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CULTIVATION TIPS ADVISIE Perilous underpressure leakage


By Con Hermans AdVisie “the mushroom growing consultants”, Heythuysen hermans@mushroomconsulting.nl


Tunnel companies with a disregard for strict hygiene are on a high road to disaster. Fortunately, most companies do devote enough time and attention to spraying and disinfecting machines, inoculation halls and the tunnels, and spend a fortune on spore fi lters. These fi lters generally have an effective catch rate of >99% of the competitors moulds most important to our sector. Despite this, during my hygiene scans on tunnel facilities I still often come across problems that have been otherwise overlooked – such as underpressure leakages. There is underpressure in the duct between the inlet fi lter and the fan. Even if there is the tiniest of openings here, so much unfi ltered air will be sucked in that the entire effect of the expensive spore fi lters will be cancelled out. These underpressure leaks are exceptionally dangerous when the climate units are installed in a central fan corridor. Air from the underpressure leakages in other tunnels can lead to cross infection of the tunnels mutually. Leaks can occur in many places – for instance worn fl exible connections, fi lters not fi tting snugly into the framework, welds that vibrations have loosened, but also ‘old’ openings that have been used to feed in steam pipes, pressure and temperature meters etc. and subsequently not been reclosed. These leaks can often be traced from the outside using smoke. Tracing leaks is easier by inspecting the unit from the inside (without a lamp) looking towards the outside. You should see light shining through the aperture (see photo). Do not forget to check the overpressure unit in the inoculation hall properly! This is one of the most important units, as it blows in large volumes of air at the most critical moment – at inoculation.


Evaporate away Pseudonomas relative Praktisch advies bij:


By Jos Hilkens AdVisie ‘the mushroom growing consultants, Herkenbosch hilkens@mushroomconsulting.nl


Photo’s: AdVisie


Compostering van A tot Z


Ziekte analyse en oplossingen


In the past months, growers have been having problems with pale yellow to yellowy brown blot- ches on the mushrooms, often appearing where the mushrooms touch. This problem is caused by a relative of the Pseudomonas bacteria, known for causing bacterial blotch. Curative control using chlorine is possible, but the cause is found in insuffi cient evaporation and/or too wet conditions in the upper layer of the casing soil during cool down, pinheading and growth of the pins. This is all connected to evaporation –a term that is not always simple to defi ne. In an ideal situation, your climate control computer will tell you how much evaporation there is in grams of moisture per m2. However, most growers have to resort to measuring the RH, air temperature and the moisture defi cit. Growers see blotches appearing on the mushrooms. So other factors, such as compost activity, moisture content and the structure of the compost and casing soil also play an important role in the evaporation process. Regarding the blotch problem discussed here, it may help to fi ll the casing soil more loosely, or order a type of casing soil that is lighter in structure. Growers who were experiencing problems saw too little activity in the compost, and at fi lling the compost was fi lled more loosely. Both ap- proaches at the start of the growing resulted in higher evaporation – and the problem of the yellow blotches was solved.


Jos Hilkens +31(0)653 31 6204


Toekomststrategie en kostprijs


Con Hermans +31(0)653 29 9396


advertisement Consulting for:


Jos Hilkens +31(0)653 31 6204


Disease analyses and control


Composting


Mushroom growing


Con Hermans +31(0)653 29 9396


www.champignonadvies.nl


www.mushroomconsulting.nl


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