Combating the challenges of precipitation
New Brunswick is a good place for horticulture, however, the production and quality of certain fruits and vegetables are limited by a number of environmental factors.
For example, the growing season in our province is characterized by frequent cloudy days and significant precipitation, which is known to be one of the main causes of transmission of plant and fruit diseases.
To help control the spread of such diseases, various pesticides are available to producers in New Brunswick.
Sheltered horticultural production
In an effort to minimize the impact of climate factors, research is being conducted at the Senator Hervé J. Michaud Experimental Farm of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in conjunction with the Really Local Harvest Co-op on new agri-ecosystems.
Yield of Mascot Tomato variety 243% higher in polytunnels
Agri-ecosystems can be used to modify a range of environmental factors, for example, temperature and precipitation. Polytunnels, rain shelters and Extenday® reflective cloth are all examples of agri-ecosystems.
Polytunnels are used to increase the daytime temperature and control the amount of water that plants receive. Rain shelters, meanwhile, have no effect on the temperature and are instead designed simply to prevent rain from soaking budding fruits and vegetables. Extenday® reflective cloth reflects light onto plants as it reaches the earth to help them grow.
Extenday® reflective cloth redirects light onto plants.
Polytunnels are helping to create faster, better yields
According to current research results, polytunnels can help to shorten the time to harvest of certain plants, including peppers and tomatoes. They have also increased the yield of these crops, reducing the incidence of disease and thereby increasing the percentage of production reaching the market.
Yield of peppers 177% higher in polytunnels.
Rain shelters have reduced the incidence of disease and increased the shelf life of raspberries. When used in combination with rain shelters, Extenday® reflective cloth has enhanced the positive effects of these devices during certain parts of the season. The exact effects of the reflective cloth on the raspberry remain under study. To date, agri-ecosystems have enabled elimination of the use of pesticides on these crops. Studies are ongoing and demonstrating great potential for producers in New Brunswick.
Yield of Red Candy tomato variety 184% higher in polytunnels.
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