A Sicilian agriculturist ’s irrigation water contained only 6 ppm of oxygen , which dropped as low as 3 ppm at the drippers . The resultant , specially during the hot summers in southerly Italy , was harvest losses reaching up to 20 % . For agriculturist Andrea Ferrera , this was reason enough to invest in a nanobubble system .
Ferrera Flowers , his company , civilize various ornamental crops in polytunnels over an area of more than 12 hectare , including Dahlia , Estatis , and Gypsophila . The crops of this third - multiplication grower are partly spring up on soil and partially in pots , on substrate . His father , Giovanni , runs a nearby caller , Coral Verde , which cultivates fruit veggie like tomato plant and zucchini .
During Andrea ’s video interview , he briefly appear to greet Nadir Laaguili from Agrona and interpretive program Carla Sentel . Agrona supplied the Sicilian agriculturalist with the nanobubble system , which was installed in February and could start being used for the first fourth dimension this summer .
The Sicilian agriculturalist apply groundwater . " There ’s still deal of it in the undercoat here . That ’s not always the typeface in other region , where they require to use water tap water . "
The use of nanobubble technology is still relatively new in the region . However , many growers are aware of its potential difference . " Andrea acquire about the applied science from his Fatherhood , " say Carla . She has been aid company from the Netherlands , Belgium , and Germany to enter the Italian grocery for over forty years .
Drastic reduction in amount of discardsAndrea was dealing with significant problems , especially in the summer . mensuration break that his irrigation piss was lacking oxygen . " On red-hot days , I had to irrigate every thirty instant to keep the crop goodish . After deploy the nanobubble system , I can allow more clock time between waterings . This summer , water every time of day and a one-half was sufficient . The amount of water I now provide per watering is also greater than the many minuscule amounts I antecedently needed . "
Even more importantly , Andrea saw a drastic reduction in the amount of discards . The 20 % losses he suffered in previous summer has been slenderize to just 3 to 4 % . " In the summertime , the roots merely suffocated due to the large amount of H2O I had to give , " he says . Partly thanks to the much lower amount of discard , he estimates that his investment in Agrona ’s organisation will be recouped in about two years , although he stresses that it is difficult to accurately predict the ROI .
Carla and Nadir ( in the middle ) visiting Italy
Stopped using hydrogen peroxideAfter put in the nanobubble system , the O levels in the irrigation water were measured again . " In the silo , we measured 26 to 27 ppm . At the drippers , it was 18 to 19 ppm , " says Carla on behalf of the grower . " The decline is due to the long aloofness between the silo and the glasshouse . "
The grower antecedently used H peroxide in his craw . He has stop doing so since the nanobubble system was set up , except for when clean the irrigation system of rules . " The nanobubbles keep the organization light , " say Nadir . Andrea also says he no longer receive algae and constitutive pollution .
Mid - December is a ' aureate period ' for the decorative agriculturalist . While producers in Northwestern Europe are dealing with winter conditions , the temperature on the Italian island can easily reach 20 degree Celsius . " The coldest period is January - February . But even then , it ’s not really cold-blooded , " he says with a smiling .
For more info : Nadir LaaguiliAgrona B.V.+ 31 ( 0 ) 6 21515915 + 31 ( 0 ) 10 7371451[email protected]www.agronagroup.com
Ferrera Flowerswww.ferreraflowers.com
© FloralDaily.com/Thijmen Tiersma
