Extending the life of natural pest-control compounds is opening new options for greenhouse growers
Source: HD.com
Extending the life of natural pest-control compounds is opening new options for greenhouse growers Natural pest-management compounds such as essential oils and pheromones can offer useful biological control options, but their volatility can limit persistence. "In a greenhouse, that weathering factor is largely removed, so the application can be simpler and more efficient, while still giving growers the same extended, predictable release." © Platypus Ecodesign Reducing repeat applications For greenhouse growers, controlled release could reduce the frequency of product replacement or reapplication.
She adds that this can translate into approximately three times the use time per unit, around 65% less active ingredient consumed over a full season and close to 24% lower direct product costs. For a grower, that means placing the trap or diffuser at the start of the season and not having to think about it again." © Platypus Ecodesign Labour, compliance and product development The operational benefits extend beyond the amount of active ingredient used.
"A single placement that lasts the whole season removes those extra rounds of labour entirely." She also points to residue considerations for high-value greenhouse crops destined for export markets, where tightening maximum residue level requirements can influence crop-protection decisions. As more of these actives become commercially viable at the reliability level growers actually need, residue-free, fully biodegradable protection stops being a niche or premium choice and starts becoming a realistic default for greenhouse production." She invites manufacturers and distributors looking to upgrade an existing biological product, or bring a new one to market faster, to explore the PlatyForm technology.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
