Sense or nonsense ? Science or science fiction · I. Light is needed for photosynthesis II. No light is needed for respiration III. Speed of photosynthesis and respiration is driven

Using data to grow the perfect CyclamenSense or nonsense ?

Science or science fiction ?

Morel production trials Preesman Potplanten B.V. Netherlands 2019

Using data to grow the perfect Cyclamen

Did you use a sat nav to get here today?

• It tell us when we will arrive at our destination• It tell us if there is a delay on our route• It tell us how we can avoid delay’s• It tell us where and when we need to turn• It tell is if we are speeding• It tell us where speed traps are• etc

Using data to grow the perfect CyclamenWould it not be great if we had a “sat nav” to optimize plant growing?

• Could it tell us when we will arrive at our destination?

• Could it tell us if there is a delay on our route or if we are ahead of schedule?

• Could it tell us how we can avoid delay?

• Could it tell us where and when we need to turn and in what direction?

• Could it warn us if the crop is at risk for a disease?

• If it would help us making the right decisions and make a culture more profitable?


The (r)evolution…

Sense or nonsense ?Science or science fiction ?

Picture: Vakblad voor de Bloeisterij January 10 1946 Oppotten enin den bak planten van pelargonium Zonale

The future: plant growing in conditioned rooms where al climate conditions can be steered to the optimum


… and the resistance

When they asked the farmer what he would do with the money after he won the jackpot in the national lottery he replied: “I will continue farming until it’s all gone again.”


Using data to grow the perfect CyclamenSense or nonsense ?Science or science fiction ?Why data is needed for making

better decisions

If the answer to a question starts with:“I think…..”;it means you don’t know it for sure!!!

If someone thinks the answer is not correct and comes with a different suggestion then one of the 2 solutions must be wrong….

Or even worse, both solutions might be wrong.

Now we got 2 opinions, but we are left behind being confused…. and without a bullet proof solution to our query!



Plant growth

Moisture + nutrients

Light + temperature

Photosynthesis - respiration

What drives plant growth?

The 3 plant balances1. Photosynthesis – Respiration = Growth (dry mass)

2. Light + temperature = SpeedI. Light is needed for photosynthesis II. No light is needed for respirationIII. Speed of photosynthesis and respiration is driven by temperature

3. Moisture uptake – Evaporation - Transpiration = Growth (fresh weight)I. Is needed for transport of nutrients upward (source)II. Is needed for transport of sugars downward to fruits and roots (sink)III. Is needed for plant cell pressure / rigidi


We need to look at micro climate rather than on macro climate


What drives plant growth?

Photosynthesis (light reaction)6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + O2CARBONDIOXDE WATER SUGAR OXYGEN

Respiration (dark reaction)6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + O2CARBONDIOXDE WATER SUGAR OXYGEN

The speed of photosynthesis and respiration is driven by temperature.

light

dark

Photosynthesis – Respiration = Growth (dry mass)

Photosynthesis > Respiration = Growth (+ dry mass)

Photosynthesis < Respiration = - Growth (- dry mass)

Using data to grow the perfect CyclamenVapour Pressure Difference (VPD) the driving force of stomata conductance

VPD = (RH plant * SVP @ plant TMP) - (RH * SVP @ air TMP)VPD = AVP @ plant TMP - AVP@ air TMP

SVP APDPlant TMP 18 oC 2,064 kPa 2,064 kPaPlant HMD 100 %Air TMP 18 oC 2,064 kPa 2,064 kPaAir HMD 100 %

VPD = 0 kPa

VPD calcualtion

Stomata closed / openPhotosynthesis no / yesEvaporation no / yesNutrient uptake no / yes

Absorption of CO2 through diffusion



VPD = 0,6192 kPa

VPD calcualtion




VPD = 0,8932 kPa

VPD calcualtion





VPD = 2,1955 kPa

VPD calcualtion

The effect of (TMP and HMD) VPD on root born diseases in Cyclamen

Phytophthora

Fusarium

Preconditions:a) spores must be presentb) optimum temperature 27-

32oCc) almost saturated root zone

Precautions:a) Disinfect recycled water even

if disease is not present (population management)

b) Close screens earlier with hot weather conditions. (Light is not the limiting factor)

c) Do not overwater but rather water lower volumes and more frequent


MACRO CLIMATE


MICRO CLIMATE SOIL TMP


MICRO CLIMATE SOIL MOISTURE


MICRO CLIMATE PLANT TMP

Respiration > Photosynthesis


Effect of screen on air TMP and plant TMP


Effect of screen on air stomata opening

Date

31-7-2018 55% okay1-8-2018 61% okay2-8-2018 64% okay3-8-2018 58% okay4-8-2018 61% okay5-8-2018 69% okay6-8-2018 62% okay

9-8-2018

Soil moisture level

Next watering cycle:


1 low2 medium3 high3 high3 high2 medium3 high

Root disease risk level

Warning dashboard


Botrytis (grey mould) Conditions for a successful infection:

1. spores must be present

2. high moisture conditions to allow to grow a hyphae; form appressorium and penetrate the host

3. mycelium starts to grow and develop toxin

4. conidiophores become visible and produce 1000’s of conidia


4 hours high moist conditions required

24 hours

2-3 weeks

time at 20o C.


Botrytis (grey mould)prevention through climate rather than spraying

Preconditions:1. spores must be present2. specific moisture conditions for

4 hours (at 20o C).a. overhead watering b. condensationc. guttationd. humidity > 95 %

Precautions:ü avoid overhead wateringü avoid condensation in the crop


Botrytis (grey mould)prevention through climate rather than spraying

Preconditions:1. spores must be present2. specific moisture conditions for

4 hours (at 20o C).a. overhead watering b. condensationc. guttationd. humidity > 95 %

Precautions:ü avoid overhead wateringü avoid condensation in the cropü avoid high humidity

0 none2 medium2 medium0 none0 none2 medium0 none

Botrytis risk level

Strategy is start dehumidifying when RH reaches 80%

Spraying is not effective if humidity is too highOnly spray if risk on Botrytis is high to manage spore population


CALENDER WEEK 44 -

Thresholds RH °C Temp Air

°C Temp Air (Day)

°C Temp Air (Night)

DIF Temp Air

°C Temp Plant

°C Temp Plant (Day)

°C Temp Plant

(Night)

DIF Temp Plant

VPD kPa

PAR light sum

(moles/m2/day)

Day lenght (hours)

°C Temp Soil

m³/m³ VWC EC5

m³/m³ VWC GS3

mS/cm EC Bulk

maximum 80% 20,0 22,0 18,0 22,0 24,0 20,0 1,5 18,0 26,0 78% 78% 1,00average 65% 18,5 20,0 17,0 18,5 20,0 17,0 0,9 13,0 0,0 23,0 64% 64% 0,75minimum 50% 17,0 18,0 16,0 15,0 16,0 14,0 0,3 8,0 20,0 50% 50% 0,50

Date RH °C Temp Air

°C Temp Air (Day)


DIF Temp Air

°C Temp Plant


°C Temp Plant

(Night)

DIF Temp Plant

VPD kPa

PAR light sum

(moles/m2/day)

Day lenght (hours)

°C Temp Soil

m³/m³ VWC EC5

m³/m³ VWC GS3

mS/cm EC Bulk

29-10-2018 75% 14,1 14,6 13,9 0,6 14,5 14,7 14,4 0,3 0,4 2,3 8,3 15,2 0% 51% 0,730-10-2018 73% 14,0 14,1 14,0 0,1 14,4 14,2 14,5 -0,2 0,5 1,2 7,5 15,0 0% 55% 0,731-10-2018 68% 15,9 18,6 14,3 4,3 15,8 17,6 14,7 2,9 0,6 6,3 9,0 16,3 0% 52% 0,71-11-2018 77% 15,0 16,7 14,2 2,5 15,2 16,4 14,6 1,8 0,4 3,1 7,8 15,8 0% 44% 0,72-11-2018 72% 15,8 18,8 14,0 4,9 15,5 17,5 14,3 3,2 0,5 7,1 9,0 16,2 0% 51% 0,73-11-2018 65% 15,3 17,7 13,9 3,7 15,2 17,0 14,1 2,9 0,6 6,7 9,0 15,9 0% 53% 0,74-11-2018 67% 15,7 18,1 14,3 3,7 15,5 17,2 14,5 2,7 0,5 6,3 8,8 16,1 0% 45% 0,7

71% 15,1 16,9 14,1 2,8 15,2 16,4 14,4 1,9 0,5 4,7 8,5 15,8 0% 50% 0,7

GREENSENSE WEEK VIEW DASHBOARD

DAILY VALUES

THRESHOLDS

29-10-2018 4-11-2018

Morel Demo trials 2019


CALENDER WEEK 35 -

Thresholds RH °C Temp Air

°C Temp Air (Day)


DIF Temp Air

°C Temp Plant


°C Temp Plant

(Night)

DIF Temp Plant

VPD kPa

PAR light sum

(moles/m2/day)

Day lenght (hours)

°C Temp Soil

m³/m³ VWC EC5

m³/m³ VWC GS3

mS/cm EC Bulk

maximum 80% 20,0 22,0 18,0 22,0 24,0 20,0 1,5 18,0 26,0 78% 78% 1,00average 65% 18,5 20,0 17,0 18,5 20,0 17,0 0,9 13,0 0,0 23,0 64% 64% 0,75minimum 50% 17,0 18,0 16,0 15,0 16,0 14,0 0,3 8,0 20,0 50% 50% 0,50

Date RH °C Temp Air

°C Temp Air (Day)


DIF Temp Air

°C Temp Plant


°C Temp Plant

(Night)

DIF Temp Plant

VPD kPa

PAR light sum

(moles/m2/day)

Day lenght (hours)

°C Temp Soil

m³/m³ VWC EC5

m³/m³ VWC GS3

mS/cm EC Bulk

25-8-2019 54% 26,7 30,1 21,9 8,2 26,2 28,5 23,1 5,3 1,6 16,8 14,0 27,5 69% 44% 0,626-8-2019 59% 27,4 30,8 22,8 8,0 27,1 29,3 24,0 5,3 1,6 14,4 13,8 28,0 66% 41% 0,627-8-2019 63% 28,0 31,2 23,8 7,4 27,5 29,4 24,9 4,6 1,3 13,3 13,7 28,6 69% 41% 0,628-8-2019 70% 24,6 26,4 22,3 4,1 25,4 26,8 23,7 3,2 1,1 13,6 13,5 26,0 72% 52% 0,729-8-2019 70% 21,6 23,2 19,6 3,6 23,1 24,4 21,5 2,9 1,0 12,2 13,5 23,4 66% 50% 0,630-8-2019 67% 21,1 24,1 17,1 7,0 21,8 23,9 19,1 4,8 1,0 11,6 13,7 22,6 68% 54% 0,731-8-2019 64% 22,8 26,7 17,9 8,8 22,9 25,4 19,6 5,8 1,1 10,5 13,5 23,6 74% 58% 0,7

64% 24,6 27,5 20,8 6,7 24,9 26,8 22,3 4,5 1,2 13,2 13,7 25,7 69% 49% 0,6

GREENSENSE WEEK VIEW DASHBOARD

DAILY VALUES

THRESHOLDS

25-8-2019 31-8-2019

Morel Demo trials 2019

Date

25-8-2019 57% okay 3 high 1 low 0 okay 0 none26-8-2019 53% okay 3 high 1 low 0 okay 2 medium27-8-2019 55% okay 2 medium 0 none 0 okay 2 medium28-8-2019 62% okay 1 low 0 none 0 okay 0 none29-8-2019 58% okay 0 none 0 none 0 okay 0 none30-8-2019 61% okay 1 low 0 none 0 okay 0 none31-8-2019 66% okay 2 medium 0 none 0 okay 3 high

4-9-2019

Root disease risk levelSoil moisture level

Next watering cycle:

Nutrient uptake level Botrytis risk levelCalcium deficiency risk


“In the past growers had green thumbs, Successful future growers will have square eyes!”

-Eric Forschelen-

THANK YOU

Data driven growing makes sense and is no science fiction


For more info please contact

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Sense or nonsense ? Science or science fiction · I. Light is needed for photosynthesis II. No light is needed for respiration III. Speed of photosynthesis and respiration is driven