At the initiative of SIGN, a trial with tomatoes has been carried out at the research department of Vertify using various organic substrates enriched with microlife (champost extract). Trials have been conducted with wood tissue and reused strawberry substrate with perlite and coco peat to determine whether these substrates could be a good alternative to rockwool. Various irrigation and nutrition strategies were implemented for each substrate, with and without the addition of champost extract.
The study has been carried out by Vertify with the support of the companies van der Knaap, Cultilene, and Pull Rhenen and several growers. The main funder was SIGN, with additional funding from KijK and Rabobank and vouchers from supplying companies. During the 38 weeks, the organic substrates performed as well as rockwool and, in some cases, even better. The addition of microlife resulted in better rooting in most substrates.
In earlier research with chrysanthemums, no measurable effects on resistance were observed with the use of biostimulants, possibly due to a short optimal growing season. Hence, a tomato trial was set up for 9 months. The study calls for further research into the effect of microlife in the substrate and its impact on resistance.
Source: SIGN
