A Sicilian grower's irrigation water contained only 6 ppm of oxygen, which dropped as low as 3 ppm at the drippers. The result, especially during the hot summers in southern Italy, was crop losses reaching up to 20%. For grower Andrea Ferrera, this was reason enough to invest in a nanobubble system.
Ferrera Flowers, his company, cultivates various ornamental crops in polytunnels over an area of more than 12 hectares, including Dahlia, Estatis, and Gypsophila. The crops of this third-generation grower are partly grown on soil and partly in pots, on substrate. His father, Giovanni, runs a nearby company, Coral Verde, which cultivates fruit vegetables like tomatoes and zucchini.
During Andrea's video interview, he briefly appears to greet Nadir Laaguili from Agrona and interpreter Carla Sentel. Agrona supplied the Sicilian grower with the nanobubble system, which was installed in February and could start being used for the first time this summer.
The Sicilian grower uses groundwater. "There's still plenty of it in the ground here. That's not always the case in other regions, where they need to use tap water."
The use of nanobubble technology is still relatively new in the region. However, many growers are aware of its potential. "Andrea learned about the technology from his father," says Carla. She has been helping companies from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany to enter the Italian market for over forty years.
Drastic reduction in amount of discards
Andrea was dealing with significant problems, especially in the summer. Measurements revealed that his irrigation water was lacking oxygen. "On hot days, I had to water every thirty minutes to keep the crop healthy. After installing the nanobubble system, I can allow more time between waterings. This summer, watering every hour and a half was sufficient. The amount of water I now provide per watering is also greater than the many small amounts I previously needed."
Even more importantly, Andrea saw a drastic reduction in the amount of discards. The 20% losses he suffered in previous summers has been reduced to just 3 to 4%. "In the summer, the roots simply suffocated due to the large amount of water I had to give," he says. Partly thanks to the much lower amount of discards, he estimates that his investment in Agrona's system 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 peroxide
After installing the nanobubble system, the oxygen 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 distance between the silo and the greenhouse."
The grower previously used hydrogen peroxide in his crops. He has stopped doing so since the nanobubble system was installed, except for when cleaning the irrigation system. "The nanobubbles keep the system clean," says Nadir. Andrea also says he no longer encounters algae and organic pollution.
Mid-December is a 'golden period' for the ornamental grower. While producers in Northwestern Europe are dealing with winter weather, the temperature on the Italian island can easily reach 20 degrees Celsius. "The coldest period is January-February. But even then, it's not really cold," he says with a smile.
For more information:
Nadir Laaguili
Agrona B.V.
+ 31 (0) 6 21515915
+ 31 (0) 10 7371451
[email protected]
www.agronagroup.com
Ferrera Flowers
www.ferreraflowers.com