project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
Using photo selective films to enhance the profitability of leafy salad production in Wales
Using photo selective films to enhance the profitability of leafy salad production in Wales
Objectives
The wide uptake of polytunnels in the horticulture sector has offered growers a range of benefits of production such as an extended growing season, improved environmental management, enhanced resource use (e.g. irrigation) and improved efficacy of biological control compared with open field production.
In this project two small scale horticulture units in Anglesey and Flintshire will trial three different photoselective films (Sunmaster Diffuse, Sunsmart Blue and Sunmaster Crystaltherm) alongside a conventional UV-stabilised polythene film (for comparison) over two growing seasons.
Objectives
Mae defnydd helaeth ar dwneli plastig yn y sector garddwriaeth wedi dod ag amryw o fanteision i’r tyfwyr, fel tymor tyfu estynedig, rheolaeth amgylcheddol well, gwell defnydd ar adnoddau (e.e. dyfrhau) a gwell effeithiolrwydd o ran rheolaeth fiolegol o’i gymharu â chynhyrchu mewn caeau agored.
Yn y prosiect hwn bydd dwy uned arddwriaeth ar raddfa fach yn Ynys Môn a Sir y Fflint yn treialu tair ffilm ffotoddetholus wahanol (Sunmaster Diffuse, SunSmart Blue a Sunmaster Crystaltherm) ochr yn ochr â ffilm polythen UV wedi'i sefydlogi (o ran cymhariaeth) dros ddau dymor tyfu.
Activities
The crops that will be included in the trial will include a minimum of three contrasting cultivars (e.g. closed/open head lettuce, lollo rosso, green and pigmented mizuna, baby leaf and rocket).
Various individual tunnels of 1m x 4.8m will be covered with different films and laid out in a randomised block pattern which will cover an area of 5 x 14 m on each site. A combination of cultivars will be grown in each tunnel.
The growers will receive support by expert consultants on disease control and also training on plastic handling and tunnel construction methods to maximise their longevity. The crop performance will be monitored throughout the growing season along with pest and disease incidence.
Activities
Bydd y cnydau a fydd yn cael eu cynnwys yn y treial ar bob safle yn cynnwys o leiaf dri math o gyltifar cyferbyniol (e.e. letys pen caeedig/agored, lollo rosso, mizuna gwyrdd a lliwgar, dail mân a berwr).
Bydd amryw o dwneli unigol 1m x 4.8m yn cael eu gorchuddio â gwahanol ffilmiau a'u gosod mewn patrwm bloc ar hap a fydd yn gorchuddio arwynebedd o 5 x 14m ar bob safle. Bydd cyfuniad o gyltifarau yn cael eu tyfu ym mhob twnnel.
Bydd y tyfwyr yn cael cymorth gan ymgynghorwyr sy’n arbenigo ar reoli clefydau a hefyd hyfforddiant ar ddulliau trin plastig ac adeiladu twneli er mwyn gwneud y gorau o'u hirhoedledd. Bydd perfformiad y cnwd yn cael ei fonitro gydol y tymor tyfu ynghyd â mynychder plâu a chlefydau.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014UK06RDRP004 United Kingdom - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - Wales
Ort
- Main geographical location
- Flintshire and Wrexham
- Other geographical location
- Isle of Anglesey
EUR 47 058.00
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
1 Practice Abstracts
The wide uptake of polytunnels in the horticulture sector has offered growers a range of benefits of production such as an extended growing season, improved environmental management, enhanced resource use (e.g. irrigation) and improved efficacy of biological control compared with open field production.
Initial development of polytunnel films focused on high transmission of sunlight and extending durability. More recent development has led to a range of new photoselective polytunnel films which are able to modify the light that passes through a polytunnel to control certain growth characteristics and reduce diseases:
1) UV transmission – Improved UV transmission can impact pest/disease development, and can improve the colour and nutritional value of crops (e.g. anti-oxidant content).
2) Diffuse Transmission – Incoming light is subject to a high degree of scattering, creating a haze of light. Increasing light scattering improves distribution of light within the canopy, and can improve overall growth rates.
3) Red: Far Red Modification – The ratio of red to far red wavelengths is an important physiological signal that can impact plant habit and the ratio of biomass invested in leaf and stem sections.
Mae defnydd helaeth ar dwneli plastig yn y sector garddwriaeth wedi dod ag amryw o fanteision i’r tyfwyr, fel tymor tyfu estynedig, rheolaeth amgylcheddol well, gwell defnydd ar adnoddau (e.e. dyfrhau) a gwell effeithiolrwydd o ran rheolaeth fiolegol o’i gymharu â chynhyrchu mewn caeau agored.
Bu’r gwaith datblygu cychwynnol ar ffilmiau twneli plastig yn canolbwyntio ar drosglwyddo llawer o olau'r haul ac ymestyn gwydnwch y plastig. Mae datblygiadau mwy diweddar wedi arwain at amryw o ffilmiau ffotoddetholus newydd i dwneli sy'n gallu addasu'r golau sy'n mynd drwy’r twnnel i reoli nodweddion twf penodol a lleihau clefydau:
1) Trawsyriant UV – Mae gwella trawsyriant UV yn gallu effeithio ar ddatblygiad plâu/clefydau, a gall wella lliw a gwerth maethol y cnydau (e.e. faint o wrth-ocsidiau sydd yn y cnwd).
2) Trawsyriant gwasgaredig – Mae’r golau sy'n dod i mewn yn gallu cael ei wasgaru’n eang, gan greu tarth o oleuni. Mae gwasgaru mwy o olau yn gwella dosbarthiad y golau o fewn y canopi, a gall hyn wella'r cyfraddau twf drwyddi draw.
3) Addasu Coch:Coch Pell – Mae'r gymhareb rhwng tonfeddi coch a choch pell yn arwydd ffisiolegol pwysig a all effeithio ar arferion planhigion ac ar y gymhareb o fiomas sy’n cael ei fuddsoddi yn adran y dail ac yn adran y goes.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Will John
Project coordinator