Huwa-San: Cultivate Flourishing Excellence

Horticulture Kenya
If you aim to grow flowers and indoor plants of the highest quality, inhibiting the growth of harmful pathogens is highly important. Microorganisms such as Botrytis, Cladosporium, Xanthomonas and Erwinia can cause tremendous damage to the plants and reduce the marketable yield enormously. Therefore, it is indispensable to integrate a highly effective disinfectant in your integrated pest management plan to effectively combat these pathogens.

The challenge

A group of floricultural growers (Carnations – Osteospermums – Succulents – Hedera – Scabiosa) in Kenya were suffering from economical losses due to infections with pathogens such as Botrytis, Cladosporium, Xanthomonas, Fusarium and Erwinia. More than 40% of their yield was lost, mostly during the rainy season when pathogens thrive. Controlling these outbreaks is top priority for these growers.

Our solution

Our technical experts in the field designed a multifactorial solution for these farms aimed at eliminating the pathogens at every level. Before implementing the suggested adjustments, the lines needed to be flushed weekly.

  1. Disinfecting the growing medium before planting:
    1. Huwa-San TR-50 was dosed via the drip line on growing medium consisting of soil or consisting of pumice and soil.
    2. Pumice bags were drenched in Huwa-San TR-50.
  2. Disinfecting floors, tables and surfaces
    1. After a thorough cleaning cycle, all surfaces were disinfected with Huwa-San TR-50.
  3. Disinfecting tools
    1. Harvesting knives were soaked in a solution containing Huwa-San TR-50.
  4. Disinfecting the irrigation system
    1. Huwa-San TR-50 was continuously dosed in the irrigation water.
    2. Once every month, the water systems were flushed with Huwa-San TR-50 as a shock treatment.

These measures resulted in a reduction in infected plants of 88%, and thus increased the marketable plant yield extremely. Moreover, due to the flushing and continuous dosing, build-up of algae and biofilm was prevented resulting in unclogged drippers. All farms within the group decided to implement these measures in their biosecurity protocol.

The results

Utilising Huwa-San TR-50 across various levels, such as disinfecting surfaces, irrigation water and growing media, has proven to be a remarkable strategy in managing numerous detrimental pathogens, mitigating significant losses. Switching from weekly flushing to continuous dosing also greatly reduced the number of flushings per year (77% less flushings), resulting in a yearly reduced product and labour cost.

The integration of robust disinfection measures into your biosecurity protocol contributes to an enhanced farm profitability.

  • Increased marketable plant yield
  • Highest quality plants
  • No further spread of diseases
  • Recycling of growing media
Horticulture
Share

Used products

Huwa-San TR-50 is a registered biocide. Use biocides safely. Before use, read the label and product information.

Biocides are governed by stringent regulatory frameworks, the particulars of which may differ across nations. In this instance, the application adheres entirely to the regulations of the respective country but may not necessarily comply with those of others. It is advisable to consult our in-house experts for guidance on particular applications.

Horticulture
Cucumber 1

Sili-Fert P treatment at Dutch cucumber grower

A well-known cucumber grower in the Netherlands, wanted to take his cultivation practices and his end-products to the next level. A trial with Sili-Fert P was set up.