In 2016, trials were performed at Delphy and at Wageningen University & Research in Bleiswijk with bell pepper according to the Next Generation Growing. The final report of the trial at Delphy is now available.
The experimental cultivation with bell pepper - cultivar Maranello - at Delphy had two main objectives: on the one hand, cultivation with double-screen to prevent eradiation and climate shocks. On the other, the goal was to limit the heat consumption to a maximum of 20 m³/m².
Production started at a normal time. Plant loads have remained relatively high throughout the cultivation. As a result, the fruits remained relatively small in the second half of the cultivation. The production as measured in the greenhouse amounted to 35.8 kg.m⁻² with an average fruit weight of 189 grams.
The gas consumption was 16.9 m³.m⁻². The temperature per natural day is kept at a temperature of 20°C + 2°C / 1000 J.cm⁻².day⁻¹, in a crop loaded with fruit.
Two screen cloths have been used. A Luxous 1147 FR screen was closed 100% during 4614 hours and a Luxous 1547 D FR screen was closed 100% during 4186 hours on a total growing time of 8375 hours.
From the measurements with a net radiation meter, it was found that by using the intensive screen cloth almost no moments occurred of high net radiation from the crop to the greenhouse. Under the cloths, air vents have been used to achieve a low level of air movement in the upper part of the crop.
Almost no internal rot was found in fruits that were kept for a week.
The results of this experiment closely match the thoughts of the Next Generation Growing about plant balance and the effect of eradiation on the crop.
Source: Kas als Energiebron