Miyayacixi. The company is located in Hollando. It was launched in 2002 with the cultivation of hydroponic lettuce. The company is now 2.5 hectares. The company distinguishes itself by marketing its products under private label Saladas Finas. This stands for quality and continuity.
The company grows a lot of Salanavo, Batavia (lettuce), Italian Arugula and herbs such as coriander. Everything is sown in trays which are filled with a mixture of coccus and perlite. The trays are made wet by 1.2 EC. After germination the tray is kept moist by 1.0 EC. If there is sufficient rooting of the plug tray, the plants are plotted using PVC pipes provided with holes, each with a distance of 15-20 cm, so it is possible to set 64 plants / m2.
The cultivation requires a lot of discipline and control. For a good flow, the drains are located on a slope of 15%. The amount of watering depends on plant size and wetness of the plug. Very important is the quality of the irrigation water, the temperature and oxygen content. A basic nutrition is provided of calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, mono potassium phosphate and trace elements.
Market sales.
The mature heads have a weight of 350 grams. The cost of the plant are 40 real (currency in Brazil, corresponding to 12 Euro cents). The crops are sold for 80 real, the equivalent of 24 cents, which is not a bad return.
More information:
Gilbert Heijens
Horti-Consult International
info@horti-consult.nl
www.horti-consult.nl