PRODUCTION


Gerbera seeds ready to detach.


Gerbera seedling on planting day.


centration of feeding solution with the dissolved oxygen. These chemical-physical-conditions allow constant contact of the “soil solution” with the “hairy roots.” The hairy roots are sensitive plant cells, locat- ed on the secondary roots; they are responsible for absorbing the soil solution.


is the “salinity fronts” developed below the drippers, around the soil-wetted-volumes. The growers are not aware of this developing process. When a grower identifi es salinity symptoms in the above-soil plant organs, it is already too late to avoid it.


3


The SPA system is changing the gravity-water- movement in the soil/media to capillary-water- movement. The capillary-water-movement increas- es the area surface of the feeding solution, enriches it with dissolved oxygen, and creates optimal condi- tions for the secondary roots’ growth.


Epilog: Wise Agriculture will win


The above historical errors lower the level of plant activity and do not allow us to utilize the advantages of new varieties. Instead, the conventional agricul- ture continuously contaminates our drinking wa-


Salinity phenomenon is related to the grav- ity-water-movement created by conven- tional dripping systems. The long-term result


SPA seedlings, 34 days after planting.


Elongation of SPA fl ower stems, 34 days after planting.


Secondary roots system of SPA seedlings.


ter. The SPA system managed our gerbera breeding greenhouse for nine years; long enough to verify that it is able to create ideal growing conditions for the secondary roots. It proves that the SPA system with its sensors, serves our intensive plants physiologi- cally, practically, and economically:


• It enables them to control themselves in a way that increases their productivity and quality with reduced quantities of water and fertilizers.


• It cancels the practice of irrigation quantities advised in order to rinse-out the surplus minerals supplied by the growers.


• It minimizes the contamination of the world aquifers.


Dr. Yoseph Shoub is an agronomist, plant physiologist, and gerbera breeder. You can reach him at gerbera1@zahav.net.il


* Sustainable Precision Agriculture (SPA) System is manufactured by AutoAgronom Israel Ltd.


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