Alstoemeria (BO-25.11-001-020)

After one year of dry air distribution in Alstroemeria it is shown that it can effectively lower the vapour deficit between the leaves. It resulted in a decrease of leaf tip damage of 70% compared to the reference, but not to a decrease of spontaneously broken stems. The research is conducted in practice at Hoogenboom Alstroemeria on 1000 m 2 within a larger greenhouse compartment planted with the variety ‘Primadonna’. The research is initiated on request of the national committee of Alstroemeria and financed by the programme ‘Kas als Energiebron”; a cooperation of the ministry of EL&I and Productschap Tuinbouw. Wageningen UR has conducted the research with an air distribution system of 8 m3/m2 from supplier Lekhabo. The dry air was distributed in the crop by two transparent air tubes. Climate could not be controlled in the research area separate from the reference, therefore more dry air was required than expected, which is contradictive with energy saving. Growers that want to use dry air to either to prevent leaf tips or to save energy will have to find a balancebetween these two benefits that partly contradict. Both advantages are required to make the investment profitable. It iscalculated that nursery’s with a relatively small heat and power cogeneration and greenhouses that are already equipped with a second screen can probably profitably invest in a simple and small capacity dry air distribution system.