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Step-by-step
BY ASHLEY PALING
BY J LYNN FRASER
Pea sprouts germinated in trays without a growing medium.
Photo courtesy Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza.
Awards season is upon us
This April marks my one-year anniversary with Greenhouse Canada I still have a lot to learn about the industry but in the short time I’ve been here, there’s one thing I know for sure: this community is made up of some of the hardest working and innovative individuals I’ve ever met, working collectively to support this vital industry.
Whether it’s by opening the doors of one’s business to others to share solutions and innovations to address common challenges; or facilitating knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities; or even contributing content to these very pages, there is no shortage of people who deserve acknowledgement for their dedication to the Canadian commercial greenhouse industry.
Greenhouse Canada hopes to highlight and honour some of that hard work with its Grower of the Year and Top 4 Under 40 awards, for which nominations for 2024 are now open. If you know someone who is an innovative leader in the field who is
event. This year, we have a stable of top-notch exhibitors displaying the latest in products and services; we’re in the very early stages of developing a stellar lineup of speakers that will dive into topics like decarbonization, waste management and pest management, among others (stay tuned for more updates). This year, we’re intorducing a New Varieties section to the event to give growers and opportunity to see first-hand what’s up and coming. Registration for exhibitors and attendees is now open on our website.
In the meantime, take a gander at this month’s issue of Greenhouse Canada for a little brush up on root zone management from Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza who goes in-depth on managing the bottom part of the plant by looking from the top. Get the basics on banker plants for those looking to maintain a cheap and highly effective bio control strategy on page 14, while on page 22 we compare sustainable irrigation practices for greenhouse operations.
On page 30 we learn about
“If you’ve seen someone’s positive impact first-hand, tell us!”
driven to make this industry a better place for all to work and succeed, please consider taking a moment to fill out a nomination form. If you’ve seen someone’s positive impact first-hand, take the time to share that story with us and perhaps we can honour and highlight that dedication through these awards programs.
Nominations for Grower of the Year and Top 4 Under 40 will be accepted up until May 10 and winners will be announced at Grower Day on June 18.
Speaking of Grower Day, planning is in full swing for the 29th annual
the Weston Family Foundation’s Homegrown Innovation Challenge, whereby 11 teams, made up of experts and professionals from many industries and institutions across the country, are working to create the most productive, sustainable solutions for growing berries in Canada — out of season and at scale.
For more information about the awards programs mentioned above, as well as our Grower Day event, visit our website and check out our enewletters. Happy growing everyone!
Report projects one-third of Canada’s agri-workforce to retire by 2030
New data from the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) has found that by the year 2030, there will be more than 100,000 vacant jobs to fill in the industry.
This labour market supply and demand forecast, release in mid-February, is a study conducted by The Conference Board of Canada, on behalf of CAHRC.
CAHRC found a 15 per cent increase in job vacancies compared to the number of jobs in 2022 that could not be filled by Canadians and residents of Canada. The
report, titled ‘Sowing Seeds of Change,’ states this is due in part to Canada’s aging population as more than 85,300 people - 30 per cent of the workforce - are expected to retire over the same period. The labour market information report says temporary foreign workers (TFW) will play an important role in narrowing the domestic labour gap. However, even with a projected increase in TFW employment by 2030, an estimated 20 per cent or 22,200 positions will remain vacant. (Source: Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council)
RED SUN FARMS ONTARIO AND SOLLUM TEST BENEFITS OF FAR-RED LIGHT
Red Sun Farms Ontario, located in Kingsville, is conducting mini cucumber growth trials that will compare Sollum’s smart LED grow light fixtures and cloud platform against traditional fixedspectrum lighting. The initiative, a February press release from Sollum said, “aims to scientifically measure improvements in crop yield, quality and growth efficiency, thereby setting new standards in precision agriculture.”
Recent studies have demonstrated the significant role of far-red light in certain growth stages, particularly in enhancing desirable traits like
Free guide on biocontrol agents for
greenhouse pests gets an
update
The Michigan State University (MSU) Extension has updated a 16-page guide on biocontrol agents that are commercially available to control greenhouse pests. Developed in collaboration with Kansas State University and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), the resource includes pictures of each organism, their active temperature ranges, and key facts that will help growers in using biological control. The guide is free and can be downloaded from the MSU Extension website. It is in a standard 8.5-inch by 11-inch format so that growers can laminate and bind the bulletin for use as a training tool or a resource in the greenhouse. (Source: ONFloriculture.com)
stem elongation. This aspect is crucial for vining crops such as cucumbers, where longer stem internodes can markedly improve airflow and overall plant health.
“Our research and development projects are an essential part of our success as a greenhouse producer,” said Sarah
Lombardi, GM of Red Suns Farms Ontario. “Current science is saying that changing the red to far-red ratio in supplemental lighting has a significant impact on plant morphology and we want to see those impacts for ourselves in our own greenhouse.”
(Source: Sollum Technologies)
BY THE NUMBERS
Agri-workforce report
17 % projected domestic labourgap increase in crop production industries during peak season by 2030.
85,300 the number of retirements expected across Canada’s agriculture industries over the next eight years.
$3.5 billion the estimated loss in 2022 agriculture sales in Canada due to labour shortages.
ALWAYS INNOVATING ALWAYS EVOLVING ALWAYS FINDING
A BETTER WAY
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VIEW FROM THE TOP to know what goes on below
Root zone health is vital for top performance of greenhouse crops so here is some guidance on monitoring the health of the roots from the ground up
BY MOHYUDDIN MIRZA
This article has its roots in two articles published in February 2013 and March-April 2016 issues of Greenhouse Canada. In the first issue I wrote about the complexity of root zone which depends on every input in the growing medium where roots live, grow and decay. The roots spend their lifetime in the ‘dark,’ although they love to come ‘outside the box’ in search of water and nutrients and still perform their functions.
Since it is inconvenient to look into the root zone, we can always
look at the top of the plant to gauge how the roots are doing. For example, if plants are showing wilt symptoms, we know roots are not absorbing water because there was not enough water around the roots. Similarly, if there are nutrient deficiencies in the leaves, we know that roots are not taking up the nutrients due to pH or EC (electrical conductivity) stress.
A better understanding of root zone health status is being achieved today with the technology and sensors available to growers to interpret plant signals.
Pea sprouts being germinated in trays without a growing medium. Strong matting occurs but these are very healthy, water absorbing roots and very healthy tops.
HOW TO SUPPORT A HEALTHY ROOT ZONE
1. Know every thing about the growing medium you are using
This is the starting point. Here are few points:
• The water holding capacity (WHC) and air porosity (AP) of each batch you use.
• What are the essential components of the growing medium and which one is involved with WHC and AP. Some components may degrade over a period of time and thus change the root zone health characteristics.
• Particle size if you are using media like coir, peat, rice hulls, sawdust and others.
• In water-based systems you must know the quality, especially be aware of sodium levels.
• Know how to properly drain the growing medium bags or containers. Slits in the grow bag should be made near the bottom of the bag so that excess water will not build up and damage roots. Slits should allow almost complete drainage. A large reservoir maintained in the bag reduces the volume of aerated root zone, which plants need to grow optimally.
• You must know the starting pH and EC of the growing medium. It has a major impact on root zone health.
2. Know your water quality
Water is the largest input which affects root zone health. The major points are:
• Overall quality is determined by pH, EC and SAR values (Sodium Absorption Ratio). SAR values are important from a root zone perspective because it reflects the time period in which the growing medium will become saline and affects water uptake.
• Sodium level below 50 mg/L are acceptable and would not impact root zone health negatively.
• Don’t forget about other elements which can become toxic to roots, like high fluoride and boron and zinc.
3. Carefully monitor the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) content
DO content is important for root health and every grower should know the DO content. If it is too low (below 4 ppm) then diffused oxygen technology should be employed. High O2 levels in the root zone reduce the need for expensive applications of pythium controlling fungicides. Low O2 levels affect ion uptake which happens at the root hair level which is stimulated by high O2
levels. Many DO technologies and systems are available in the market place. Choose a system where oxygen stays dissolved at higher water temperatures. In my experience the DO levels at drip line should be around 8 to 10 ppm at 18 to 20oC.
After oxygen, pH is probably the next most important element to monitor.
FAR LEFT
Roots of a Basil plant in a floating hydroponic system.
CENTRE LEFT
These young cucumber plants are showing signs of EC (electrical conductivity) stress.
4. Irrigation and lighting
Your irrigation practices should be aligned with the sunlight or supplemental lights available. Timing of first drain is important, much more than the percentage of drain over the 24-hour period.
5. After oxygen, pH is probably the next most important element to monitor pH constantly changes and fluctuates as the crop grows. Normally, as plants grow and fruit, the pH will start climbing, and move towards the alkaline side. If you don’t watch it daily, suddenly the pH will climb to over 6.8 and you will notice
when there is iron deficiency in the new growth. Many growers will drop the feed pH to around 5.1 to 5.4. I believe this is very low pH for the roots and I have seen root tip damage quickly. A better approach is to monitor the pH daily, watch for the trend of going up or down and make adjustments before you have to intervene drastically.
6. Electrical Conductivity (EC)
For proper root zone health monitoring EC on a daily basis is as essential as pH. Its importance is highlighted in Figure 4 (on the previous page).
The image was contained in an SOS message from a cucumber grower who noticed that the cotyledonary leaves were yellow and some green
veins. The rockwool blocks were placed on coir bags and roots had not started going into the bags. I immediately asked to check the root zone EC and pH by squeezing solution out of these rockwool blocks. The squeeze EC came at 7.4 mS/cm2 and pH at 6.8. That showed that roots were under a big water stress and alkaline pH stress. It happens when growers start fertilizing young seedlings and water evaporates from the rockwool blocks which results in high values.
The grower was asked to stop fertilizing and leach with pH 5.5 water. After about one litre of water drip over four hours the EC value of squeeze came down to 3.0 and pH to 6.1. The leaves started showing green colour the next day.
7. Modern growing media and root zone management
Figures 5 and 6 show seedless cucumber and highlight the importance of irrigation inputs, root zone health and volumes. The cucumbers are grown in plastic buckets with 11L of coir and there are four plants in each bucket. Thus, there are 2.75L of coir per plant. This means roots will be developing
These images of seedless cucumber highlight the importance of irrigation inputs, root zone health and volumes. Here, roots developed in areas where water drains out and outside of the growing medium.
Petunias showing showing signs of iron deficiency caused by alkaline pH in the root zone.
The damage visible on these petunias was caused after they were left in water-logged conditions.
in areas where extra water drains out and outside of the growing medium. One can see how early roots are developing at the base of the block.
8. Consider bio control strategies
Mismanagement of the root zone and resulting diseases will directly affect a plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients but the use of pesticide drenches at wrong rates or applied at wrong times may also cause damage. In this case, growers are urged to employ bio control strategies. Consider this aspect of root disease management for optimum root health.
ADVICE FOR BEDDING PLANT GROWERS
With the bedding plants season upon us, I want to discuss briefly issues with root health in these crops.
Figure 7 is an example of where attention was not paid to pH in the root zone. These petunias are showing iron deficiency caused by alkaline pH in the root zone. It will take at least three weeks to turn this crop around and these plants may be un-saleable. Figure 8 shows how water-logged conditions prevailed and roots did not develop properly. Growers are advised to adjust practices to avoid water-logged situations.
From the ground up, the top growth of plants can tell us much about the health of roots. Learn to read the plants and make decisions accordingly.
Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza is a greenhouse specialist based out of Edmonton, Altberta. He can be reached at drmirzaconsultants@gmail.com
• Get to know everything about your growing medium: water holding capacity, air porosity and starting pH and EC.
• Water quality is key: determined by pH, EC and SAR (sodium absorptions ratio); sodium levels below 50 mg/L are ideal.
• Monitor Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels to reduce the need for expensive fungicide applications. Anything below 4 ppm too low!
• Keep daily tabs on pH levels and adjust accordingly to avoid having to intervene drastically later in the crop’s development.
• Electrical Conductivity (EC) should be monitored as regularly as pH and can help identify nutrient deficiencies before they become a bigger issue. 5 key tips for a healthy root zone
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The basics of banker plants
Everything you need to know about the cheap and efficient system for producing your own biological controls
BY ASHLEY PALING
Employing biological controls as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy is a popular choice among growers and is proven to be successful at controlling pest populations when done properly (Jacob, 2023). Biologicals can be purchased weekly from suppliers like Koppert or BioBest, however this is an expensive option that leaves you at the mercy of waiting for weekly deliveries to control your greenhouse pests. Enter the Banker Plant System: a relatively inexpensive option that provides you with a constant supply of beneficial biological controls. This article covers the ins and outs of how to use this system properly, and what you need to consider if you are going to begin your own Banker Plant System in your greenhouse.
ABOVE
THE BANKER PLANT SYSTEM: WHAT IS IT?
The Banker Plant System (BPS) is a self-contained system that uses a non-pest on a non-crop plant to rear beneficial insects to control your greenhouse pests (Jandricic and Frank, 2014; Skinner et al. 2016). While this system can be set up to control a variety of pests, one of the most common options is the Aphidius colemani (figure 2 on page 16) BPS to control aphids (Skinner et al. 2016). In the case of this system, the non-pest used is the Bird Cherry Oat Aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi), which is a pest to monocot species. These aphids feed on a monocot crop such as oats, wheat, rye, or barley. The beneficial insects A. colemani, are parasitic wasps, and use the R. padi to lay eggs and
Figure 1. Rhopalosiphum padi on a banker plant.
PHOTO BY OMAFRA.
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grow their own population (Huang et al. 2011; Koppert, 2016). The main reason this works is because the majority of commercial greenhouse bedding plants or vegetables are dicots, and the R. padi will not become a pest for your saleable crops (Frank Sullivan & Skinner, 2013; Skinner et al. 2016). A. colemani works best at controlling green peach aphids (Myzus
persicae) and cotton/melon aphids (Aphis gossypii) specifically, so identifying the aphid pest in your greenhouse properly is important for this system’s success (Skinner et al. 2016). By continuously producing new monocot banker plants to rear your R. padi and A. colemani populations, you can have a long-term supply of beneficial biologicals.
LEFT
A close-up of an Aphidius colemani parasitic wasp.
STEP BY STEP: CREATING YOUR OWN BANKER PLANT SYSTEM
Materials you will need to create your own BPS: cages or hairnets, pots, planting media, grain seed (barley or wheat work best; Jandricic 2014), R. padi, A. colemani, water, and fertilizer.
Week 1: Seed your first few banker plants, adding fertilizer and watering well. You will need to start with a minimum of two banker plants per acre of growing space and follow up with at least one new banker plant per acre each week (Jacob, 2023; Skinner et al. 2016). Inoculate these newly seeded pots with your starting population of R. padi. Immediately place these pots in a cage or under a hairnet, to keep the A. colemani away from your plants until the R. padi population has built up.
Week 2: Seed another round of new banker plants as you did in week one, and place them immediately under protection, so they don’t get infested with any flying A. colemani in your greenhouse too early.
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Take 3 – 5 blades with R. padi from your one-week-old plant (see Figure 1 on page 14) and place them directly on your newly seeded plants from this week under protection (Skinner et al. 2016).
Week 3: Continue seeding and inoculating new plants as in weeks 1 and 2. Evaluate the population of your R. padi from the week 1 plants this week. If
they are abundant (at least 10 R. padi per blade), release 100 A. colemani into each pot. Place them under the hair nets or in the cages so they don’t fly away initially (Koppert, 2023). Continue watering and fertilizing plants as necessary.
Week 4: Continue seeding and inoculating new plants as in weeks 1 and 2. Take the banker plants you planted in
LEFT
Mature banker plants with Aphidius colemani distributed every 3rd post in a commercial greenhouse.
week 1, which now also have A. colemani, and evaluate the A. colemani population. If you can see R. padi mummies with exit holes and A. colemani flying around, remove the net and place them around the greenhouse (as in the photo on the left). If you only have a small population of mummified R. padi, hold off on releasing for one more week. Continue watering and fertilizing plants as necessary.
To keep the population of your A. colemani growing and predating on your pest aphids, continue seeding and inoculating new banker plants with R. padi then A. colemani for a total of five or six weeks (Jacob, 2023; Skinner et al. 2016). At this point, after having followed the above schedule, the A. colemani population should be well established in your greenhouse and should not need replenishing. Ensure you are continuously providing the A. colemani population with fresh banker plants inoculated with R. padi each week.
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THE PROS AND CONS OF A BANKER PLANT SYSTEM
Like all pest management strategies, there are both pros and cons for the A. colemani banker plant system. Knowing the challenges of the banker plant system can help you know what to expect, and prepare you for troubleshooting issues before you start.
However, the positives outweigh the negatives for this strategy, which has been widely accepted and adopted in many growing regions.
CONS
• Requires consistent watering, fertilization, and monitoring the status of your banker plants. If watering is missed and your banker plants begin to suffer, so does your beneficial population.
• May have different water and nutrient needs than your crop, so think about how you’ll take care of them before you grow. Some growers hand-water; others put them on separate watering lines. Different potting mixes that hold water differently are also an option.
• Not appropriate for some monocot crops like Easter Lilies or ornamental grasses, since the R. padi would be at risk of becoming a pest to your saleable crops (Skinner et al. 2016).
PROS
• This is an inexpensive way to produce a large amount of A. colemani compared to purchasing new biologicals every week.
• Can be applied to a wide variety of commercially grown dicot crops.
1. This system is preventative, not reactionary! You need to be able to get ahead of the pest pressure for it to work effectively. The best timing is to start your banker plant system six weeks before your earliest expected crop that regularly gets aphids will be planted in your greenhouse (Skinner et al. 2016).
2. Be consistent with your watering! There is nothing more disappointing than seeing your pest populations rise because you had some wilted banker plants over the weekend.
3. Remember that your banker plants need fertilizer too! Just as it is important to remember to water your banker plants, so too is it crucial to ensure they are receiving fertilizer when they need it. Hooking up your banker plants to a drip line that gets regularly fertigated is a good way to avoid forgetting them.
4. Make sure your cages or hair nets are air tight! Having a fully secured environment to keep your A. colemani from parasitizing the R. padi population before it has a chance to multiply is extremely important.
5. The type of monocot crop you use for your banker plant does matter! Oats have been determined to be the least effective, providing you with lower R. padi populations and therefore less parasitoids. Wheat and barley provide the R. padi with the most nutrients, which lead to healthier A. colemani populations (Jandricic and Frank 2014).
By following these steps and helpful tips, you should be able to have your own Banker Plant System up and running, providing your greenhouse with a constant supply of beneficials, in no time!
• Can help you monitor the health and activity of your parasitoid population (by looking for mummies on the bankers).
• Provides parasitoids that are “fresher” (Jandricic and Frank 2014) that can be more effective than wasps from commercial sources.
• Wasps are more recently hatched, meaning they have their whole life span (7 – 10 days [Jacob, 2023]) to parasitize aphids in your greenhouse.
Ashley Paling is a part-time professor with the School of Environment & Horticulture at Niagara College. These observations were made when she was a Research Assistant with the Horticultural & Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre and taking a Greenhouse Production Science course led by Sebastien Jacobs.
REFERENCES
• Anatis Bioprotection. (2023). Aphid Banker Plants. Anatis Bioprotection Products. Retrieved on April 13th, 2023 from https://anatisbioprotection.com/ en/biological-control-products/aphidsbanker-plant-system/
• Frank Sullivan, C. E., & Skinner, M. (2013). Plant-mediated IPM systems explained. University of Vermont Entomology Research Laboratory.
• Huang, N., Enkegaard, A., Osborne, L., Ramakers, P., Messelink, G., Pijnakker, J., & Murphy, G. (2011). The banker plant method in biological control. Critical Reviews in Plant Science, 30: 259-278.
• Jacob, S. (2023). Unit 1 – Banker Plants. Blackboard Presentation.
• Jandricic, S., and Frank, S. (2014). Boosting bankers. Greenhouse Canada. Retrieved on April 6th, 2023 from https://www.greenhousecanada.com/ boosting-bankers-4310/
• Koppert Canada Ltd. (2016). Biological control of aphids – Aphidius colemani. YouTube Video Retrieved on April 6th, 2023 from https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=StSO7LSzzAw
• Koppert Canada Ltd. (2023). Aphipar. Retrieved on April 6th, 2023 from https://retail.koppert.ca/products/ aphipar
• Skinner, M., Frank Sullivan, C. E., & Valentin, R. (2016). Aphid banker plant system for greenhouse IPM, step by step. University of Vermont Entomology Research Laboratory.
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Agriculture, globally, is one of the largest users of clean water. Climate change and increasing worldwide water use is also decreasing sources of clean water. Since water use in agriculture is costly, being innovative finding sustainable water sources is good business.
Plants grown in greenhouses need clean, consistent, managed water sources to be healthy. This entails water delivery and moisture levels that are appropriate for plants, leaves, and root systems.7 Sustainable irrigation keeps costs low and ensures that plants are efficiently fertilised.1
“The rule of thumb” for greenhouse water usage is a minimum of 0.2 gallons/sq. ft of growing area. On warm days that amount may change to 0.3 to 0.4 gallons/sq. ft of growing area. For 10,000 sq. ft that is 3,000 to 4,000 gallons/day, notes Jason Henry MSc, Research Scientist, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.
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SUSTAINABLE WATER SOURCES
Sustainable water can be found in stored rain water, sourced from roof eavestroughs and kept in storage tanks, and ponds. Water from these sources needs to be filtered. It also needs aeration to help “prevent algae blooms, anaerobic pathogens, anoxic release of nutrients.” Water fountains, air compression systems, drum filters, as well as sand and gravity, can help clean the water.5
“Rainwater harvesting,” says Henry, “is a good source of water depending on how you collect it. Take the water from gutters and direct it into a cistern.”
The method of collection, however, has an effect, he cautions. “Debris and potential contaminants need filtering.” A negative aspect of rain water, Henry points out, “is that you have to rely on when it rains. A concern in times of drought. Storage is important because it is depleted quickly.”
Jason Henry, MSc, Research Scientist, Soils, Plant Responses & the Environment and Qinglu Ying, PhD, Research Scientist, Plant Production at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.
Groundwater is also a sustainable water source. “Obtained from wells, groundwater is a common, relatively clean source of water,” says Balsher S. Sidhu, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, UBC. “Water supplied by city, county, or municipality is also typically of high quality but may involve higher costs, especially for smaller greenhouse operations,” Sidhu notes. New water sources are being studied. For example, Jurga et al. studied the
collection and use of outdoor and indoor condensate recovery systems like air conditioning systems in greenhouses. This water can be used with liquid fertilizers, and in closed systems such vertical farming and aquaponic farms.6 Kajale (2013) found that one air handling unit in an American university building produced 55.27 million litres of condensate over 17 months. Drain pans can collect condensate that is then piped to storage areas. Water can also be sourced from irrigation and washdown leachate recapture.2 In ebb and flow systems
a collection tank underneath re-uses water and the water is sent to a collection system, Henry comments. Other sources include “desalination,” “solar distillation, cloud seeding, atmospheric water vapour harvesting, and water recovery from wastewater streams,” and “potential of the water recovery from the air.” 6
CLEAN WATER = HEALTHY PLANTS
Plants exposed to water containing contaminants will have “slow growth, poor aesthetic quality,” and will slowly die. Additionally, “high soluble salts can hurt root systems, can affect “water and nutrient uptake,” and can “accumulate in plant leaf margins, causing burning of the edges.” When there is “high alkalinity” the growing media’s pH is affected and this affects nutrient uptake.” 8
SUSTAINABLE IRRIGATION
Fertigation is the mixing of fertilizer into the water supplied by drip irrigation. One of the advantages of this approach is that “Growers can fertilize with more precision than manual methods.” It can result in increased crop yield of more than 60 per cent according to one study. 1 Re-cycling water is advantageous as it decreases costs of water input. The disadvantage, Henry notes, is that as plants are up taking the water the leachate is high in nutrients, like nitrogen, phosphates, and potassium. Growers tend to have “a water sampling program. They test the water for pathogens before use.” The “rule of thumb for growers is that 20 per cent of the water they apply becomes leachate,” Henry said.
TO INNOVATE OR NOT TO INNOVATE
Growers “may raise objections due to concerns about technological limitations of available systems; the potential increase in energy requirements if they are required to transition to a high-efficiency irrigation system; the significant initial investment and ongoing operational costs; and the reliability and availability of water resources. Behavioral barriers, such as resistance to change and lack of awareness, and regulatory constraints act as obstacles to widespread adoption of sustainable irrigation practices in commercial agriculture,” Sidhu observes.
IRRIGATION SYSTEMS — HOW GOOD IS THE FIT?
“You need the right media for the right crop,” Henry says. “Different types of
growing media, like coir, peat, barkbased substrates make water available at different levels, so you have to know your growing media before you change your irrigation system.” Growers need to know when water is available. Some of the factors involved in choosing any irrigation system includes cost, additional labour that is involved in testing, and needed adjustments. “This can be challenging especially during the growing season.”
If you will be using soluble fertilizers in the irrigation water it is important to “allow at least 10–15 per cent for leaching to avoid salt build up.” 10 Adequate absorption, porosity and water holding capacity of the growing media” should be factored into irrigation choices. “Substrate selection varies depending on the crop” and “substrate properties depend on how you water it,” says Henry.
OZONE
The advantage of this system is that it can “effectively sterilize and is cleaner, pathogens and diseases eliminated, and it could supply dissolved oxygen in the irrigation system,” Henry points out. Other advantages of ozone is that it will “destroy contaminants completely”; “breakdown pathogens by oxidation”; is more effective than UV light. Additionally, due to the dissolved oxygen in the water there is strong plant growth, a “reduced risk of disease,” and the closed loop system reduces water costs.3
Another advantage of the ozone system is its flexibility. It can be installed to disinfect as a batch process or on demand. The system does need filters to be installed as they remove particulate matter that escapes from the solution. As ozone is produced as part of the process, it does not need chemicals to be stored on site. The system has low electricity demands and thus low operating costs.5
An important disadvantage of ozone, says Henry, is that it is toxic. “There are safety concerns. It can also be costly to set up.”
UV LIGHT
This irrigation process “can sterilize pathogens and diseases in greenhouse water,” Henry notes, and “needs a cleaning system before you re-use the water.” The advantage of using this process is that it “disinfects the water and sterilizes the contaminants” when the water is in the UV chamber. 3 UV light does have
safety concerns and costs that need to be considered, Henry observes.
FACILITY CONTROLLER TO MANAGE WATER USE
Advantages of this irrigation process is that it can be programmed into considering the environment the plants are growing in. A “greenhouse system,” Henry notes, “has light, temperature, humidity, and growing media to consider.” To deal with the numerous decisions that have to be made concerning those elements a “cost effective
strategy” is a computer system and “set protocols for water use and efficiency and pre-set decisions.”
This irrigation process has, according to Henry, “a big learning curve depending on how many crops, which equals the numbers of irrigation pipes. It needs a lot of planning.”
DRIP IRRIGATION
“Efficient and useful, drip irrigation helps growers of all experience levels control the amount of water delivered to
Winning
ABOVE
plants.” 1 The type of crops grown with this system are, “typically cucumbers and tomatoes grown in rockwool,” says Henry. The advantage of this system is that it is “cost effective, there is decreased leachate water, and the nutrients are directed right onto the root systems,” Henry adds. The drip and trickle approach is viewed by some as being more efficient and easier to control.10 Drip irrigation is seen as increasing production from “20 to 90 per cent” while sending “water and nutrients directly to the roots it saves 50 to 70 per cent more water” than a typical system would.4
The disadvantage with this system is that there can be “salt build-up, nutrients can clog up, and it will need a lot of cleaning so it can become less efficient.” Henry also cautions that the water used in this process can be reused, but it may have pathogens.
OVERHEAD SPRINKLERS
These are a “low-cost system that sprays
water out increasing the relative humidity,” Henry comments. They are “good for grapes.” The disadvantage is that the system works best with crops that are not “sensitive to leaf borne disease.”
This irrigation type is associated, by some, with water wastage and wetting foliage, which leads to disease.10
HYDROPONICS AND AQUAPONICS
An advantage of hydroponics is that water is stored in cisterns and “plants only use what they need.” 1 Fewer resources are used and arable land isn’t necessary.11 Both water and space, especially when the plants are growing vertically, are saved in this method.” These systems “tend to be automated,” which makes “operating and growing them easier.” 1 A study of lettuce, showed that the yield from a hydroponic system was “12 times more yield per litre of water.” 1
In both hydroponics and aquaponics, the systems are not bound by seasons, with few environmental impacts except for the disposal of chemicals and fertilizers
in hydroponics. In both systems the plants have been found to be healthier with yields 30 to 40 per cent higher than traditional systems.11
The hydroponic and aquaponics systems tend to be of better quality, notes Lisa Y. Stein Professor and Associate Dean (Mentorship and Awards), Climate Change Microbiology at the University of Alberta. “Most commercial aquaponics facilities focus on leafy greens as they have a fast growth rate and turn-around time and do not have complicated flowering cycles,” says Stein. Compared to other systems, aquaponics are viewed as being more sustainable. “There are fewer inputs for aquaponics as the fish provide the fertilizer,” Stein notes.
Aquaponics’ start-up time is related to an operation’s size. “It depends on the scale and where the microbial inoculum comes from. In our mini-systems, we developed the microorganisms before hand and inoculated with a mature biofilm. Our system was stable within two weeks.”
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre’s smart irrigation system at work in a greenhouse setting.
Grow with the pros
Luke Den Haan
Den Haan Greenhouses, Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia
“Several years ago, I traveled to Delphy in Holland and it opened my eyes to the idea of using LED technology for winter production. We decided to go with the best on the market, Philips LEDs. In 2020, we installed Philips LED toplighting over our cucumber crop and Philips toplighting and a single row of Philips interlighting in our tomato crop. The production forecasts have worked out exactly as Signify predicted with a 40% increase. And growing under LEDs took out the peaks and dips in our production. We are very satisfied with the results of growing under Philips LED lighting.”
Watch the Den Haan story
In the literature, aquaponics is viewed as more sustainable compared to hydroponics. “The fish and microbes provide essential nitrogen, other nutrients, and plant growth promoting molecules to the crop. Aquaponics provides a nearly closed loop of inputs to waste management,” said Stein. Innovation and sustainability are the future of commercial greenhouses. “Sustainable irrigation methods, when integrated with precise fertilization techniques, can improve fertilizer efficiency, minimize weed growth, and reduce the spread of diseases caused by excess moisture,” Sidhu says.
Sources
1. Americover, 2024, ‘Sustainable irrigation techniques growers should consider.’ https://www.americover.com/sustainableirrigation-techniques-growers-shouldconsider/
2. Ceres Greenhouse Solutions, 2023, ‘Water circularity: Considerations for your greenhouse water systems,’ https://ceresgs. com/water-circularity-considerations-foryour-greenhouse-water-systems/
24_000934_Greenhouse_Canada_MAR_APR_CN
3. Climate Control Systems, 2023, ‘Understanding greenhouse water treatment.’ https://www.climatecontrol. com/blog/greenhouse-water-treatmentozone-uv/#:~:text=Reduced%20 waste%3A%20Ozone%20Purification%20 reduces,a%20lot%20of%20water%20 costs.
4. GGS Structures inc., 2022, ‘How you can conserve water in your greenhouse facilities.’ https://ggs-greenhouse.com/ blog/how-you-can-conserve-water-inyour-facilities
6. Jurga, A., Pacak, A., Pandelidis, D., Kaźmierczak, B., 2023, ‘Condensate as a water source in terrestrial and extraterrestrial conditions,’ Water Resources and Industry, Vol 29, 100196, https://doi. org/10.1016/j.wri.2022.100196
7. Nichepom, 2024, ‘Niche agriculture, Water management in greenhouse irrigation,’ https://www.nicheagriculture.
com/water-management-in-greenhouseirrigation/
8. Saskatchewan.ca, ‘Water quality in greenhouses’ https://www.saskatchewan. ca/business/agriculture-natural-resourcesand-industry/agribusiness-farmersand-ranchers/crops-and-irrigation/ horticultural-crops/greenhouses/waterquality-in-greenhouses
9. Gramling, C., 2024, ‘Many but not all of the world’s aquifers are losing water,’ Science News, https//www.sciencenews. org/article/aquifers-losing-water-climateoveruse
11. Trees.com Staff, 2022, ‘Hydroponics vs. aquaponics – A complete, and honest comparison,’ https://www.trees.com/ gardening-and-landscaping/hydroponicsvs-aquaponics#:~:text=Hydroponics%20 growing%20systems%20can%20 be,other%20leafy%20greens%2C%20 and%20herbs.
A FUTURE RIPE with possibility
Eleven teams take up challenge to revolutionize food production in Canada
BY WESTON FAMILY FOUNDATION
“If we listen to plants, we can change the world!” says botanist Lesley Campbell, PhD, describing part of the inspiration behind the raspberry growing system she is developing with her partner, mechanical engineer Habiba Bougherara, PhD, at Toronto Metropolitan University. Campbell, Bougherara, and their industry partners make up one of eleven teams competing in the Homegrown Innovation Challenge, the Weston Family Foundation’s six-year, $33-million commitment to the next generation of agricultural innovation. These teams include experts and professionals from industries and institutions across the country who are vying to create the most productive, sustainable solutions for growing berries in Canada — out of season and
at scale. Supported by grants of up to $1 million for the second phase of the Challenge, the grantees now have eighteen months to develop smallscale, proof-of-concept solutions. If these projects bear fruit—literally—it will be thanks to close collaborations between growers, producers, farmers, engineers, scientists, technologists, and others.
“At the heart of this competition lies the belief that the fusion of collaboration and broad expertise is the key to solving complex challenges in agriculture,” said Garfield Mitchell, Chair of the Weston Family Foundation. “Our grantees bring out-of-the-box, yet achievable, ideas to the table, and we are excited to see the innovations that arise from their shared passion and collaboration.”
Deborah Henderson, PhD (left) and Li Ma, PhD (right) of Kwantlen Polytechnic University examine a crop of strawberries.
PHOTO CREDIT: JAY SHAW.
HIGHLIGHT THE NEXT CROP OF YOUNG ACHIEVERS
The search is underway for Greenhouse Canada’s Top 4 Under 40. Nominees must work in the Canadian greenhouse, horticulture industry or allied trades and be 39 years of age or younger by Dec. 31, 2024.
RECOGNIZE A LIFETIME OF DEDICATION, PASSION AND INNOVATION
Know someone who is a standout leader in the industry who exemplifies the spirit of innovation, growth and forward-thinking? Someone with an unmatched passion and dedication to their craft and its future? Tell us! Nominate a supervisor, staff member or fellow grower to recognize their impact on the farm and on the Canadian greenhouse sector.
NOMINATIONS CLOSE MAY 10, 2024
Sponsored by
The Homegrown Innovation Challenge is all about mobilizing Canada’s ecosystem of homegrown talent to play a leading role in the future of food production. The grantees’ solutions must be resilient to a range of Canadian geographies, be at least partially adaptable to other crops, and have a negligible impact on the environment.
“A vertical farm can have tons of air conditioning running almost one hundred per cent of the time,” says Benjamin Feagin Jr., Chief Executive Officer of AgriTech North, which has teamed up with researchers at Collège Boréal. “It frustrates me that technology can bring us in the opposite direction of sustainability.”
LEFT
Nicholas Varas, Co-founder and CEO Moduleaf Technologies, uses machine learning to monitor plant growth at Ontario Tech University.
Berries were selected as the crops of choice for the competition because of the multiple challenges they present, including short growing seasons, limited shelf life, and vulnerability to pests. These have led to Canada’s outsized reliance on berry imports from distant regions: strawberries alone have annual import values of nearly $475 million.
“Strawberries are so complicated that if we can meet this challenge, we can do a lot of new things,” said Éric Deschambault, President of CycloFields Indoor Farming Technology, which has partnered with an academic team from Université Laval.
Some of the projects integrate and enhance existing technologies and practices, while others break new ground. A team from the University of Guelph is combining advanced greenhouses with vertical farming methods originally designed for use in space.
PHOTO CREDIT: KATHRYN HOLLINRAKE
Schmid pellets combustion for greenhouses
Centre de Formation Agricole de Mirabel / Mirabel QC (CAN)
Founded in 1991, the Centre de Formation Agricole de Mirabel (CFAM) is located in Mirabel, Quebec and provides technical training for agriculture. In February 2021, the first Schmid plant in Canada was commissioned for the customer CFAM.
The agricultural training centre is located in a suburb of Mirabel. In addition to the agricultural school, the CFAM also includes the Mirabel Agri-Food Research Center. The Research Institute aims to promyote the development of organic farming and to strengthen the competitiveness of farms.
Cooperation with Combustion Expert Energy Combustion Expert Energy, Schmid‘s distribution partner, was awarded the project in the second half of 2019. Combustion Expert Energy a pioneer in the Canadian Biomass boiler Manufacturing, Installation and maintaining of biomass system, has been at the forefront of the renewal energy sector for years. With the Partnership Schmid has secured the most knowledgeable partner with existing local know-how for the market entry in the Eastern part of Canada.
Best technology prevails
Since the customer CFAM has high quality requirements, the Schmid technology and the developed concept were adopted as the basis for the tender.
François Laroche, Quality Control Manager and Technical Advisor at Combustion Expert Energy, is very pleased with the successful project: „It reflects the successful collaboration between the detailed planning of the system components from the Engineering support team from Schmid and CEE expertise of the installation team. This Project is used as a testimonial for future projects, showcasing the success of our companies in delivering high-quality biomass boiler systems. We are enthusiastic to serve our future clients the same way.“
You need more information? Pleace contact us.
Schmid North America inc.
Phone +1 (519) 546 9592 info@schmid-energy.com
schmid-energy.com
The funding programme Bioenergy Program
The project is supported by the "Bioenergy Program Quebec". The aim of the support programme is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the consumption of fossil fuels. The Bioenergy Program is offered to businesses, institutions, and municipalities that use fossil fuels and commit to measurably and sustainably reduce their consumption by switching from fossil fuels to bioenergy.
BRIEF INFO
Product type
Underfeed firing UTSP-360
Fuel Pellets
Power
1‘228 MBtu / 360 kW
Use Heat for buildings and greenhouses
Silo Vertical silo with screw discharge
Exhaust gas dedusting Multicyvlone
In operations since February 2021
Owner
Centre de Formation Agricole de Mirabel, Mirabel, Quebec, Canada
As an innovative technology leader, we offer exciting energy solutions for an environmentally friendly and sustainable future.
The Schmid Group is a Swiss family business that has specialized in wood energy since 1936 and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers. Schmid combustion systems enable environmentally friendly heating and are in use around the globe.
We offer a wide range of products up to large-scale industrial plants with an output of 614 - 27,296MBtu | 180 - 8000 KW. Our customers are in the field of agricultural, Sawmills, forestry sectors, the wood industry, real estate companies, energy service providers, commercial-, industrial Manufacturing companies and cities or municipalities.
“The solutions that we’ve got for the Moon and Mars are even more suitable for harsh environments here on Earth, especially Canada and Canada’s North in particular,” says project leader Mike Dixon, Director of Guelph’s Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility. Other strategies include using
photovoltaics panels to convert solar energy into electricity, biosensors for monitoring plant health in real time, and artificial intelligence capable of adjusting growing conditions every few minutes. One project aims to produce compact blueberry plants with more fruit buds through gene editing, while another
FOR HEALTHY CROPS & DISEASE CONTROL…
EVERYTHING IS SPRINGING UP
LEFT
Eric Gerbrandt, PhD, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer, BeriTech Inc.
looks at the potential for sculpting microbiomes.
Economic opportunity and sustainable livelihoods for farmers are top of mind for all grantees.
“Traditional farming will always have a place because farmers are most in touch with the land,” says Osman Hamid, PhD, Director of Creativity and Entrepreneurship at Brilliant Catalyst, Ontario Tech University’s innovation hub. “But technology can make farmers more competitive.”
These agtech solutions may also ease the demanding labour that drives many families from their farms and deters others from a life in agriculture. A recent report from RBC estimates that approximately 40 per cent of Canadian farmers will retire within the next decade, and about 66 per cent don’t have a succession plan. The report also predicts a shortfall of 24,000 general farm, nursery, and greenhouse workers.
“This was part of my life, and I couldn’t see a way I could participate,” said Lesley Campbell, remembering the heartbreaking decision to let her family cabbage farm go after her father retired.
“We need to humanize this. Even though we’re industrializing agriculture, there are still farm families behind it.”
Making a place on the farm for engineers, scientists, and academics is the first step towards supporting the future generations of growers who will safeguard the country’s food production, along with investments in training and educational opportunities.
“We don’t want to take growers’
LEFT
Christian Desjardins, Mechanical Design and Manufacturing for CycloFields Indoor Farming Technology. Université Laval and Cyclofields are working together to pioneer an integrated aeroponic strawberry production system for year-round harvests.
jobs away,” says Doan Ha, Director of Operations at Koidra, an intelligent automation company that’s collaborating with researchers from the University of Guelph’s School of Environmental Sciences and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
“We want to make humans superhuman by using our software as a tool kit that takes away repetitive tasks, so growers can focus on high-level work and see higher profitability.”
GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT:
Future-proofing greenhouses for the next generation
Researchers at Kwantlen Polytechnic University are working on an advanced greenhouse system that relies on
BALL CULTURE GUIDE: THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SEED GERMINATION, 4TH EDITION
This latest edition reaches beyond the confines of open flat sowing to provide growers with culture as it relates to plug production and even field sowing. Written in an easy-to-read chart style, the Ball Culture Guide lists production temperatures, transplanting schedules, lighting requirements, final garden height, and much more. The culture notes for each crop add even more information, such as flower color and size, propagation and growing-on tips, and differences in culture based on geographic region.
AI-driven robots to reduce both the cost of, and use of pesticides in, the production of strawberries and blackberries. State-of-the-art technology like lasers and other advanced optical sensors will also be heavily used to manage disease and treat biostimulants.
“As farm agriculture gets more technical, it is attracting the younger people,” said Deborah Henderson, PhD, Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
“I work at a university where I’m privileged to see the determination of young people and the innovations that walk into my office. It gives me hope.”
Variety is the spice of life, and it may also be the secret to year-round blueberry production
Like many crops, blueberry plants are highly sensitive to environmental conditions. Simon Fraser University and BeriTech Inc. are teaming up to apply advanced and proprietary approaches to create the perfect growing conditions for this sensitive crop. Their plant-centric approach focuses on selecting blueberry varieties that are best suited to indoor growing and tailoring environmental conditions to drive optimal fruit yields and quality.
“We have to start with the plant, and then we can tailor environmental conditions to what the plant needs. We can perfect conditions to take full advantage of the plant’s genetic potential. Eric Gerbrandt, PhD, Managing Partner, BeriTech Inc.
Building an ecosystem where both plants and innovation will thrive
At Ontario Tech University, a team is developing an energy-efficient controlledenvironment agriculture facility that will outperform traditional greenhouses in the production of strawberries— particularly during the winter months in Canada. They will be equipped with an Autonomous Intelligent Monitoring System to monitor health and growth, which will trigger early interventions if plants start to wane.
“The next generation doesn’t see new technology as a threat. They see it as a way to further their legacies. That is the exciting part, being able to work with new partners and grow our networks.”
Alex McKay, co-owner of Willowtree Farm and a member of the Ontario Tech HGC team.
INSIDE VIEW
GARY JONES | greenhousewolf@gmail.com
Bigger picture context
You know when life sometimes gets just a little too busy? Those days, weeks, when it seems you can’t get your head above water, and you get so absorbed in your own world that it’s hard to see the wood for the trees. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you’re someone who performs better under some stress. And it’s good to focus on maintaining and developing your business.
But sometimes, it’s just as important to step back and find opportunities to take a higher-level view of what’s going on in other industries. To get context.
The greenhouse industry faces a number of external pressing issues at the moment, as we’ve seen in ‘Inside View’ over the past months: prices, labour, pests/disease management, and water for example. Another key issue is societal pressure to wean us off carbon-based fuels, and when our heads are down in the day-to-day graft of growing, it’s easy to feel we’re being singled out.
Enter the ‘CityAge Vancouver: The Urban Zero Challenge’ conference. Out of my usual space, I found myself at posh tables with property developers, health authority managers and transit planners. But it was an opportunity to see how other major areas of society are viewing the environmental de-carbonisation issue. What could we learn?
Pre-event material posited, “Vancouver — like every city in Canada — is facing two key challenges: We must get to net zero emissions while meeting the housing and transportation needs of a country seeing record population growth? 1 For discussion:
issues in the next 10 years for Metro Vancouver residents, which likely speaks to concerns about affordability in the region. Decarbonization ranks third most important of the five issues measured, behind economic and housing concerns. Residents rate their concern about greenhouse gas emissions in Metro Vancouver an average of 6.3 on a scale where 10 means ‘extremely concerned’. But they are less concerned about their own footprint”... “Industry is believed to be the top carbon emitter in Metro Vancouver, followed by private vehicles and commercial transportation. Smart technology, industry incentives, solar power and alternative transportation modes are viewed as the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region. Key Findings rated as least effective are carbon offsets, carbon taxes, and using wood instead of concrete for building construction.” 2
Key take-aways:
1. City planners, transport managers, health-care managers, and others in Metro Vancouver are taking the zero-carbon need to heart. Whatever the motive, it’s a pressing problem they’re looking to solve. Do we have that same urgency?
2. When it comes to decarbonising, most solutions seem to be “electrify.” Great, if your electricity is generated using eco-friendly options, but even then, only if there is sufficient supply. We know that this is not the case in B.C., even with existing demand: a few extra-cold days in January nearly broke the system. And of course, electricity (instead of natural gas) doesn’t provide CO2 for our plants.
“No-one has an easy fix to the zero-carbon energy issue...”
“Decarbonizing Cities: The huge economic opportunity in promoting clean technologies that can build low carbon cities.
Zero Emission Buildings: New tools to accelerate the decarbonization of embodied carbon in existing buildings, as well as build more low- or zero-emission buildings.
Zero Emission Transportation: From personal vehicle charging infrastructure through medium and heavy duty applications in ports, freight and airports, we’ll look at the move to electrification and innovations in land, rail, sea and air.” 1 Learning opportunities, surely.
Submitted alongside the conference was a market research report: “Public Attitudes to Decarbonization of Metro Vancouver: The Urban Zero Challenge Conference.” The Executive Summary reports that [for public perception] “Jobs and the economy, and creating more supply of housing are the most important
3. No-one has an easy fix to the zero-carbon energy issue for greenhouses. No surprise there, but I hope Government recognizes this and can help us with some carrots and grace, not just with sticks.
It does no harm to keep looking with an open mind to what’s going on out there. Conferences that are off our normal beaten track can help re-focus and bring context to the issues we collectively face.
1. https://www.cityage.com/cityage-vancouver-2024
2. Mustel Market Research, ‘Public Attitudes to Decarbonization of Metro Vancouver’ The Urban Zero Challenge Conference February 6, 2024
Gary Jones sits on several greenhouse industry committees in BC and welcomes comments at greenhousewolf@gmail.com.
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