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Crop protection & disinfection
Hygiene protocols
Groundcover
Hygiene protocol for cultivation on groundcover
Author: Jasper
Verhoeven | Latest update: 30-10-2019
Hygiene is a most important factor in horticulture: with the help of various hygiene measures, we need to prevent bacteria, fungi and viruses from entering the farm or from being left behind during crop changes. The hygiene protocol for ground cloth/cover crops will help you with this process! This protocol provides you with the steps that need to be taken for optimal cleaning and disinfection during cultivation, and other methods that should be used during cultivation.
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Activities | Explanatory notes |
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Watering system cleaning
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Clean the watering system with chlorine bleach and nitric
acid (if necessary),
see procedure.
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Watering system removal
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Remove the dripper system (dripper hoses) to be able to follow the procedure below (if necessary)
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Mechanical cleaning
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Remove the dripper system (dripper hoses) to be able to follow the procedure below (if necessary)
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Sweeping
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Sweep the ground cloth clean (if necessary)
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Algae treatment
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If algae are present, spray the cloth with
Menno ter Forte
for use of this solution: 0.2 litres per m2)
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Ground cloth cleaning
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Spray the cloth with Hortisept Clean
1 - 3 % (depending on level of contamination) Rinse clean by spraying plenty of water before this product dries.
Hortisept Clean Plus is a foaming variation that can be applied via a manual disinfection sprayer or other foam cleaning device (such as the Boons V unit). (Treatment with Hortisept is perfectly suited for the removal of dead algae)
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Cleaning check
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Before disinfection, check that the ground cloth (and the irrigation mat) are cleaned properly!
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Ground cloth disinfection (without irrigation mat) |
After cleaning, soak the ground cloth in a solution of Menno florades.
(Directions: 0.2 litres of liquid per m2) When preparing a Menno florades solution, the pH drops to values < 3.5. The product is active up to a pH of up to 4.5. Use pH test strips under the ground cloth to check that the solution has reached everywhere.
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Ground cloth disinfection (with irrigation mat)
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After cleaning, soak the ground cloth with a solution of Menno florades. (Direction: 1.0 - 2.0 litrs of liquid per m2) When preparing a Menno florades solution, the pH drops to values < 3.5. The product is active up to a pH of up to 4.5. Use pH test strips under the irrigation mat to check that solution has reached everywhere.
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Rehydration
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Always add
Aquagro L
to the irrigation water to be able to achieve proper (re)hydration of the potting soil or substrate.
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Please note:
the recommendations in this protocol are based on approvals of
products in the Netherlands.
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Whitepaper: Crop rotation - Finish clean, start clean .png) Your new crop infected with pests and diseases after the crop rotation? That's a complete disaster! You can prevent this with the right hygiene measures. In this whitepaper you will find a step-by-step plan to start your crop clean.
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More information about the groundcover hygiene protocol
Do you have questions about the groundcover hygiene protocol, or would you like tailor-made advice? Please contact disinfection specialist Jasper Verhoeven using the form below. You will receive a response as soon as possible - on weekdays even within 24 hours.
 About Jasper Verhoeven
Jasper Verhoeven, product specialist disinfection, is the first point of contact for
growers when it comes to hygiene. "Customised advice has become increasingly
more important, due to the risen demand for hygiene measures in horticulture and
the associated challenges. Every time, I see it as a challenge to help a grower
to create the ultimate situation at his enterprise."
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