Good results with in hyacinth cultivation in plastic trench

Added on 29 June 2023

Tags

Good results with in hyacinth cultivation in plastic trench

Hyacinth bulbs normally grow in the open ground. As a result, fertilizers may leach into the surface water. In addition, the bulbs are susceptible to soil-borne diseases and pests (such as fungi and nematodes). Research by the Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs Business Unit of Wageningen University & Research shows that the bulbs can also be grown well in plastic trenches.

The Bollencoaster project is aimed at making bulb cultivation more sustainable. One of the components is research into the use of plastic slots. These are buried in the field at a depth of 10 to 20 centimeters and with a width of approximately 5 centimeters. There is a drip hose in the trench for watering and administering nutrients. The top of the trench is closed so that diseases, pests and unwanted water cannot penetrate. In the trench, the bulbs are planted in a substrate.

This cultivation method has many advantages in the cultivation of hyacinth. This makes targeted watering possible, and there is no leaching of water and fertilizers. In addition, fewer crop protection agents are required. The slits allow the bulbs to grow in a long row, which facilitates mechanical weed control. Because the bulbs do not grow in the ground, fungi and nematodes cannot affect the crop. Crop rotation is therefore not necessary (in conventional crops hyacinths can only grow on the same soil once every six years). As a result, growers do not have to look for a new field every year. And most importantly, the bulbs grow well in the enclosed environment.