Since many growers are starting berry cultivation in tunnels and greenhouses, they are also looking for air-assisted greenhouse crop protection. Micothon is a manufacturer of air-assisted greenhouse sprayers and therefore was asked to develop one, especially for berry cultivation.
"We started with a solution based on the existing Micothon wheeled sprayer. The challenge was to develop a newly designed spray boom for this 2-meter high crop with special nozzles and uniform air output," says Theo Straathof, Director with Micothon. "After the usual period of testing and improvement, our team managed to get a very strong air output with a high and even airflow over the entire spray height."
The growers that work with the Micothon Berry are happy with the great spray results. “This is the only way to spray much better and much less. I am proud to be able to produce the best possible end product: a clean container of berries in the store. After all, that’s what consumers are looking for," said one grower the day after implementing the Micothon Berry.
The machine can be used for different types of berries: redcurrant, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. They can be grown on substrate as well as in the ground.
Also suitable for pipe rail
"One grower had a special request to make the machine ready for use on a pipe rail system. That is why we have made an extra option for him: his Micothon Berry can drive on pipe rails as well as on the ground," Theo Straathof tells.
The sprayer has a double set of wheels: steel wheels with which it can drive on a pipe rail system and rubber wheels so that the machine can also drive in a greenhouse on the ground.
"Obviously, the purchase of this Micothon Berry is also economically attractive for the grower because fewer crop protection products need to be purchased. He calculated an ROI of 2 years because the crop production is higher due to much fewer spraying results and much less growth delay. Plants are also not very fond of chemicals," Theo explains.
