Hortifresh Nov__December 2012.indd - Hortfresh Journal

used: rain water, drainwater, water from thelake and water borehole.The Hoogendoorn processcomputer determines exactlythe best choice, which leadsto greater convergence ofcosts and results. Throughcharts and graphs thegrower can continuouslyfollow the situation in hisgreenhouse and wateringis precisely done on theplants need. The easy to usesoftware allows employeesat Van den Berg Roses toget the most out of thecrop, allowing good qualityroses to be produced.Purpose ofthe projectThe aim of this project is tocultivation is essential forgood water management.Moreover, optimizing irrigationlevel based on the needs ofthe crop throughfor examplemeasuring drain water enablescrop to grow vigorously.Coco substratesFor the Green FarmingWater Management project,coconuts substrates areprovided by Van der KnaapGroup. The big advantageof coco mats is that theyare very homogeneous,especially compared toloose-filled substratesand open fields. Thishomogeneity ensures a stableair rate and thus a muchcontrollable substrate. Thehomogeneity of the substratesave 40-60% of irrigationwater while achieving a 10%increase in yields. In orderto provide food securityand quality, water-efficienttechnologies are required.This enables horticulturegreenhouses and farmsto use clean water anduse it as economical aspossible, without wastingit. As a result of therecirculation of drainedwater, water is saved ina sustainable manner.Collected rain water andsurface waterneed to becleaned before being used asirrigation. However, boreholewater is in essential clean.The possibility to re-usecollected drain water in soilbased as well as in substrateresults in a homogeneousand uniform crop.Coco mats ensure goodrooting and initial growthof rose plants. As cocomats can be re-used as asoil improver, it is a verysustainable substrate.Project at Vanden Berg RosesThe demonstration of theproject takes place at Vanden Berg Roses company inNaivasha, Kenya. Van denBerg Roses is one of theupper end Kenyan rosesexporters with a more thanten rose-variety.In cooperationwith the KenyanJomo Kenyatta University ofAgriculture and technology,Wageningen UR will bemonitoring the project andpresenting the results.November - December 2012For leads in Horticulture11