CASE STUDIES ON USAGE OF

PROMINENT AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS

VIZ.,

SHADE NETS, GREENHOUSE & MULCH MATS AND THEIR

STANDARDS

SASMIRA

MOT,GOI Workshop, 18.9.08

I. USAGE OF SHADE NETS• Shade nets have special optical properties which improve the

utilization of solar radiation by agricultural crops

• Their use in Greenhouse promotes differential stimulation of desirable physiological responses, which determine the commercial value of each crop

Sunflower in natural climate Sunflower under shade net

• All season cultivation

• Premium quality of produce

• Fetches higher market price

• Lesser Crop diseases

• Easy maintenance of crops

• Increased Crop produce

• Reduces water requirement

BENEFITS

SASMIRA

Low cost – Vegetable

High cost - Floriculture

II TYPES OF GREEN HOUSE

Medium cost tunnel – Spices

SASMIRA

2.0 m2.5 m

10 m

5 m

2.0 m3 m

10 m

5 m

GREEN HOUSES

LOW COSTBamboo, Jute Cloth/UV Stabilised Plastic Film, Plastic Wires

Natural control on temp.& humidity

100 – 125

MEDIUM COSTPVC Pipes, UV Stabilised Plastic Film/ Shade net, Plastic Wires

Air circulating fans to control temp. & humidity

450 – 500

HIGH COSTMetallic frame, UV Stabilised Plastic Film/ nets, plastic wires

Systems to control and regulate temp. & humidity

1500 - 2000

TYPE

MATERIAL

FEATURES

COST (Rs./sq.m)

SASMIRA

S.N

Crop Type of Green House

Increased Yield (%)

Increased income (%)

1 Leafy Vegetable

Low Cost 50 60

2 Flowers Medium Cost

56 91

3 Tomato Low Cost 159 467

4 Other Vegetables

Low Cost Medium Cost

185290

15090

ADVANTAGES OF GREEN HOUSE USAGE FOR DIFFERENT CROPS

SASMIRA

III. USAGE OF MULCHES• Substrates used in proximity to soil to help conservation of soil

moisture and the moderation of soil temperature irrespective of climatic conditions

• Materials used for mulching– Black Plastic Film (BPM)– Nonwoven fabrics

BPM in marigold 7-micron plastic in bitter gourd

SASMIRA

BENEFITS OF MULCHING

• Moisture conservation• Maintenance of soil structure• Soil borne pathogens control

ECONOMICS OF MULCHES

• Salinity control• Better fertilizer use• Increase in yield• Weed control

S.N.

Crop Mulch Material Water Saving

%

Increase in yield %

Additional income

(‘000 Rs./ha)

Remarks

1 Banana Black plastic mulch 200 µ

50 - - ve 90 % weed control90 % coverage

2 Brinjal Black plastic mulch 50 µ

NA 44 5.0 Rainfed cropApplied after 15 days of cessation of monsoon

3 Chillies Black plastic mulch 50 µ

20 29 30.0 1 irrigation can be saved

5 Cotton Black plastic mulch 50 µ

50 20 NC Reduces salinity

6 Tomato Black plastic mulch 50 µ

44 53 14.2 98 % weed control

SASMIRA

Mulching Demonstrations SASMIRA

MOT,GOI Workshop, 18.9.08

As such there are no standards for evaluation of a Agrotextile products however the following properties of mulches are evaluated as per available general standards:

Sr. N. Test performed Test standard

1. Tensile strength IS 1969

2. UV (With % dosage for UV - A tester (CEN method –

high tropical exposure conditions) European Committee for

standardization)

3. Synthetic shadecloth AS 4174

STANDARDS FOR EVALUATION

Standards and Norm required to be developed for Indian Climatic conditions for Agrotextile products

SASMIRA

MOT,GOI Workshop, 18.9.08

SUMMARISED BENEFITS OF AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS IN PROTECTED CULTIVATION

• Increased productivity (50 - 80 %, depending upon the nature of crop)

• Premium quality of produce (increased income by 50 – 60 %)

• All season and any region cultivation of crops

• Early and even ripening of produce (more harvest cycles per year)

• Reduced water consumption (10 – 15 %)

• Minimised use of fertilizers and pesticides ( 25 – 30 %)

• Prevention of damages due to birds, insects, hail, sunburns, falling off of ripened fruits (100 % protection)

SASMIRA

MOT,GOI Workshop, 18.9.08