Poinsettias , the classical ruby red Christmas plant , are a species that often rely on the use of plant ontogeny retardant ( PRG ) to control they attain the optimum number and size of bract at the height of their marketing season .
With protective environmental lawmaking threatening to foreshorten the utilization of such PGR chemical substance handling , UK - establish NIAB East Malling Research ( EMR ) have been explore the superpower of specialized irrigation regimen to achieve like results , but with environmentally friendly outcomes .
The ongoing ADHB funded research projection ( currently in yr 2 ) is get space at Neame Lea Nursery in Spalding , Lincolnshire , and uses shortfall irrigation systems based on Delta - T Devices ’s SM150 T dirt moisture sensors , GP2 Data Logger , and DeltaLINK - Cloud removed access datum service , to precisely ensure growing term .
The EMR team , result by head of harvest scientific discipline and production system Dr Mark Else have discover that by stressing the plant through cautiously designed patterns of shortage irrigation , they can closely replicate the effect of PRG coating . This Modern approach allow the cultivator similar controller of the poinsettia ’s growth and helps to ensure that the plants are the optimal size , shape and healthiness for the abbreviated and critical Christmas mart .
Throughout their outgrowth cycle per second the poinsettia plants are moved to various plane section of the glasshouse ( on flood / drain palette ) reckon on their stage and country of emergence – allowing the grower to further organise , ascendancy and fine tune the process of achieving the best possible flora at exactly the right time .
The Delta - T Devices equipment used in the research enable gamey preciseness measure of soil moisture to inform the automated irrigation decision . In addition , their DeltaLINK - Cloud online information Robert William Service allows researcher and agriculturist to consider all relevant labor data remotely ( at any time ) on chic phone , laptop or pad of paper , via colorful and accessible splashboard graphics .
More than two hundred and fifty thousand poinsettia plants at Neame Lea Nursery have been involved in the projection to date , and the results have been highly encouraging .
Dr Martin Goodchild of Delta - T Devices said , “ We are entranced to solve with NIAB EMR on this groundbreaking test for Euphorbia pulcherrima – and are proud that our products are enabling the rating of novel and more environmentally friendly growing methods . This trial , which employs “ Internet of Things ” engineering , return exact , tangible - prison term grease wet data to nomadic gimmick . This feature of speech is likely to become an invaluable irrigation direction tool for growers in the future , potentially fall industry reliance on chemical growth retardants . ”
For more information : Delta - T Devices130 Low RoadBurwellCambridgeCB25 0EJUnited KingdomT : +44 ( 0)1638 742922F : +44 ( 0)1638 743155[email protected]www.delta - t.co.uk
