New ‘non-soil-bound’ cultivation systems for nursery stock, perennials and flowers

Nursery growers are used to growing their trees and perennials in containers or pots. Ornamental shrubs, conifers, part of the perennials, and roses are being grown in this way since the 1970’s. But new, innovative systems have recently been developed. 

Advantages of ‘non-soil-bound’ cultivation

‘Non-soil-bound’ cultivation has several advantages. First of all, growers are no longer facing soil-bound diseases. And in addition, growers have control over their crops: growth regulation is easier, and water, nutrients and plant protection products can be used more efficiently, which in turn results in fewer losses to the environment.

And there are more positive points: labour conditions improve because work can be carried out at normal working height. And labour can better be spread over the year because the new system makes growers independent of the season: crops can be planted and sold throughout the year.

Economically profitable

Such a new cultivation system must of course be profitable and practical. The scientists are therefore testing different systems such as gutters, trays, pot-in-pot, and substrate beds. The important question is whether products grown in the new system have at least the same quality as soil-grown crops. And the development of systems with efficient water utilisation is another important point. The scientists are also testing new ‘non-soil-bound’ cultivation systems for perennials and summer flowers.

This research with nursery stock, summer flowers and perennials is part of a larger project in which the scientists are also investigating how other crop groups can be grown is a ‘non-soil-bound’ fashion.