Category: Articles

What You Can’t See Can Hurt You and Your Bumblebees!

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud

The Importance of Monitoring Natural UV Light Levels in Your Greenhouse

Authors: Dr. Fadi Al-Daoud1, Sharon Kitur1, and Dr. Caroline Strang2

1 Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), Harrow, Ontario

2 University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario

Summary

Most Ontario greenhouse producers monitor light levels outside and inside their greenhouses to optimize their growing conditions for maximum yield. This article discusses how ultraviolet (UV) light levels inside greenhouses are affected by greenhouse coverings, and how this may impact bumblebees used for pollination of many greenhouse fruit and vegetable crops. It demonstrates how monitoring natural UV light levels inside greenhouses can benefit producers and allow them to make more informed decisions about their production practices.

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Effect of Light Abatement Curtains on the Greenhouse Environment

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud1 Comment

Information on how light abatement curtains can be used and their effect on the greenhouse environment.

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Finding the Right Light Recipe

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud

Review of recent greenhouse vegetable lighting research at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Harrow Research and Development Centre

Photo: LED inter-lighting in low-wire mini-cucumbers.

Authors: Dr. Fadi Al-Daoud (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) and Dr. Xiuming Hao (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Table of Contents:

  1. Summary and Conclusions
  2. Introduction
  3. Mini-Cucumbers, Overhead HPS, and LED Inter-lighting
  4. Tomatoes, HPS, and Far-Red Light
  5. Peppers, HPS, LED, and Far-Red Light
  6. Dynamic, Long Photoperiod, Low Intensity Lighting of Tomatoes, Mini-Cucumbers, Peppers, and Microgreens
  7. References

Summary and Conclusions

The market demand for locally-grown fruits and vegetables year-round has driven adoption of lighting technologies for winter food production in greenhouses and vertical farms in Ontario. Here, we review some of the lighting research conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Harrow Research and Development Centre (Harrow, Ontario) over the past several years.

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Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Enrichment in Controlled Environment Agriculture – Is it always a good idea?

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud

Authors:

Dr. Fadi Al-Daoud (Greenhouse Vegetable Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Harrow, ON)

Dr. Xiuming Hao (Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Harrow, ON)

Table of contents:

  1. Introduction
  2. What is CO2?
  3. CO2 Enrichment and Plant Physiology
  4. CO2 Enrichment and High Light and Heat
  5. So, is CO2 enrichment always a good idea?
  6. References
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Managing Nighttime Greenhouse Light Emissions

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud
Nighttime greenhouse light emissions. Photo credit – Benjamin Snow, University of Guelph.

Author: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)

An increase in the use of supplemental lighting in greenhouses has been accompanied with an increase in the amount of light emitted from greenhouses at night during fall and winter months. Without proper management strategies, light emitted from greenhouses during nighttime hours can potentially be disruptive to neighbouring residents. As a result, the objective of this document is to outline the latest research in greenhouse light management for producers and to provide information on managing nuisance complaints should they arise.

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Thrips Identification

Published on by Cara McCreary
Western flower thrips in pepper flower

Simple Thrips Key for Growers:

This grower-friendly, pictorial key has been developed to make thrips identification easier on-farm. Recently, thrips species other than western flower thrips have become a significant problem in Ontario floriculture greenhouses. Correct identification is the first step to better control.

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Tropical Thrips Species Intercepted on Plant Material in Ontario: Be Aware – But Don’t Panic.

Published on by Cara McCreary

Written by: SARAH JANDRICIC, GREENHOUSE FLORICULTURE IPM SPECIALIST, OMAFRA

Figure 1. Thrips parvispinus is generally dark coloured (though the head and thorax can be lighter than the abdomen), has bright red ocelli and clear patches at the top of its wings.
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Pepper Weevil: Are we in the clear?

Published on by Cara McCreary

If you grow peppers in North America, then I’m sure you are familiar with pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii. This economically damaging pest is always at the forefront of our minds through production.

Figure 1. Snout of a pepper weevil emerging from an aborted bud.
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