Israel: Winter pilot study on basil obtains a 66% increase in yield
The pilot was conducted in winter over 39 days between December 2017 and February 2018, on a 50-acre organic farm in the Carmia region of southern Israel. Using the ground source heat exchange version of Root’s RZTO system, the basil roots were heated an average five-degrees warmer compared with control plantings to achieve these results.
Basil Winter Pilot Dec 17 – Feb 18, Carmia region, Israel Comparison of harvest volume - 12 plants in each box
The successful pilot of basil, significantly only grown in summer months, shows the benefits of Roots’ RZTO technology based on ground source heat exchanger can have for farmers in zones with wide temperature variations enabling them to increase yields and profits dramatically through more efficient crop management while using substantially less energy.
Roots CEO, Dr Sharon Devir said, “This pilot proves that heating the roots zone on cold nights allows farmers to grow basil in winter and that heating this root zone improves plant growth rates and increases the crop, therefore increasing profitability for the farmer by allowing them to extend their growth periods with relatively low energy costs and gain premium prices for produce.”
“Being a summer crop, basil needs high temperatures for normal development making it prohibitive to grow in winter in many parts of the world. In the Carmia region the rise in energy prices for heating greenhouses and decrease in returns meant many farmers abandoned basil in favour of other crops – the farmer in the pilot had not grown basil for three years for these reasons. However, this farmer can now benefit from higher, premium prices for a crop that is normally out of season in the region. Therefore, his return on investment of the system is only two years.”
Basil Winter Pilot Dec 17 – Feb 18, Carmia region, Israel Comparison between heated and unheated plantings
The Roots RZTO heating system managed to heat up the roots of the basil seedlings and provided increased protection against cold. It stabilized the temperature range between day and night.
“We’re now conducting for the first time a proof of concept on avocado trees. This will take place in a plantation in a relatively cool area of northern Israel – Kibbutz Eilon. For four months, the roots of mature avocado trees will be heated by the Roots RZTO system. The influence of heating mature roots will be monitored and physiological variables such as absorption of imprints, quantity of phosphorus, ripening and growth rates will be measured. We are hopeful it will provide further evidence of the diversity of crops that can benefit from the Roots RZTO system."
For more information:
Roots
Kefar Neter, P.O.B 3577
40593, Israel
Phone: +972-9-768-9995
Mobile: +972-54-457-3679
roots@rootssat.com
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