With increasingly more unpredictable weather in the UK, growers often face difficulty trying to optimise their glasshouse temperature, and minimise crop mortality. In-efficient combinations of heat and irrigation paired with fluctuating weather will undoubtedly bring condensation into the environment, and subsequent stress to the crops.
Stressed plants are more prone to fungus, pests and insects, making a synergistic relationship between heat and humidity crucial to ensuring maximum yield. The options and different formulas to success are vast; however, high-pressure fogging systems are becoming the popular choice among many UK growers.
UK Glasshouse constructors, Bridge Greenhouses, supply the latest innovations in fogging solutions – delivering positive results to many nurseries in the UK. The fogging technology delivers a water pressure range of 70-100 bar via high-pressure nozzles.
Cooling and humidification are vital in the glasshouse growing process in order to lower stress levels and increase photosynthesis. Humidity is often the optimal climate to promote plant growth, however with humidity comes condensation and often disease.
The tech used by Bridge transfers heat energy from hot air particles to cool water droplets causing them to evaporate before they reach the crop, whilst cooling the air particles. This process allows a dry fog to form which drastically reduces the possibility of water droplets forming on the plant.
Nozzle size is a variable that needs considering when opting for the correct fogging system, as this will determine the size of the droplet released into the environment. Usually the finest fog possible will deliver optimal results. At present the industry standard droplet size produced by such systems sits at around <20 Microns, however the Bridge supplies can deliver a droplet size as little as <5Microns.
Although droplet size is vital to the success of any fogging system, pinpoint accuracy is also required from the controller or Horticultural Management System. The correct monitoring and controller allows accuracy when measuring the glasshouse climate, and will determine the engagement and performance of the fogging system, in order to cater for the plants at an optimal rate.
The fogging systems can be easily integrated into existing horticultural management systems, or operated via standalone controller already present in existing glasshouses. This allows the grower the ability to automate the control of their fogging alongside present climate control systems such as screens, heating and supplementary lighting, significantly improving their ability to regulate the glasshouse climate.
Bridge Greenhouses have seen positive results and feedback from clients who have adopted this fogging technology within their greenhouse environment. Some growers report that they have increased their propagation rate by as much as 100%, experienced 30% increases in growth rates and decreased their plant mortality figures by 50%.
For more information:
Bridge Greenhouses
Bridge South: 01243 641789
Bridge North: 01482 666899
UK
www.bridgegreenhouses.co.uk
info@bridgegreenhouses.co.uk