Highly Successful Open Day

Over 70 delegates attended a one day symposium on ‘The potential of spectrally modifying greenhouse covers in horticulture’ held in conjunction with the Centre for Horticulture and Landscape at the University of Reading and supported by BPI and Haygrove Tunnels. This international event not only attracted visitors from all over the UK, but from afar a field as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Uganda, Greece, France and Ireland.

Delegates were treated to a series of presentations of eminent researchers that have worked on spectral filters for over a decade, including Prof. Paul Hadley, Dr Fred Davis and Dr James Carew. They discussed their work on disease control, plant growth regulation, chemical properties of plastics and soft fruit production. Indeed much of this work has led to the development of industry standard films such as ‘Luminance THB’.

Dr Carew commented that he had been using Luminance THB for over 3 years on his ever-bearer strawberry crop. He commented ‘Luminance THB was the right film for my plants due the reduction in ambient temperature by the film’. Other work at Reading has shown that very high temperatures have been linked to thermo-dormancy in this species and a potential reduction in fruit yield.

Other speakers included John Berry of Haygrove tunnels, who discussed the importance of controlling temperatures in soft fruit. John also demonstrated that potential of different BPI films in reducing ambient temperature by up to 7°C during this seasons hot spell on their farm.

Stephen Cater from Needham Growers also spoke on the ornamental industries perspective on spectral filters and their potential. He also conducted some work on his site with ‘Solatrol’ a growth control film which filters out the far red light that makes plants become leggy, so producing a more compact plant. The trial was conducted using a standard commercial treatment of B-Nine growth regulator compared to ‘Solatrol’ on 9 species. The plants under the ‘Solatrol’ produced plants of a similar height to the growth regulator treated, however with improved quality such as no spray halo that is a hallmark of chemically treated plants. These results Stephen commented were ‘phenomenal’.

Richard Henbest and Mark Fletcher of BPI also gave the audience an update on new developments and ongoing trials of potential improved films. Richard was also able to pass on some words of caution to advisors on the difficulties in measuring light transmission under diffuse conditions.

The afternoon session was a visit to the trial facilities at Reading to see new films under evaluation from BPI and a demonstration by Dr Davis on the chemical properties of films and demonstrating the potential of fluorescence in films for increasing crop yield.

BPI would like to thank the staff at Reading for all their hard work in organising what was a highly successful and enjoyable day.


DATE: 09/09/2003