Peter Melis talk at the FERTINNOWA conference: Sharing fertigation best practices across Europe

1. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 689687
Task 5.4: Reducing impact on
environment
• 5 techniques showcased
Technique FERTINNOWA-partner
Sodium removal from irrigation water by electrodialyses TNO/WUR (NL)
Photocatalytic materials in horticulture TNO/WUR (NL)
Phosphorus removal with e-phos PCS/Fraunhofer (BE-GER)
Particle removal from drain water without back wash PCH (BE)
KNS-table to reduce nitrate content in soil PCH (BE)

2. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research
and innovation programme under grant agreement No 689687
Sodium removal from irrigation water by
Electrodialyses
Showcased in task 5.4

3. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 689687
Sodium removal by Electrodialyses
Showcased at PCS (sept. 13 2018)
In the Fertinnowa project a business case evaluation was
made on the use of ED for closing the water systems in
greenhouse horticulture companies.
The business case showed a clear need and feasibility for
ED which enables the selective removal of undesired salts
as Sodium and Chloride.

4. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research
and innovation programme under grant agreement No 689687
Photocatalytic materials in horticulture
Showcased in task 5.4

5. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 689687
Photocatalytic materials
Showcased at WPK Made (NL), sept. 26 2017:
photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) technology in
greenhouse horticulture as well as nursery stock.
Inert, nontoxic, cheap catalysts (TiO2) can be used to
provide for self-disinfecting and cleaning surfaces
that can reduce disease pressure and at the same
time break down some of the remaining plant
protection products.
Next step: entering legislation procedure to get
approval of the use of TiO2 in horticulture?

6. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research
and innovation programme under grant agreement No 689687
E-PHOS®:
Electrochemical P-precipitation in form of
magnesium-ammonium-PO4
Showcased in task 5.4

7. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 689687

8. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research
and innovation programme under grant agreement No 689687
Filtration techniques to remove particles
from drain water without back wash
Showcased in task 5.4

9. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 689687
Semi-closed water system
Trayfield 0,5ha
Overflow 2
Overflow 1
Clean
silo
Slow sand
filtration
Drain
silo

10. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 689687
Showcased techniques
Sieve bend filtration Paper band filtration
Filtering without back wash water?

11. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research
and innovation programme under grant agreement No 689687
Fertigation of strawberry in soil using
KNS-tabels in Belgium
Showcased in task 5.4

12. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 689687
Mandatory soil sampling
Grower yearly
needs to submit
soil sample
N-NO3 >90 kg/ha
= restriction in
fertilization!

13. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 689687
Nitrogen in soil
• Actual N-content = soil sample
• Expected N-content = mineralisation
PCH
At PCH: + 6 kg/ha.week
in plastic bed

14. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 689687
Demo trial in 2017
• Plant date: 13 June, waiting beds Elsanta
• Harvest period: 25 July – 21 August
• Fertigation: liquid fertilizers in A- and B-bin
• Goal:
– Reduce N-content in soil at the end of cultivation
– Maintain production and quality

15. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 689687
Demo trial in 2017
Date Plant need Mineralisation Target N-value KNS fertigation
12-18/Jun 0 6 0 0
19-25/Jun 8 6 0
26/Jun-2/Jul 12 6 0
3-9/Jul 15 6 0
10-16/Jul 15 6 39 6.88
17-23/Jul 15 6 6.88
24-30/Jul 15 6 6.88
31/jul-6/Aug 15 6 6.88
7-13/Aug 15 6 6.88
14-20/Aug 10 6 4.59
Total 120 39
N in soil remnant 164 24
Sample 1:
86 kg N/ha
Sample 2:
50 kg N/ha
80+40-86-42= -8
85+40-50-36=39

16. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 689687
Demo trial in 2017
• No differences in crop growth,
production or fruit quality

17. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 689687
Thanks for your attention
Peter Melis
Proefcentrum Hoogstraten
Voort 71, B-2328 Meerle
Tel: +32 (0) 3 315 70 52
peter.melis@proefcentrum.be
www.proefcentrum.be