What is Tunnel Farming
–
Growing crops in protected environment under
plastic cover
Tunnels
A tunnel refers to an arched structure figured by inserting
both ends of the rod into the ground. It is the simplest structure to support
the covering materials
MAIN OBJECTIVES OF POLYTUNNEL FARMING
Alleviation of poverty by enhancing farmers’ net income
through:-
Ø Diversification
to high value crop
Ø Human Resource Development
Ø Capacity building – Private/Public
Ø Promotion of off–Season vegetable growing
under tunnels /protected Horticulture
Status of Protected Horticulture in Pakistan
Ø Number
of large entities showing initial interest but reluctant to invest capital
Ø Number
of growers moving into “Low Tech” plastic tunnels
Ø No
knowledge of the latest developments in the market
Prospects for Development
•
Development needs
–
Efficient Water Use
–
Good radiation levels
•
Areas for Potential
–
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
–
Desert/Dry Region
–
Punjab
–
Balochistan
•
What is a high tunnel?
•
A high tunnel is a solar heated, manually
vented, plastic-covered cold frame that is used to lengthen the traditional
growing season for many horticulture crops.
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•
High tunnels are not greenhouses, and thus
require no electrical connections for ventilation and supplemental heat.
•
The crop is grown directly in the soil using
raised beds or mulch depending on the type of vegetable
Advantage
Ø The primary advantage to high tunnel
production is profitability
Ø
High
tunnels increase net returns per acre by protecting
quality, increasing yields, and providing
the opportunity to obtain
off season price premiums
Ø This allows a farmer to profit
significantly without turning into an oversized operation
High tunnel growers may also find it
easier to meet the market demands of restaurants and other direct markets that favor purchasing from growers who can provide produce over a longer period of time
Disadvantages
The disadvantages of high tunnel
production are increased fixed costs associated with the construction, and labor requirements associated with the
management of the facility.
A permanent high tunnel should be
placed on fertile, non-shaded, well-drained soils
The soil should be tilled to a
depth of approximately 6-8 inches, and nutrients applied based on a recent soil
test.
Tomatoes should be established on
a raised bed.
Raised beds will significantly
enhance soil warming, drainage and volume of soil for rooting.
Raised beds can be made with power
tillers or compact bed shapers. After the raised beds are formed, fertilizer,
drip tape and plastic mulch can be applied
Growing vegetables in tunnel
farming:
Seeds are planted in plant
blocks/seed-trays, and one seed is sown into each compartment of the tray,
lightly covered and kept wet. Seedlings remain in the seed tray until they have
grown to about 10cm. Seedlings are then planted in the planting bags and kept
wet. Climbers are trained up to overhead wires by pieces of string. The bottom
part of the string is placed in the planting hole. The plant is placed on top
of the string and firmed down into the growth medium to remove air from the
roots. Then the other end of the string is fastened to the overhead wire.
Tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, beans and sweet melons can all be trained
up in this way to the wires that are strung above the rows and are fastened to
the roof of the tunnel. The string is, in constantly wound around the main stem
of the plant. This applies to all the plants except green peppers which case
three or four stems can be used
Optimum temperature
At prolonged temperatures <55°F or >95°F, flowers can drop from the
plant.
Growth of tomato plants will stall when the soil temperature is 56°F or
less, but begin to grow when the soil temperature hits 58°F.
Fruit set does not occur at low night temperatures (consistently below
50°F); fruits will not develop properly when temperatures exceed 95°F.
At temperatures between 50 and 60°F, ‘rough’, irregular fruit growth may
occur.
Temperatures above 95°F can damage tomato blossoms causing flowers to
drop or to develop irregular shaped fruit.
Relative humidity
Relative humidity is an important consideration with regard to high
tunnel production.
Relative humidity describes the amount of water vapor in the air at any
time.
The closed conditions of a high tunnel create an environment with higher
relative humidity and little air movement until ventilated. These conditions
can promote diseases that flourish in high humidity, creating a need to ventilate
even when outside conditions are cooler than desired.
If possible, use wider plant spacing to increase air circulation. Older
leaves are more susceptible to fungal infections.
Provide ventilation as early and as late in the day as possible. All of the
foliar fungal diseases are favored by high relative humidity (> 85%) in the
tomato canopy. The length of time above 90% relative humidity should be
limited.
High humidity (>80%) can also adversely affect pollination
Remove suckers and the oldest leaves to increase air circulation. Provide
adequate drainage around the base of the structure to make sure no water flows
or seeps into the high tunnel
Pruning
Increases fruit size
Promotes earlier harvest
Reduces disease incidence
Reduces grey wall
Better air flow
TUNNEL DIMENSION
•
High Tunnels 30ҳ180ҳ12 feet
•
Walk-In Tunnel 12ҳ180ҳ6 feet
•
Low Tunnel Row Cover) 3ҳ180ҳ3 feet
ECONOMICS
High Tunnel
- Steel Permanent Structure(10-15 Years) (30ҳ180ҳ12 feet)
Cost Rs. 350,000-450,000
2. Bamboo Structure(2-3 Years) (30ҳ180ҳ12
feet)
Cost Rs. 30,000-35,000
All these are Fixed costs
Low tunnel, which are less
expensive compared to high tunnels but crop yield is low. Soil preparation,
spraying and picking is difficult in this tunnel. Cucumber, melons,
watermelons, bitter gourds, squashes, and snake gourds etc can be grown in
these tunnels
Ø MARROW
Ø BOTTLE GOURD
Ø SPONGE GOURD
Ø BITTER GOURD
Ø MELONS
Walk-in Tunnel
Walk-in tunnel, which are lower in height compared to
high tunnels. Walk-in-tunnels provide higher yields than low tunnels because of
better sun light and ventilation. The tunnel is suitable for growing tomatoes,
cucumbers, sweet pepper and hot pepper
WALK IN TUNNELS VEGETABLE
![*](file:///C:/Users/ummati/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif)
![*](file:///C:/Users/ummati/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif)
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![*](file:///C:/Users/ummati/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif)
High Tunnel
High Tunnel: High tunnels give maximum yield of crops
and make easy soil preparation, picking, spraying due to its width and height.
The tunnel is suitable for growing tomatoes, cucumbers and Bottle Gourd
![*](file:///C:/Users/ummati/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.gif)
![*](file:///C:/Users/ummati/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.gif)
![*](file:///C:/Users/ummati/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.gif)
![*](file:///C:/Users/ummati/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.gif)
WHY USE THESE STRUCTURES?
•
To control environment
•
Early crop
•
Meet market demand
•
Enhance life span
•
Quality production
•
Maximizing production
•
Control (Insect, pest, disease)
Tunnel Farming
–
Environmental
conditions can not be completely controlled
–
Due high
humidity incidence of pest and diseases will be high
–
It can
be used in winter only as in summer additional shade or cooling is required
–
High
initial cost and intensive care
Factors affecting yield and profits
–
Soil and
climate
–
Crop
variety
–
Irrigation
–
Fertilizer
application
–
Control
of pest and Diseases
–
Harvesting
and marketing
FUTURE PROSPECTS OF VEGETABLE FORCING
Ø Good
potential to promote this technology all over the country
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-axix34lFx3w/VC4qzqP6HZI/AAAAAAAAA2U/CUJUW-TScrs/s1600/images%2B(4).jpg)
Ø Raising
of nurseries have many fold benefits and a
source of income generation for the growers
Ø Local hybrid vegetable seed production for
protected structures is also a good activity of increasing the income
Ø The activity is very much useful for small
land holders and conservation of water and land
Ø Bright chances of employment and good for
poverty alleviation
Recommendations/suggestions
•
The
awareness among the farming community about the potential and usefulness of
off-season vegetable cultivation through seminars, by extension/research
services Agriculture Universities, NGO’s and media
•
Introduction
of Micro-credit schemes for the installation of poly farming structures at
government level for the small farmers
•
Development
and adoption of cheaper protective material/accessories locally
•
Availability of quality vegetable seeds and
other inputs be ensured
•
Initiation of targeted research for the
development of indigenous hybrid varieties
•
Development of improved and cheaper packing
materials
•
Development of centers for the provision of
updated information/knowledge of better marketing of produce.
•
Encouragement to adopt co-operative farming for
the better utilization of available resources
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