A Swiss strawberry grower is currently trialing fibre pads to reduce the amount of harmful ethylene gasses in their greenhouses. Eubo Swiss, a 1.5 hectare strawberry grower that previously cultivated tomatoes, noted that their young plants suffered from high ethylene levels in early crop stages. The absorption pads are designed to bring the ethylene contamination down.
According to the grower, the high ethylene levels are suspected to be created by thick bulks of natural peat in the soil as well as heavy emissions from nearby traffic. Grutec Fibre came up with special absorption pads that are placed vertically between the crop rows. "The pads absorb ethylene, it diffuses inside the fibres", explained Grutec's Johann Gruber.
The pads placed vertically between the rows, absorbing ethylene.
Gruber claims that, when the fruits are fully grown and enter the ripening stage, the pads can release the ethylene again. "The ethylene absorbed by the pads can be released when the beds/pads are placed horizontally in the center path of the greenhouse. Sun radiation will heat the filters, and the energy will release the ethylene again, contributing to the ripening of the fruits."
The pads placed horizontally in the central path, releasing ethylene.
Eubo Swiss just started with the trials of the new Grutec Fibre Pads and hopes to share the results soon.
For more information:
Grutec Fibre
Johann Gruber
9443 Widnau
Switzerland
+41-76-5581843