At the HortiContact in Gorinchem, Svensson is introducing its latest climate screen, the Harmony 1315 O FR. It has specially been developed for lighted tomato cultivation, but is also suitable for other fruit vegetable crops. The screen not only offers advantages for the plants, but also for the working conditions. Moreover, it does not require chalking or coating anymore.
The Harmony 1315 O FR summer screen has a high light and air permeability. In closed state it provides a light shadow effect (13% in direct light) and high-quality diffuse light. As a result, the light also enters the deeper leaf layers, so that the whole plant continues to actively contribute to photosynthesis.
Harmony 1315 O FR in lighted tomato cultivation has been tested in recent years in the Improvement Centre.
Preventing plant stress
The summer screen has specially been developed to prevent plant stress and quality problems in the summer. Tests in the Improvement Centre have shown that tomato plants on extreme sunny days will have a lower and more even plant temperature and need to evaporate less under the summer screen. The water consumption is then lower, so that in the end the root quality in the slab remains better. In addition to the damping of hot summer days, the summer cloth can also provide good characteristics at night. With the new summer screen, a too strong cooling of the head of the plant during the night can be prevented, while the cooling down of the greenhouse is not inhibited. This is thanks to the open structure, which ensures more than sufficient exchange of air. With the summer screen Harmony 1315 O FR, growers thus have been provided with an additional steering tool to control the light-temperature ratio and to optimize the 3 plant balances.
Extreme summers
With the new climate screen, Svensson responds, among other things, to the changing cultivation plan of tomato growers with lighting. Growers with lighting start to plant earlier and earlier, sometimes already in August or even in June. Small plants are then severely affected by the high irradiation and temperature. In this period the climate screen can be perfectly used to keep the plant in balance.
An advantage, in comparison with a chalk layer or a coating, is that on dark days and at dark moments during the day, for example in the morning and late afternoon, no light is lost, because the screen can then remain open. Tomato growers are more flexible with movable screens, while all the available light is optimally used. It prevents quality problems and growth stagnation. At the same time the working climate will be improved. Although the summer of 2018 was exceptionally hot, climate experts warn that extreme summers will occur more often, justifying the investment in the longer term.
The Svensson Harmony 1315 O FR summer screen is produced in Sweden. The climate screen is flame-retardant and the diffuse strap in the screen has been patented.
Introduction during HortiContact
Visitors to the HortiContact can view the new summer screen on 19, 20 and 21 February at the Svensson booth: G100.
For more information:
Ludvig Svensson BV
Ton Habraken
T: +31 (0)6 52 67 41 45
E: ton.habraken@ludvigsvensson.com
www.ludvigsvensson.com