Grower News

Plant Empowerment is synonymous with Next Generation Growing, where stress is no longer a factor. The use of climate screens can prevent plant stress to a significant degree. This in turn results in greater efficiency. Reason enough for Svensson to support a book and platform on this topic. Plant Empowerment – also known as Growing by Plant Empowerment (GPE) – is all about maintaining balance. The right conditions in a greenhouse ensure that the plants do not experience any limitations, i.e. stress. By continuously monitoring plant balances and making changes accordingly, plants can remain stress-free and deal efficiently with light, water, nutrients and CO2. The book ‘Plant Empowerment – the basic principles’ by Peter Geelen, Jan Voogt and Peter van Weel, who also contributed to the first manual on NGG, explores this concept in detail. The book is of considerable value for all types of covered crop cultivation and is written in understandable language, with numerous illustrations and practical examples. “A must-read for growers and crop consultants worldwide,” says Ton Habraken, Greenhouse Climate Consultant at Svensson. “Thanks to the high quality of the diffuse light, the plant can absorb more light. This results in much greater photosynthesis efficiency and, ultimately, a larger yield.” Plant and greenhouse balances Plant Empowerment is based on the notion that a plant is both a living physiological organism and an object subject to physical laws. Plant growth and health are influenced by six balances: three plant balances (water, energy and assimilates) and three greenhouse balances (moisture, energy and CO2). GPE revolves around monitoring these balances and making changes accordingly. Climate screens play an increasingly greater role in this. “They allow you, for example, to have a major influence on the energy and moisture balances in the greenhouse. If you know the absolute moisture content in the cultivation space, as well as above the screen and outside, you know where it is possible to eliminate moisture, as well as the measures you can take to maintain control of moisture in the greenhouse,” illustrates Ton Habraken. Climate screen as climate tool Whereas a climate screen was […]

Source: www.hortidaily.com