The knowledge institute for substrates RHP gives various water workshops to its members at the moment. Senior researcher Hans Verhagen has performed substrates research for over 25 years and explains the subject “What is in the pores; water or air?”. “The most important and most surprising conclusion is that water spreads differently in the pot ball than assumed until now. This makes another way of measuring the water content necessary”, according to Verhagen.
“We thought that water would always spread entirely. But that isn’t the case at limited watering. Not even at a pot ball of coir pith, a real water absorber. The water is fully absorbed, but then it doesn’t spread over the whole pot ball. Then as a result, the crop can stay behind unexpectedly”. During research at a short watering of 10 minutes with the help of an ebb and flow system, the underlayer absorbed 80% of the water and only 20% was absorbed by the toplayer. “So a sensor randomly put in the potting soil doesn’t give a right indication at all. That’s why it is important to measure with multiple sensors which are put horizontally in the pot.”, emphasises Verhagen.
RHP certified substrates guarantee an optimal start of the culture. It offers security that the substrate complies with the right quality demands concerning among others water and air content, pH and for example EC. It also guarantees that the substrate is pure and clean and that there are no risks for a safe application in the culture. The RHP quality mark secures the quality of growing media in the chain, from raw material production until processing and delivery at the company of the user.
For more information:
RHP
Galgeweg 38
2691 MG 's-Gravenzande
T +31 (0)174 62 03 60
F +31 (0)174 64 04 13
info@rhp.nl
www.rhp.nl
Announcements
Job Offers
- Packing Supervisor
- Head Grower Greenhouse Canada
- Post Entry Quarantine Facility Manager
- Economic Policy Officer Agri-Tech Kentucky
- Licensing Manager North America
- Junior Sales Executive
- Fruit Breeder/Trait Discovery Scientist
- General Manager
- Regional Sales Manager – DACH Region
- Country Manager – Italy
"Tweeting Growers"
Top 5 -yesterday
Top 5 -last week
Top 5 -last month
Hans Verhagen, senior researcher RHP
“Water never spreads equally in the pot ball”
Publication date:
Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:
- 2023-01-05 Navigating through substrate shortages
- 2022-12-13 "The roses were ready to harvest after 6 months and produced an average of 10 stems per plant"
- 2022-12-07 Towards peat-free potting soil and substrate
- 2022-12-05 The DCM aktiv-erden potting soil assortment in Bio-quality
- 2022-11-28 Growing with a wire: Karma Plants
- 2022-11-24 Agriculture resource dive: peat
- 2022-11-23 Coco substrate: a sustainable choice
- 2022-11-17 3-in-1 sensor to simultaneously monitor soil-based production
- 2022-11-11 Ireland: Addressing the challenges related to peat supply in horticulture
- 2022-11-08 Ireland: Kitty and Colm explore the world of horticulture
- 2022-11-07 Posidonia-based compost growing media improve tolerance and nutrient uptake in ornamental plants
- 2022-11-01 Why should I shelter my substrate stock from wind and rain?
- 2022-10-31 Calcitic vs dolomitic limestone: similarities and differences
- 2022-10-31 Webinar: root zone management for the best results
- 2022-10-21 New £1million RHS research project to accelerate horticulture’s transition to peat-free
- 2022-10-14 HTA puts forward industry views and briefs members on peat ban
- 2022-10-13 Ireland: Shiploads of peat being imported for growers
- 2022-10-13 HTA's OMC discuss peat-free growing media and the cost of energy
- 2022-10-06 Peat-free Jiffy Substrates trialed by tree nursery
- 2022-10-04 How lightweight expanded clay comes in beneficial
