However, greenhouses need maintenance. It is important to check on greenhouses regularly to ensure that they are providing the right conditions for the plants to flourish. Some of the following guides were recommended by Ewan Micheals, UK, 2012.
1. Nursery Inspection: The best way to control pest in a greenhouse is to avoid bringing them into the greenhouse in the first place. This is by taking a thorough inspection of every plant being transplanted into the greenhouse to avoid pests and disease sneaking into the greenhouse. One infected plant transmits pest and disease rapidly to others.
(crop nursery)
2. Pesticide Application: Chemicals such as carbamate or biological agents are applied manually or by adopting agricultural avaiation technology (Drones) to kill or incapacitate pests.
(Drone spraying pesticide)
3. Pest Predators: If there are aphids in the greenhouse, purchasing ladyburgs and release them into the greenhouse is effective.
4. Daily observation: Sounds and holes in greenhouses are some of the signs of pests and insects in the greenhouses.
A
PEST CONTROL
GREENHOUSE MAINTENANCE
5. Sterility: Greenhouses should be regularly cleaned and sterilized. Friendly soap and warm water should be carefully used to clean the floors and counters of the greenhouses to terminate insects and pests. Annual or biannual fumigation of the greenhouses is also encouraged.
6. Painting: Aluminium greenhouses could also be painted to avoid early rusting and oxidizing. This helps to elongate the durability of the greenhouses. Polyester powders with spray paints are recommended. However, it is an expensive task.
7.The ventilation system: This should be regularly checked to oil the squeaky shutters and louvers to avoid unnecessary friction.
(A ventilated greenhouse)
8. Water tank: The water tank should be washed every few months to avoid formation of spirogyra and other dirts which may clog the hoses and obstruct water supply to the crops.
9. Water hoses: Clogged hoses may also develop cracks. Cracked hoses should be replaced while clogged ones should be unobstructed by running the water at full pressure without the cap.
A greenhouse is a shield for the crops against external attacks from pests and diseases. It is capital-intensive but the benefits that are derived from it far outweigh the cost when the proper maintenance etiquettes are observed. Maintaining a greenhouse is definitely not an easy task. On this note, the greenhouse operator must be diligently proactive against pest control, sanitation, ventilation, and the irrigation systems to maximize the greenhouse utility for crops and eventually profit maximization.
Ahmed Musa T. R&D
GREENHOUSE SANITATION
VENTILATION
IRRIGATION SYSTEM
CONCLUSION
1. Nursery Inspection: The best way to control pest in a greenhouse is to avoid bringing them into the greenhouse in the first place. This is by taking a thorough inspection of every plant being transplanted into the greenhouse to avoid pests and disease sneaking into the greenhouse. One infected plant transmits pest and disease rapidly to others.
(crop nursery)
2. Pesticide Application: Chemicals such as carbamate or biological agents are applied manually or by adopting agricultural avaiation technology (Drones) to kill or incapacitate pests.
(Drone spraying pesticide)
3. Pest Predators: If there are aphids in the greenhouse, purchasing ladyburgs and release them into the greenhouse is effective.
4. Daily observation: Sounds and holes in greenhouses are some of the signs of pests and insects in the greenhouses.
A
PEST CONTROL
GREENHOUSE MAINTENANCE
5. Sterility: Greenhouses should be regularly cleaned and sterilized. Friendly soap and warm water should be carefully used to clean the floors and counters of the greenhouses to terminate insects and pests. Annual or biannual fumigation of the greenhouses is also encouraged.
6. Painting: Aluminium greenhouses could also be painted to avoid early rusting and oxidizing. This helps to elongate the durability of the greenhouses. Polyester powders with spray paints are recommended. However, it is an expensive task.
7.The ventilation system: This should be regularly checked to oil the squeaky shutters and louvers to avoid unnecessary friction.
(A ventilated greenhouse)
8. Water tank: The water tank should be washed every few months to avoid formation of spirogyra and other dirts which may clog the hoses and obstruct water supply to the crops.
9. Water hoses: Clogged hoses may also develop cracks. Cracked hoses should be replaced while clogged ones should be unobstructed by running the water at full pressure without the cap.
A greenhouse is a shield for the crops against external attacks from pests and diseases. It is capital-intensive but the benefits that are derived from it far outweigh the cost when the proper maintenance etiquettes are observed. Maintaining a greenhouse is definitely not an easy task. On this note, the greenhouse operator must be diligently proactive against pest control, sanitation, ventilation, and the irrigation systems to maximize the greenhouse utility for crops and eventually profit maximization.
Ahmed Musa T. R&D
GREENHOUSE SANITATION
VENTILATION
IRRIGATION SYSTEM
CONCLUSION
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