
Reducing water usage in Saudi Arabian horticulture
There are major changes afoot in Saudi Arabia. One key strategy is to convert the country from an economy that is dependent on oil

New predatory bug limits establishment of Nesi in tomato
Researchers have found three species of predatory bug in the Miridae family that can limit the establishment of the harmful predatory bug Nesidiocoris tenuis

Research sheds new light on raspberries and blackberries
Raspberries and blackberries are relatively new crops under glass, so knowledge in this area is as yet in very short supply. Woody small fruit

Tulip forcers can reduce transpiration without affecting quality
Stem topple is a serious problem in the flower bulb sector. Bent stems are unsaleable and are therefore something to avoid if at all

When each leaf counts, leaf samples can point to plant’s needs
It’s fine for a tomato plant to have a few spots on its leaves. But it’s a different matter when it comes to flowering

Emission-free growing on unbuffered coco with good results
A consortium of companies is trialling and demonstrating a concept for emission-free growing at the Water Innovation and Demonstration Centre in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands.

Big data poised to navigate growers to their targets
With cultivation so closely intertwined with the Internet and with the advent of crop and climate sensors, big data is becoming available to the

Switchable optical filters: the future of greenhouse covering materials?
One of the main tasks of the Smart Materials project was completed last year. Greenhouse simulation models were used to explore the potential effect

Spread of plant viruses calls for vigilance
Viruses are among the smallest pathogens infecting other living organisms. Plants are also susceptible to a large number of viruses that can cause serious

Crop protection products much more effective with adjuvants
Crop protection products are sometimes unfairly labelled as losing their efficacy against pests or diseases. On closer investigation it becomes clear that these products

Prey diets greatly improve biological control by predatory mites
Predatory mites are the most important natural enemies used for biological pest control in greenhouse horticulture. Many of these predatory mites are mass-reared on

Researchers “grow” model of ideal plant in simulated greenhouse
3D modelling is set to play an ever greater role in research. It’s an important tool in the quest to design better LED modules,

New LED lamp rates highly in hybrid lighting trial
A trial with hybrid lighting (SON-T + LED) at Dutch tomato nursery Gebroeders Koot has yielded good results. The LED lamp used in the

Effect of disinfectants on quality of irrigation water
A range of chemicals are used to keep greenhouse pipework clean. They include bleach, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide and ECA water. Growers are concerned

Split-root system harvests sodium and removes it via the crop
The shift towards closed growing systems is forcing growers to take a critical look at their sodium figures. Would higher sodium levels affect the

Thinking about light in new project
Plants, insects, fungi and people perceive light colour and intensity via different organs and pigments. The human eye is particularly sensitive to green light,

Limits of dimming lights in phalaenopsis reached
Intensive lighting in winter is common in Phalaenopsis growing. A long-running Dutch research project is seeking to answer the question of whether less lighting

What plants are best for purifying indoor air?
With the second crop in the Winterlight greenhouse at the Energy Innovation and Demo Centre (IDC) in Bleiswijk (NL) coming to an end, it’s

“Sharing crop data helps build knowledge on diffuse roof”
Diffuse glass is becoming routine in new build greenhouses – and much more quickly than anticipated. But it is still difficult for growers to

Intensive screening promotes transpiration from the top
Reducing energy consumption in greenhouses is associated with higher humidity levels. Many growers are concerned that this could make the crop less active, impacting