can also be supplied with a simple on/off operation without a computer, which makes an even cheaper investment. On the other hand, we generally install the lorry system ourselves. The history of this system started with the develop- ment of our spraying arm on a watering tree, later installed on a lorry. The first fully automa- tic watering systems were installed some 20 years ago. With a different nozzle configuration it can also be used with tray growing systems, even if there is limited space between the trays. At the coming Dutch Mushroom Days we hope to be able to show a new control computer, which we will be using in addition to the tried and trusted Fancom systems.”
Vullings: WSS One of our earlier editions detailed the history and 50 year anniversary of Vullings in Horst. Jan Arts, director of Vullings Systemen BV, filled us in on developments since then. “The test facility next to our work place is ready. As a test room, it will be used to trial a variety of products, but the space is operational. The water profile meter, to measure the moisture content of casing soil, has unfortunately not been fully developed. Its development will be taken further by an American manufacturer. We wanted to be able to monitor how much water was added to, but also released by, the casing soil so we could create a good picture of the evaporation process. The sensors, and our Water Supply System, that uses spraying lorries with flat spray nozzles, are being tested by Jos Cox and Coen Verkooijen, so we can monitor both a manual and mechanised farm. We want to find out whether watering based on measured moisture values will be possible in the future. We are going to develop our own software components for this, which will be used along-
After filling,
applying water evenly over the entire growing surface in the room is
paramount, and the watering
system has to be chosen
accordingly.
side the Van Boxtel software. Using our own system, which can regulate the frequency and drive speed, growers can adjust the settings and spray the required volume of water in a single session in the entire room. It can also be controlled via an app. Our water profile meter can be taken along to customers to help optimise the water distribution pattern.”
Netafim: flood irrigation A relatively new development is installing flexible pipes in the casing soil so the casing can be irrigated without wetting the mushrooms. This system has already been tested in the past by various companies, but without long-lasting success or any follow-up. Some years ago, Netafim – a company based in Israel with subsidiaries all over the world – installed a system at a mushroom farm called Matzae, located in Zarid close to the border with Leba- non. The trials turned out to be such a success that the system has now also been installed at Paul van de Berg’s farm in Boekel. Van de Berg is also one of the owners of Wankum Champignon in Germany where this drip irrigation system has also been installed in two growing rooms. On his own farm, the system is in six of the 12 rooms. One room with the system, and one without the Netafim system, is filled each week for good comparison. But what actually is the system? Paul van de Berg: “At filling, we pull eight, evenly spread pipes per bed into the rooms at the same time as the compost and casing soil. When the beds are all filled, we attach connection pieces at the front and rear of the beds. At the front of the rooms, we run a flexible system with pressure meters and a water meter from the corridor and connect it to the existing spray pipes using a T-piece. We spray one row of shelves each time. You can’t really call it spraying, more like flood irrigation, as the water is delivered straight into the casing soil. With earlier systems, that started irrigating immediately, you tended to typically see wet patches in the casing, but not with this system. Each opening in the pipe is fitted with a filter that only lets water pass at a certain pressure. No water drips afterwards either at low pressure when the system is deactivated. The system does have to be vented each time after filling, to ensure uniform water distribution. After filling, it takes about two hours of work to connect everything properly per growing room. If the rooms were much longer, the work load would be the same, as the pipes are already pulled into the room at filling.”
Arjan van Dooren, grower at Paul van de Berg’s farm: “The biggest difference is better quality in the third flush.”
Conventional spraying installation Understandably, growing is differently to the usual procedures. Van de Berg continues: “What
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