AGROTEXTILES-AN EMERGING

FIELD

by

Dr. Anupam Kumar, Eshan Bansal,

Ramandeep Singh

Department Of Textile Engineering

GZS PTU CAMPUS, BATHINDA

WHAT IS AGROTEXTILES ?

Agrotextiles are special textiles intended

for use in agriculture, horticulture,

fisheries and forestry in order to boost

production, quality and protection from

adverse climatic conditions.

NEED FOR AGROTEXTEXTILES

• Global industrialisation

• Increasing population pressure

• Limited resources

–WATER

–ENERGY

• Ecological Problems

SELECTION OF AGROTEXTILE

PRODUCT

• Depends upon the type of soil

• Protection requirement of the crops

• Climatic and irrigation requirement of

the crops

CHARACTERISTICS OF

AGROTEXTILES

• Withstand solar and u.v radiations

• Resistance to micro-organisms

• High potential to retain water

• Prevent the soil from drying out

• Decrease the requirement of fertilisers,

pesticides, water

• Protects from climatic changes and its effects

RAW MATERIALS USED FOR

MANUFACTURING AGROTEXTILES

• Man-Made Fibers

–E.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester,

nylon, synthetic polymers in different forms

such as tape yarn, monofilament yarn ,

multifilament yarn

• Natural Fibers

–E.g. cotton, jute, wool etc

ADVANTAGES

• Using MMF’S

– favourable price, easy to transport and

setting up, space saving, durability etc

• Using Natural fibers

– biodegradability but has low service

life as compared to synthetics

AGROTECH PRODUCTS

• Shade nets

• Mulch mats

• Crop covers

• Anti hail nets and Bird protection nets

• Fishing nets

SHADE NETSPercentage of light that pass through the fabric

Degree of shade varies from 25% to 90 %

‘Colour shade netting’ a new concept

Modification of incident light for manipulation of plant morphology

Increase light scattering by 50% or more

Made of HDPE or polypropylene by weaving or knitting

Tough , durable, tear resistant and light weight

RECOMMENDED SHADE%

ACCORDING TO TYPE OF CROPType of Crop Recommended shading by

manufacturers

Roses, Strawberries, Gooseberries,

Tomatoes, Cucumber and fruit bearing

plants

25%

Pot and foliage plants and Cut greens,

Orchids, Anthuriums, Ginger

50%

Indoor plants, Orchids, Plantation

crops, Tea, Coffee, Cardamom

75%

Cattle sheds, Poultry houses, and vehicular

shades

95%

MULCH MATS

Covering of soil surface around the plants so as to create congential conditions for plant growth. This include

•Moisture and soil conservation

•Temperature moderation

•Salinity and weed control

Exerts a decisive effect on earliness, yield and quality of crop

Made of natural fibers such as wool and jute or MMF’S LLDPE, HDPE in the form of woven , non woven and mulch films

Thickness of mulch films is dependent upon

•Crop requirement

•Intended time for usage

Used mainly in vegetables and few fruit crops

RECOMMENDED THICKNESS VALUE

ACCORDING TO TYPE OF CROP

Thickness

(Micron)

Coverage

(sq. m. per kg)

Type of crops

7 140

Short duration crops (3 to 4 months)

25 40

50 20 Medium duration crops (11-12 months)

100 10 Long duration crops (more than 12

months)

ANTI-HAIL NETS

To protect crops like apple, litchi etc fromhails in hail prone areas and high altitudeareas like HP, J&K,UP, North-Eastern Statesetc.

Normally provided for each individual tree

Made from HDPE yarn or a combination ofHDPE monofilament and tape in knitted form

Hole size of 2*100 mm to allow the crops toreceive a minimum level of shade

GSM varies from 60 to 100

BIRD PROTECTION

NETS

To protect the crops like grapes,guava, pomegranate from hugelosses caused by birds like parrots

Optimum hole size to keepmovement of bees and to keepshade minimum i.e., around 20%

Made from Polypropylene orHDPE monofilament yarn inknitted form

Ultra light fabrics with GSMaround 25-40

Generally, Green, Blue or Whitein colour

CROP COVERSCreation of microenvironment for seedgermination and seedling growth inwinter season

Improvement in seed bed conditions

Protection against rain, hail, wind,insects etc

Available in woven, non woven or inthe form of sheet/film

Made of propylene using spun bondtechnique

Light in weight with GSM b/w 20-30

FISHING NETS

Key technical textiles used infishing industry

Transparency and invisibility inwater

High tensile strength, high knotbreaking strength, high abrasionresistance and low drag resistance

Made from nylon and HDPEtwines either in monofilament ormultifilament form

Mesh size ranges from 10 mm to2000 mm based on area andmethod of application

Potential of the market-sizing for

Agrotech in IndiaDomestic Usage 2007-2008 2012-2013

PRODUCTS

Shade nets Quantity 2000 hectare

or 2800MT

2676 hectare

or 3747MT

Value Rs 28 crore Rs 37.47 crore

Mulch mats Quantity 6000 hectare

or 900MT

35000 hectare

or 7000MT

Value Rs 12.6 crore Rs 98 crore

Crop covers Quantity 1000MT 2500MT

Value Rs 10 crore Rs 25 crore

Antihail nets and

bird protection nets

Quantity 135 MT 325 MT

Value Rs 4 crore Rs 9.75 crore

Fishing nets Quantity 15343 million MT 19582 million MT

Value Rs 442.1 crore Rs 564 crore

VALUE WISE SHARE OF VARIOUS PRODUCTS IN AGROTECH

MARKET (2009- 2010)

NATIONAL

HORTICULTURE

MISSION (NHM)

Actively promoting the usage ofagrotech products in Indiathrough subsidies and annualplans for the states

Includes the agrotech productsaimed at plant protection underthe protective cultivation in thestate-wise action plans

XI th plan envisages to expandthe area under mulching by1,00,000 hectares

XI th plan also aims at providingassistance for procuring anti-hailnets in the hail prone areas

Fig. Percentage expenditure under different components of NHM SCHEME

VALUE WISE CAGR OF AGROTECH PRODUCTS

(2009-2010 to 2012-2013)

VOLUME WISE SHARE OF EXPORTS IN THE

PRODUCTION OF TOP FIVE PRODUCTS

CONCLUSION

• Agrotextiles are essential in controlling environment for crop

production, eliminate variations in climate and generate

optimum conditions for plant growth.

• The growth of this segment depends upon the performance of

agricultural sector, on awareness and acceptance of these

products by the farming community.

• The subsidies extended by the NHM will continue to play a

crucial role in increasing the consumption of these products.

• Centre Of Excellence (COE) for Agrotextiles have been

established to promote and develop agrotextile.