Already two years ago, "Genson Fresh Fruits & Vegetables" tested Klasmann-Deilmann’s innovative substrate for strawberries. The new feature is a high proportion of wood fibre. The results were convincing. Now the Dutch company is cultivating the first plants in the substrate mix "TS 1 medium-basic" for strawberries with 50% GreenFibre.
The trials were carried out at BerryNova, Genson's test site. The aim was to compare Klasmann-Deilmann’s “GreenFibre substrates” with those based on coir. As a result, the strawberries developed very well in both substrates, whereby the yields in the GreenFibre substrate were even higher than in the coir substrate at the beginning and end of the cultivation. Now fertilisation and irrigation are carefully balanced so that the harvest in the GreenFibre substrate should be even higher in the future.
Increased production potential
This year, the strawberry plants are outside on gutters filled with our substrate. "We have already been able to harvest the first fruits and are now very excited about the final yield," says Marco van den Heuvel, co-owner and manager of Genson Fresh Fruits & Vegetables. "We are still adjusting the irrigation to the new substrate, but apart from that we are already very satisfied. The substrate has a consistently high quality and contains no silicon. This is important because otherwise the fruits grow worse and tend to albinism," says Van den Heuvel.
Different watering strategy
The researchers concluded that GreenFibre sustainable substrate could yield higher production. That's when watering and feeding are optimally controlled. The studies were conducted at BerryNova, Genson's test site, among other places.
Normally, perlite, peat and especially coir are used in the cultivation of strawberries. "With the new substrate, Klasmann-Deilmann now offers the nurseries a real alternative with which they can increase their yield even more", the team concludes.
For more information:
Fons van Nierop
Klasmann-Deilmann
Email: Fons.vanNierop@klasmann-deilmann.com
Website: www.klasmann-deilmann.com