Luis Gaxiola discussing changes to irrigation strategy inside the retractable house.
Carlos Ruiz and Luis Gaxiola providing training on the retractable roof computer control system to new users of a retractable roof cooling house.
On August 11, at the Aneberries Conference in Guadalajara Mexico, Luis presented his key findings about how berry production could evolve from tunnels when one optimizes the climate using an automated retractable greenhouse roof or cooling roof.
Growers in tunnels typically:
- focus on the management of irrigation, nutrition, disease and insects
- do not really understand the full impact of the stationary plastic covering on plant and fruit development, disease or insects
Variety Murano in a tunnel
Variety Murano in an automated retractable roof
Compared to growing in tunnels, when one is able to optimize the growing environment using an automated retractable roof:
- It is easier to extend the harvest season
- Yield per plant, fruit quality and shelf life can be increased
- The color of the container can be changed to optimize root temperatures to maximize yield during the difficult months
- Plant density can be increased to help increase kg/m²
- A low pressure misting system can be an effective tool inside the retractable roof when growing in hot climates
- A retractable cooling roof is more suitable for hot climates and a retractable greenhouse roof is preferable in the colder climates
- Pollination problems that occur in tunnels can be reduced
- New strategies exist to naturally reduce pressure from spotted wing drosophila, thrips and whitefly
- Disease pressure is naturally reduced helping to reduce spray frequency
- It is more important to manage plant temperature than air temperature.
- It is easier to manipulate fruit development by controlling light levels, wind and relative humidity
For more information
Cravo Equipment Ltd.
Luis Gaxiola