NL: Greenhouse climate more even due to ‘Next Generation Growing'

As a nursery for the production of pot anthuriums all over the world, ‘RijnPlant Breeding’ makes no concessions on quality. Since the takeover in 2015 by Dümmen Orange, RijnPlant Breeding has been specialized in the breeding and propagation of young plant material of anthurium, bougainvillea and heliconia. The wishes of the clients are leading. Since January 1st 2016 those clients have only been breeders.

Pieter Jan Vreugdenhil is one of the two crop managers of RijnPlant besides Martin van Noort. He works extensively with the two crop managers on the 12 ha large site at Hofzichtlaan in De Lier. Together with colleagues Paul Jansen and Leon van Rijn he took a course ‘Het Nieuwe Telen’ (Next Generation Growing). “During the past twelve months we took targeted steps,” that is how Pieter Jan looks back on this.

The important changes
How more even the greenhouse climate is, the better the performance of the young plants and the root establishment of cuttings. In the long-term this could shorten the cultivation process, providing an economic gain. “To achieve a level of greenhouse climate as homogenous as possible, we now are screening more and at the same time providing more lighting. This was evident in the growth and in the energy saving.”

“The course has taught us a lot about issues such as absolute humidity, for assessing humidity balance in the greenhouse. For this reason you see at various locations in the greenhouses of RijnPlant plastic screens, with holes, so the moisture can escape. In addition the screens allow us to save on costs for gas.”

Managing by numbers and to achieve more with less energy is the foundation to creating a win-win situation. The keys to this are figures and graphics, the essential steering tools for crop managers. Measuring units and PAR-sensors are available for this. The data recorded gives the crop managers all the necessary information not only for that moment, but also for the future.

Check here to see the rest of the profile for Pieter Jan Vreugdenhil's experiences with the course ‘Het Nieuwe Telen’ and what kind of benefits were accomplished for RijnPlant.

In the coming period various profiles will appear within which entrepreneurs explain an innovative greenhouse concept. Please click here for an overview.

Source: Kas als Energiebron