At GreenQ Improvement Centre in Holland, tomato plants of the Capricia variety were planted in three departments as part of an experiment called "Optimization: The next step in New Cultivation". In this study a large number of factors that contribute to crop optimization and energy saving are compared. All existing knowledge about The New Cultivation is integrated in the study. The research is carried out in cooperation with Wageningen University. Unique to this project is the fact that six private parties co-finance the research, namely Priva, Koppert, Svensson, Grodan, Rijk Zwaan, Van Dijk Heating and Paskal Israel.
Cooperation
The test mainly involves an extensive comparison between several types of Svensson shading screens combined with greenhouse dehumidification. In two departments a diffuse Harmony screen has been installed. Additionally, the test will study the monitoring and guiding of propagation using the Priva TopCrop-system, as well as the contribution of the Koppert Natugro-concept to the growth and resilience of crops. The soil has been covered with dense foil to better regulate greenhouse humidity and a special Grodan watering strategy is applied. Two different gutters are also compared. Rijk Zwaan has supplied the plants. Van Dijk Heating contributes its extensive knowledge on dehumidification and Paskal Israel has a weighing system installed that outlines the evaporation of crops.
Apart from assistance by these private participants there are also financial contributions from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Collaborative Skills program. An application for funding of further explanatory research is submitted to the Horticulture and the Greenhouse as Energy Platform. A verdict is expected at end of February.
