GREENHOUSES I SHADE NET I HYDROPONICS I AQUAPONICS
Cherry irrigation
Although often not the most expensive part of an undercover growing system, the irrigation infrastructure can be likened to the cardiovascular system of the human body – the essential system responsible for conveying water and nutrients to our highvalue, sensitive crops being grown in the climatic environment created in tunnels or greenhouses.
Getting the most
from your irrigation system
T
he role of the irrigation designer entails not only planning the system in terms of water and energy requirements based on sound principles as one would for any new irrigation system, but due to the nature of undercover irrigation systems also giving particular attention to the quality of the water supply, carefully selecting the most appropriate micro-irrigation system for the growing system, and making provision for the water required for climate control and other peripheral systems. Undercover crops are often sensitive to pH, and nutrient dosing require EC monitoring and control. The water supply may therefore require pH correction through acid injection, and the correct nutrient dosing system must be specified to be able to maintain the required injection rates. The effectiveness of the
automatic dosing machines must also be checked in the field with an appropriate monitoring system using handheld EC meters.
plants need to be irrigated, overhead irrigation by means of micro-sprinklers is used. In all applications, the use of high-quality products from reputable As far as the irrigation system is concerned, water is manufacturers is of most often point-applied to great importance to ensure uniform water the growing medium or soil applications.
Physical water quality also has to be addressed by means of effective automatic filters to remove any with drip irrigation. physical impurities Where crops are from the water before grown in soil bags or it enters the system, to prevent clogging of pots, or in the case of hydroponic systems, emitters. consideration must also be given to the drainage and/or recirculation system. This As far as the irrigation system is will entail careful planning of the whole concerned, water is most often pointsystem to ensure that it is laid out at applied to the growing medium or soil suitable angles for water to drain correctly, with drip irrigation. Inline drip irrigation and designing the necessary systems to is mostly used in soil, while button drip remove or recirculate the drainage water. with tubes and stakes are used in growing bags and pots. In the case of nurseries where high concentrations of small
The irrigation designer may also be required to make provision for additional
APAC presented to the Committee in person.
license. There is also the need to create Trust accounts at livestock and export agencies. They will have to fund towards the Fidelity Fund (the same as fresh produce agencies currently do) which enables to assist a producer which lost money through an agency default (in case of theft and fraud).
8 FRESH PRODUCE However, these outlets need to have a market agent or more to ensure a steady flow of the main consumer lines such as potatoes, cabbages, beans, onions and more. This effects an on-going flow to the market by retailers and spaza shop keepers,” according to Francois. CHANGING THE ACT APAC is currently busy changing their Act (Act 12, 1992) and they have now prepared a new Act with Department changes. This was discussed with Minister for Agriculture, Mrs Thoko Didiza and presented to the Agricultural Committee to be passed by Parliament. Francois Knowles in his capacity as Registrar at
The Department of Agriculture’s main reason for changing the Act is to enable us to increase our service level to the producer and also to protect him in his dealing with fresh produce agents. At the same time, this will benefit the markets too. Currently the market agencies perform well and within regulations, but export and livestock agencies also need to be regulated far better. In essence, if an export agent or livestock agent steps over the line in terms of ethics or undesirable business related acts, APAC should be able to execute disciplinary hearings which may lead to the offender losing his business
8 Undercover farming I September/October 2021 I Volume 18 No 5
“Communications between APAC and agencies, markets, producers and local and National Government is sharpened up to fulfil in the needs of feeding millions of hungry mouths and rebuilding trust in a South African food chain; exports and all that runs efficient,” Francois concluded. JS
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