US: Clemson scientist seeks a new path for growing
Source: HD.com
Bottom line is, if people are not willing, ready and excited about being a player in the field of controlled environment agriculture, then the dream stops there." © Clemson University Reducing America's dependence on imports At the Coastal REC, Wechter and his team are developing Asian long cucumbers and Persian-style Beit Alpha cucumbers specifically adapted for high-temperature greenhouse production systems. Using facilities on the University's main campus, this work focuses on creating plants with the correct shape and growth habits for greenhouse production, while also making them more resistant to diseases such as powdery mildew that can threaten greenhouse crops.
Unlike conventional agriculture, hydroponic greenhouse systems recycle nutrient-rich water, using up to 80% less water than traditional field production. "Inside a controlled environment, growers can shield crops from heavy rain, extreme heat, unexpected cold snaps and many disease pressures that devastate outdoor crops," he said.
One Canadian company operates roughly 120 acres of greenhouse cucumbers, with most of its production shipped directly into U.S. "CEA production is 20 to 200 times more productive than the same vegetable crop grown on ground," Wechter said.
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.
