Tomato growers stand to make substantial water and fertilizer savings by switching to coconut slabs as a growing medium.
In independent glasshouse trials carried out last year at PlantResearch in Made, the Netherlands, the DP Optima double-layer coconut coir slabs from Dutch Plantin were found to require 10 to 20 per cent less water and fertilizer feed than rockwool slabs of similar dimensions, while still producing the same tomato yield.
Dutch Plantin, one of the world’s leading suppliers of coconut coir for use in horticultural substrates commissioned the research.
Wim Roosen, account manager at Dutch Plantin Coir India said: “The double layer coco slab was especially developed for emerging economies in Asia and South America, or for regions where water supply is a limiting factor. We realised we had a good product, but the trial results at PlantResearch exceeded our expectations. Less water and less fertilizer mean lower costs for our customers, which is further enhanced by efficient logistics. A 40ft (12m) sea container can hold three times more coco slabs than rock wool slabs. When you take into consideration we sell more than two million of these slabs every year, that makes a huge difference.”
