As a raw reader in Living Plant Cultivation Systems at Inholland University of Applied Sciences , Frank van der Helm wants future cultivator to intend critically about the use of method and means that have a major impact on biological life in the greenhouse . Especially if growers want to achieve a lively crop , they desperately ask all micro - being . As a grower ’s son , he require cultivator to answer the question for themselves , " What is the impact of my interference ? " It is also important that they gain as much noesis as potential about biologic support for the plant in springy cropping . Frank : " Resilient growing and destructive interventions such as disinfection , unspecific - spectrum chemicals , and biocides do n’t go well together . endeavor to minimize those intercession so that life remain in the greenhouse . "
Frank explains his vision : " If we want organic product to have a role in our ecosystem , we need to learn how to make them function as successfully as potential in the greenhouse . How can we make the conditions so that we ensure a positive micro - living is for good present in the greenhouse ? "
Frank van der Helm
The usage of biologic plant protection intersection in the pastThe industriousness comes from a position where a liberal packet of chemic crop protection products was allowed . In the former nineties , growers started using bumblebees and establish out that this bound the use of chemical plant protection products because the humblebee would otherwise die out . From then on , growers started looking more critically at how chemicals move biologic ascendency and glasshouse life .
Growers have ascertain to deal with a combination of biological and chemical crop protection agents , and that did not happen by itself . Frank stress that this has require time and inquiry to get correct . dissimilar organisms occasionally even get in each other ’s agency . Sulfur , antimycotic , and insecticides are examples of chemical interventions that growers use in the glasshouse . insect powder have the most shock on greenhouse biological accountant in this regard .
harmonise to him , there is not one technique but a set of different thing that can provide improvements in nursery ecosystem . The lecturer argues that the whole system of rules needs to be redesigned .
Resilient cultivationFrank teach fourth - year students . In doing so , he also teaches about the transition to lively cultivation . " We are in the middle of that at the moment . On the one hand , growers have to deal with stern compliance with MRLs and , on the other , with phytosanitary requisite . Microlife and biological control does not get off to a good head start if you regularly intervene chemically . " Those system are inherently self-contradictory . Frank : " You have to dress up the system so that disease and pests are completely prevented . To do that , growers sometimes have to drastically turn back with destructive way , which means you do n’t get anywhere with bouncy growing . "
Molecular techniques and feed mitesMolecular techniques are under developing to better sympathise the biological calibre of the soil or substratum . There is also enquiry to get a better picture of the status inside the works . There are generic and specialized groups of micro - organisms that can lend to harvest resiliency . According to Frank , it is important to sum up only those that can pull round well in the organization . Just as you may boost biological command well with feed mites , you may do the same with micro - organisms . How precisely to do this is still really a encyclopedism process that many growers and investigator are ferment on .
Practical researchThere is a mickle of practical inquiry into opponent . That is a fungus or bacteria used in biologic command of plant diseases . parasitical nematodes , Steinernema , are also used as biological control agentive role . For these controller broker to be successful , you need to create conditions where they can arise properly . For representative , if you put nematode out and you allow the substratum elaborate too much , or you do it at a time when there is too much light on it , their effect is much less .
Research case : mapping microbiomes in hyacinthsFrank explicate that Inholland is presently explore biological soil quality in growing hyacinths in projects . The aim is to represent microbiomes and understand them in such a way that it provides useful information for growers so that it can help agriculturalist move ahead . They inquire how to say something about biological stain quality from microbiomes .
In the bioassay shopping center , Frank works with students and stock breeder on bio-assay to select resistant and lively form in breeding . For the Fieldlab Circular Fertilisers , Frank is researching the surrogate of chemic fertiliser with circular fertilizers . The question he is working on with educatee and companies is how to ameliorate the ingestion of hard - to - absorb tracing ingredient with biostimulants . These are three examples of projects where he is working to attain his mission of bringing more life into the greenhouse . He has also co - written a research proposal for nature - inclusive gardening : how to project the ecological base indoors and outside the greenhouse so that diseases and pesterer are foreclose as much as potential . So , developing a stable ecosystem that continues to operate . Frank : " More than 95 % of what lives in the greenhouse is not harmful . "
For more entropy : Frank van der HelmHogeschool INHollandRotterdamseweg 1412628 AL DelftTel . : + 31(0 ) 15 - 2519200[email protected]www.inholland.nl
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