கொஞ்சம் தேநீர், கொஞ்சம் சிரிப்பு, கொஞ்சம் Floriculture

Breeders

Floriculture field பற்றி குட்டி குட்டியாய் group-ல் ஏதாவது அவ்வப்போது எழுதினால் என்ன என்று முன்பிருந்தே யோசனையாய் இருந்தது; தொடர்ந்த தயக்கமும் இருந்தது; போரடிக்குமோ என்று!

ஜெயமோகனையே (!?) சகித்துக் கொண்டாயிற்று; இது எம்மாத்திரம்!!! அதோடு, கொஞ்சமாக just information-ஆகவாவது யாருக்காவது உபயோகமாகாதா என்ன?...

Floriculture எனும் சமுத்திரத்தின் கரையில் நின்று கால் நனைத்துக் கொண்டு, உள்ளங்கையில் நீரை அள்ளிப்பார்க்கிறேன் - ஆவலோடு, ஆச்சர்யத்தோடு, வியப்போடு, காதலோடு!

1. Flower Breeders

In Rose Cut Flower Industry, 99% of the varieties grown internationally are patented to breeders; there are around/more than 40 to 50 breeders in Roses itself; Growers have to pay Royalty to the breeders if they want to grow particular breeder's variety.

Royalty amount is based on per ha basis or plant count basis (Approx. Royalty amount will be around 40000 to 45000 Euros/ha; it depends on breeder and popularity of the variety.

Breeders spent lot of money on developing new varieties; Royalty is the only income source for them. Most of the Indian Growers do not pay Royalty!.

Some Flower Importing Countries insist on Royalty Certificate (which is issued by the breeder to grower after the payment); without RC we can't export to all the countries.

Life of a variety in Market is fluctuate; good variety remains 6 to 7 years; some varieties disappears from market within 1 or 2 years. So Breeders always active and releases 10 to 15 new varieties every year. New varieties to be tested in three different altitudes (because colour, bud size and length of the stem differs with growing altitude).

High Altitude - 2300 mtrs and above Medium Altitude - 1800 mtrs Lower Altitude - 1200 to 1500 mtrs

There are three kinds of Cut Flower Roses basically.

1. Hybrid Teas - big bud size suitable for high and medium altitudes 2. Intermediates - medium budsize suitable for all altitudes 3. Sweet hearts - small budsize suitable for lower altitudes

At present in our farm, we are growing 115 varieties commercially in 70 ha. Also we have a 0.5 ha of trial house where we are growing 400 trial varieties of 12 different breeders.

Gerbera

As a production man, Gerbera is one of my favorite flower crops to grow; grown Gerbera commercially for 16 years from 1995 to 2011. Last three years (after coming to Kenya), I am out of touch with the crop.

The Gerbera production field looks more beautiful with various colours; Rose commercial Greenhouses/fields look only with buds since Roses will be harvested at cut stage 1 to 1.5 (Roses will be harvested depends on cut stage; cut stage will be decided based on market and destination); we can't see open flowers of Roses in commercial Greenhouses.

But Gerberas will be harvested fully open flowers; fields look awesome; some about Gerbera growing....

1. Plants mostly produced/multiplied by Tissue Culture.

2. Lot of breeders are there in Gerbera; Florist, Terra Nigra, Schreurs, Preesman, Albani...

3. Beds are made in width of 60 to 65 cm; height 1.5 to 2 feet; 2 row planting; plant spacing 30 cm.

4. We can get production around 200 to 260 flowers/sqm/year.

5. Like Carnation, Gerbera also susceptible to soil borne fungus types like Pythium, Phytopthora, Verticillium and Rhisoctonia. Immediately after planting, a systemic fungicide drenching is necessary on planting day. After a week we can repeat the same; afterwards once in a month fungicide drenching should be compulsory on beds. Also a top spray of fungicide - once in a month.

6. Major pests are Leaf miners, Caterpillars (Spodoptera & Heliathis), Thrips, bit of mites...

7. Minimum 2 years we can maintain the crop; if we care, we can pull the life of the crop upto four years.

8. Maintaining bed moisture is a critical factor; should not be wet; should not be more dry also.

9. 30 to 50% black shade nets can be used to regulate light and temp.; responds very well with net regulation.

10. Good quality criteria for Gerbera flowers are dia of 8 to 10 cm and length of 60 cm+.

11. Inland transport is fine; bit long distance transport is a challenge (we have to give more care; may increase the transport cost by using the special type of boxes).

12. Gerbera flowers suits best with arrangements and bouquets with awesome colours availability.

13. Market price will be fluctuating always; we have to play with volume of production.

Cannations

During 1996, when I was in Manjushree, we were having three Rose varieties - Tineke (Tea Hybrid), Baronesse & Wendylight (thornless variety). Soon Baronesse & Wendylight has become outdated in the export market. Then we had gone for new varieties that time - Naranga, Milwa, Skyline and Movie Star.

Also we thought better to diversify into other flower crops other than Roses; then we had gone for Carnations.

What a flower crop!; one of my close to heart crop; love this crop much. I was associated with Carnations for more than 11 years. Carnations, Lillies, Chrysanthemums, Gerberas - I am proud to be friends with them and continuing in my career.

Carnations - few basic briefs....

1. Beds - height 1 to 1.5 ft; width 75 cm; 4 rows planting/bed; plant spacing 15 x 15 cm.

2. Better not to go for high density planting since as Gerbera, Carnations also susceptible to soil fungus.

3. Before planting, beds are should be ready with support structure; stems we can get length of 60 to 90 cm; should be supported with 4 to 5 layers of supporting; each and every stem should be supported. Ready made square netted supports are available in the market.

4. Better price in the market than Gerbera and will not be highly fluctuating.

5. Life of the crop minimum 2 years (cultural practices are very important to maintain life of the crop); we can pull even third year also.

6. Average yield - 190 to 220 flowers/sqm/year (approx. 10 flowers/plant/year).

7. Major breeders - B & B, Selecta, Kooij...

8. Major pests & diseases - Mites, Thrips, Caterpillars, Pythium, Phytopthora, Verticillium...

9. After planting, very good care should be taken for first month since the initial mortality rate will be high; systemic fungicide drenching should be regular with 15 days interval.

10. Calcium deficiency can cause stems brittle and tend to break easily; also boron is essential for good shape of flower head; these both elements can be sprayed foliar also in support.

Fertigation

Fertigation in Floriculture is a very very interesting subject.

1. Roses need slightly acidic soil - pH 6 to 6.5; Carnations - bit more acidic soil - pH 5.8 to 6.3.

2. The best Irrigation source water should be with EC of less than 0.5; then only we can prepare a good regime of fertilisers; if the original water EC is 0.5, we can add fertilisers of EC 1 to 1.5; then the feeding solution EC will be with 1.5 to 2.0. If the original water has more than 1.0 EC, fertigation will be a bit tough exercise.

3. During growing period,bed soil EC should not be more than 1.8 or 2; optimum is 0.9 to 1.2. pH should be below 6.5.

4. If the Irrigation water pH is more than 7.0, the excess bicarbonates (HCO3) in water can be neutralized with acids.

Majorly three acids can be used - Nitric, Sulphuric and Phosphoric; can be used either separate or mixed. Amount of Bicarbonates present in the water must be known from analysis. It should be less than 90 PPM; if it is more it should be neutralized with acid.

Since Nitric acid (HNO3) has one 'H', it may require more qty than Sulphuric acid (H2SO4 - having 2 'H') and Phosphoric acid (H3PO4 - having 3 'H').

For eg. if we want to use HNO3 to neutralize HCO3, the calcultion for qty of Nitric acid required goes as below....

1 m.mole of HNO3 ===> 1 m.mole of H+ 1 m.mole of H+ =====> 1 m.mole of Hco3- 1 m.mole of HNO3 ===> 1 m.mole of Hco3- m.mole * Mol wt = PPM 1 m.mole of HNO3 ===> 63 Mol.WT (63 ppm) 63 m.grams HNO3 ====> 1 m.mole of Hco3- If conc of Nitric acid is 60% 105 m.grams HNO3 ====> 1 m.mole of Hco3- To neutralize 1 m.mole of Bicarbonate we require 105 mg of Nitric acid (60%).

Rose fertiliser

Given below the basic feeding ppm for Rose cut flower growing; its just as a guideline; Feeding, highly depends/varies on the growing area, altitude, soil type, pH & EC, water pH & EC, type of Rose (Standard/Spray) etc. Usually daily feeding is recommended; 6 days/week; it also depends on day today climate/weather.

Given qty - all in ppm

N (pure N; not No3) - 150 to 190 P (not P2O5) - 30 to 40 K (not K2O) - around 200 Mg - 30 Ca - 100 Fe - 0.6 Boron - 0.3 Mn & Zn - 0.4 Cu & Mo - 0.1 ppm

ABC Tanks system for feeding

1. In Green house (we can call as polyhouse also) cut flower growing, 99% fields will be fed with driplines. Either Katif or inline. For me, inline drippers are better; Katif buttons may require more maintenance.

2. Generally, to avoid precipitation issues (as Maha mentioning about P fertilisers), A & B tanks is being followed. A tank is called "Ca & Iron tank" - CaNo3 & Iron will be mixed in A tank. B tank is called "Micros , Mg & P" tank - Phosphorous fertilisers, Mg fertilisers & Micros (either direct Sulphate forms or chelated forms) will be mixed in B tank.

C tank is optional; is called acid tank; acids will be mixed in this.

When feeding, from all the three tanks conc. solution will be proportionately mixed with Irrigation water (We usually inject and mix fertilisers in large Silo tanks based on required regime, pH & EC; from Silo tanks we pump to Greenhouses).

3. Amide form of Nitrogen is not used (95%) in Greenhouses. Acidic fields - Ammonium form of fertilisers to be avoided; there is a ratio requirement how much of "NH4" N & "No3" N is required for flower crops.

4. With solenoid valves in the field, entire feeding will be controlled by and handled by a computer in the office/room; we can check ongoing feeding in fields from the office.

Now a days, lot of automated fertikit systems are available in the market like Gelcon, Netafim, Bosman, Hoogendoorn etc...; even feeding computer can be connected with sensors in the field which sense the temp, humidity, moisture level of beds; based on the climate, feeding will start/stop automatically. Any malfunction/error will be known by alarm.

5. Na (Sodium) level in water is important; it should be less than 60 PPM; if it is high we have to think of purifying the water apart from reducing Na with acids & Gypsum.

We have our Borewell water Na is 120 to 130 ppm; though we can manage the feeding with acids, after some qty we can't use more acids; we are planning to put an RO system (Riverse Osmosis) to get clean water (Most of the growers are already having in this area).

Israel is famous for RO units; Permionic from Gujarat also makes RO units. Depends on the output water volume needed the RO unit cost varies; for 60 cubic meter unit it may cost around USD 200000 (again it depends on what type of membranes we use in RO); various types of membranes available in market. Iron level in water is important to decide the type of RO unit since it affects the membranes (it should be less than 0.1 ppm).

Rose Breeders

I don't know much about Rose breeding; we have rented 0.5 ha Greenhouse area for a breeder (Kordes) for doing their field trials.

1. The initial numbered varieties' trial will be taken in small scale; may be 12 to 20 plants/variety; small scale trials will be done mostly in coco media; soil is not preferred for this. (we have to take quick observations/decisions on this trials).

2. Promising vars from small scale will be shifted to medium scale with 100 to 200 plants for more observation.

3. Good performers from medium scale will be taken to large scale with around 2000 plants (soil media); varieties will be named mostly in the phase of medium or large scale.

4. Better to clean up the variety/test properly before its release; we have a variety 'Magic Avalanche+' from breeder 'Lex+'; its basic colour is peach; but we use to get 5 to 10% of white flowers (that too they will not open fully); we called the breeder and shown; they told its because of mutation happened in wrong/negative/unwanted side! (Raj can explain this!!!).

5. We are having a variety called 'Revival' (pink) in our commercial production (breeder 'Rosen Tantau') which is having very good market; somehow in the past there was some misunderstanding happened between our Directors and Rosen Tantau; we decided not to plant any vars of Tantau in future. We have a trial var 'Pink Floyd' in our trial house which looks almost similar to Revival; PF belongs to Delbard breeder.

Our Directors decided to go for commercial planting of PF; but since it looks like Revival (stems, leaves, thorns etc), they don't want any claim/confusion from Tantau.

We sent samples of both the varieties to Holland for DNA test; after a week the result came; both are SAME!!!

IT HAPPENS!!!