New add-on smart irrigation software brings wide-ranging benefits

The proliferation of new technologies such as sensors, ventilation units and new types of screens entering the growing environment can change the energy balance in the crop. One of the biggest changes currently affecting growers is the switch from HPS artificial lighting to LED lighting. Plants receive 40 percent more heat from HPS lighting than from LED. As plants transpire less under LED, they take up less water and nutrients.

Recognising how even one such change can impact on all the others, Hoogendoorn and Cultilene have together developed a tool that will better support growers by providing a rapid overview of evapotranspiration levels in the crop and calculating water and nutrient levels to reflect these changes.

Following the principles of Plant Empowerment, Connected Irrigation delivers customised irrigation by taking the properties of Cultilene’s high-quality substrates and its advisory values on the pF curve, substrate volume and dry-back time into the process computer. The software reduces water, nutrient and energy use, while preventing plant stress and benefiting the root environment.

Remy Maat, Manager Application at Cultilene: “By combining our substrate expertise with Hoogendoorn’s outstanding process automation technology we have produced a unique evapotranspiration-based irrigation software application that will benefit growers worldwide. Its ability to improve water use efficiency will lead to healthier, more resilient root systems and therefore better quality plants, responding to the need to grow more healthy food while using less natural resources. I encourage you all to learn more about Irrigation for Success: evaporative energy as a solution by attending our inspiring presentation on this topic on the vision stage at GreenTech Amsterdam on Wednesday 14 June at 13:45 – 14:30.”

Martin Helmich, CCO at Hoogendoorn Growth Management: “Collaboration between supply chain partners is essential to feed a growing world population in a sustainable way. Hoogendoorn’s long track record in process automation solutions and Cultilene’s expertise in smart water and root zone management combine the best of both worlds for the grower, enabling them to get the most out of their crop and achieve more sustainable production.”

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