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WATERING


installation so that we are certain the system works properly. As the system is deceptively simple, some growers installed similar systems of static pipes and nozzles, but ‘home-made’ systems cannot match our system in effective- ness. This has given the pipe system a reputa- tion of not being able to distribute water as well as spraying lorries that work along the sides of the beds, but I dare to claim that our system gives a 95% consistent water delivery. We install a new pump that produces a minimum of 5 bar pressure at the end of each pipe and the right combination of pipes, nozzles and valves that drain water from the pipes at the end of each watering session. This water can be re-used. We are continuing to develop the system. For example, we are testing water distribution over the bed with our new systems at trials with Gerard Fegan and Sean Murphy in Northern Ireland. We can also install the computer program, and you can operate the watering system using an app on your smartphone.” A huge benefit of the system is that it contains no moving parts except for the pump, and it allows for picking trolleys and other equipment to be left in place in the growing rooms during spraying. Each time the growing room is filled, you should check whether there are any blocked or missing nozzles. The water distribution pattern is fairly good, although it does not match that of spraying lorries along the sides of the beds. The system also creates a very fine droplet, almost a mist, which clings to the mushrooms longer than larger droplets that roll off easily. It can therefore sometime take longer for mushrooms to dry after spraying. It is advisable to deactivate the fan during spraying, but this can also be automated via the control system. This pipe system is generally cheaper than other systems.


Dofra: AWS


Dofra has been manufacturing watering systems for the mushroom growing sector for decades. Dofra was recently acquired by FTNON, a Dutch company that has been developing and produ- cing a wide range of equipment for the food industry worldwide for more than 50 years. FTNON stands for Food Technology Noord Oost Nederland, while Dofra is an abbreviation of Douven Frans, the founder of Dofra and father of Henk Douven, who still works for the company on a freelance basis. Dofra director Frank Verschuren explains more. “FTNON has a worldwide network of distributors that we as Dofra can benefit from. The focus of FTNON is more on manufacturing machines for processing leafy vegetables and pet food production. Together we can accelerate our development in those sectors, as Dofra produces specific


12 MUSHROOM BUSINESS


▲ A Vullings spray arm in action at their test facility.


machines that were not already included in FTNON’s portfolio. FTNON is also a lot bigger, so Dofra can benefit from its expertise and interna- tional network. Mushroom growers will still know where to find us. Dofra is a renowned name in that sector, and we will continue constructing watering systems, picking lorries, scissor lorries and all the other equipment in our existing range. After all, the mushroom sector accounts for 25% of our turnover.” Dofra currently offers two watering systems. Verschu- ren: “We product two types of Automatic Watering System (AWS), a pipe AWS with spray nozzles above the beds and a lorry-based AWS with mobile spraying lorries that spray the beds from the sides using our specific spray arm featuring the orange flood nozzles. The pipe system is usually cheaper, but that is not always the case in the long growing rooms common in the Netherlands. Water distribution across the beds is always better with a lorry, but we want to offer both systems. The pipe system is often offered as a less expensive option, where the customer can arrange installation. The system


Is a conventional spraying system necessary alongside the pipe irrigation systems?


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