Implementation of Protected Cultivation Technologies

1. Implementation of Protected Cultivation
Technologies
Dr. Pramod Rai
Department of Agricultural Engineering

2. This presentation is part of
Brainstorming Session on “Establishment of
Demonstration unit on Low cost detachable roof
polyhouses (Wooden/Bamboo) at CoE, Mulugu,
Telangana State ”
Dated: 26.08.2022 (Friday)
Organizer: Directorate of Horticulture and Sericulture,
Hyderabad, Telangana
In Collaboration with
AICRP on PEASEM, BAU, Ranchi

3. Outline
General Introduction
Ways to Enhance the Farmers Income
Plasticulture Technology
Protected Cultivation
Current Agricultural Practices
Polyhouse or Protected Cultivation Technologies
Protected Cultivation Technologies
Low cost natural ventilated GH/ Low cost multipurpose GH
Low cost shade net structure/ Temporary shade net structure
Low cost insect proof net structure
Low cost detachable roof GH
Rain shelter & shade net structure/ Protected structure with
peripheral insect proof net
Plastic low tunnel technology
Mulching
Way forward

4. Farm to Fork
It is also commonly called Farm to Shelf/Farm to
Plate/Farm to Table Supply Chain.
From seed or planting stage to Fork/Shelf/Plate/Table
stage.
It includes all the operation of Pre-harvest and Post
Harvest Management.

5. Farm to Health
It is one step further from Fork/Shelf/Plate/Table.
It is more concerned about quality & safety aspects of
food product.
Here after effect of consumption and overall health is
interest area.

6. Fundamental issues in Farm to Health
Value Chain (Fresh or Processed)
Pre-harvest Management
Food Chain System (End to End Chain/
Traceability System)
Post Harvest Management

7. Fresh produce supply chain management (farm to
fork/ farm to plate/farm to health)
Pre harvest management
Genetic material (seed/ planting material)
Agronomical management
Environment management
Post harvest management of fresh produce
Pre cooling
Sanitizing
Grading/ sorting
Packaging
Storage
retailing

8. Farm to Health Supply Chain
Farm Farm precooling Washing & drying Sorting and grading
Packaging
Cold storage
Refrigerated van
Retail outlets

9. Plasticulture technologies in pre-harvest management
Plastic lined pond Vegetable seedling in
protray under low tunnel
Bottle gourd under low
tunnel
Drip irrigation system
Tomato under low cost
temporary shade net
structure
Okra under plastic
mulching
Drip irrigation with
fertigation system
Low-cost detachable roof
greenhouse
Low cost multipurpose
greenhouse (MGH)

10. Post Harvest Management
Fresh/Cut Produce
Processed Food

11. Successful examples supply chain (Fresh/Process food)
Fresh Produce
The Global Green Company (gherkins)
INI Farms (Pomgranate)
Mahindra Greenyard (fresh fruits & vegetables)
Process Food
Pespsico India (Lays chips etc.)
Hindustan Unilever Limited (kissan Katchups)
ITC Limited (Aashirvaad atta)
Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.
(Amul)

12. Ways to enhance farmers income
Increasing the yield
Enhancing the quality
Early Production
Off season cultivation
Proper marketing (local/ within India/ outside
India)
Storage of fresh produce for off season
consumption (apple/ potato etc.)
Growing the fresh produce for processed food

13. Plasticulture Technology
Plasticulture is the art of using plastic materials to modify the
production environment in crop production.
Pre-harvest
Plastic lined water harvesting pond
Micro-irrigation system (drip, sprinkler, fertigation system etc.)
Plastic mulching
Plastic low tunnel
Protected cultivation (GH, shade net & insect proof net structure)
Many mores
Post Harvest
Packaging of fresh F & V and processed food
Agricultural machinery
Many mores
Youtube video: Implementation of Plasticulture Technology in
Jharkhand (https://youtu.be/abhV_-zQ_Wg)

14. Research on Plasticulture Technologies at BAU
All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on
Plastic Engineering in Agriculture Structure and
Environment Management (PEASEM), Indian Council
of Agriculture Research (ICAR)
Precision Farming Development Centre (PFDC),
National Committee on Plasticulture Applications in
Horticulture (NCPAH), Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare, Government of India

15. Current agricultural practices for Pre harvest
management
Selection of genetic material (seed/ planting)
Agronomical management
Field preparation
Sowing of seed/ planting material
Irrigation &Fertilization
Weed management
Earthing of soil
Disease & pest management
Environment management
Not major focus on environment management,
selection of crop as per season

16. Protected Cultivation
Protected cultivation is a process of growing
crops in a controlled environment.
or
Protected cultivation is the technique of
providing favorable environmental or growth
conditions to the plants.
or
A technique wherein the microclimate around
the plant is controlled fully, partially or
modified to protect the crop from adverse
weather.

17. Objectives of Protected Cultivation
Fully controlled/partially/modified microclimate around
the plant: Above and below the soil
Temperature: Air & soil temperature: GH, shade net, insect
proof net, plastic low tunnel & plastic mulching
Light: Intensity & quality: GH, shade net, insect proof net &
plastic low tunnel
Relative humidity: GH, shade net, insect proof net & plastic
low tunnel
Carbon dioxide: GH & plastic low tunnel
Excess moisture, runoff & percolation loss: Drip irrigation
Water loss, weed growth & leaching of fertilizer: plastic
mulching
Insect & pest: GH, insect proof net & plastic low tunnel

18. Technologies for Protected Cultivation
Greenhouse
Other protected structure: Shade net structure,
Insect net proof structure
Plastic low tunnel
Mulching especially plastic mulching
Soil solarization
Drip & sprinkler irrigation
Fertigation
Plastic Pro-tray

19. Advantages of Protected Cultivation
Higher productivity
Better quality of produce
Early & off season cultivation
Round the year healthy nursery raising &
hardening plant
Better insect & disease control
Reduced uses of pesticides
Reduced uses of weedicide
Efficient uses of resources (Water/fertilizer)

20. Limitations of Protected Cultivation
High cost of initial infrastructure (capital cost).
Non-availability of skilled human power and their
replacement locally.
Lack of technical knowledge of growing crops under
protected structures.
All the operations are very intensive and require
constant effort.
Requires close supervision and monitoring.
A few pests and soil-borne pathogens are difficult to
manage.
Repair and maintenance are major hurdles.
Requires assured marketing, since the investment of
resources like time, effort and finances, is expected to
be very high.

21. Basic approach in protected cultivation
Approach 1 (Current practices): Choose a
crop suitable for existing structures within the
farm and capitalize on those attain the highest
potential yields a crop must be grown in an
environment that meets these requirements.
Approach 2 (Recommended practices):
Choose a species for its high economic potential
and develop the most suitable protection,
growing systems and technology.
Youtube video: Protected cultivation
(https://youtu.be/BTWGBrHJD4o)

22. Approach 1 (Current practices): Crop suitable
for existing structures
Existing structures: GH (Low/medium/high
cost), shade net structure, insect proof net
structure etc.
Grow the crop as per available environment
This is wrong approach but mostly it is
happening through out India.
Suppose we have shade net structure and
want to grow tomato during rainy season but
it is not suitable structure, we need rain
shelter.

23. Approach 2 (Recommended practices): Choose
a species for its high economic potential
Select crop: Based on market requirement, price
realization & economics
Crop selected: Tomato
Growing season: Summer
Suitable environmental conditions required for
growing tomato
Environment conditions in open field
Environment modification required: Reduction
in temperature (soil/air), reduction in light
intensity etc.

24. Major protection needed for cultivation (One parameter or
more than one)
Temperature
Soil (minimum and maximum)
Air (minimum and maximum)
Relative humidity
Light
Intensity
Spectrum
Wind speed
Insect and pest management
Rainfall
Hail storm
Snow
Irrigation
Weed management
Polyhouse or protected cultivation

25. January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Activities month (cultivation or nursery raising or drying)

26. Category I
NV polyhouse
Multi-purpose greenhouse
Detachable roof greenhouse
Temporary shade net house
Rain shelter
Rain shelter & shade net structure
Protected structure with peripheral insect proof net
Plastic mulching
Drip/ sprinkler irrigation
Category II
Plastic low tunnel with cladding materials (Plastic film, shade net
materials, Insect net proof, crop cover)
Protected Technologies

27. Cultivation
Conventional crops (Tomato, capsicum, cucumber, etc.)
Coriander leaf, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.
Nursery raising
Vegetables
Fruits
Flower
Drying
Enterprise to be taken

28. Classification of protected structure
Protected Structures
1.Low cost Natural Ventilated
GH
3.Low cost Shade net
Structure
5. Low cost Insect Proof
Structure
6. Low cost detachable roof GH
4. Temporary Shade Net
Structure
2. Low cost Multipurpose GH
Structure
Fig. 1: Classification of protected structure

29. Fig. 5: Low cost insect proof net structure
Fig. 4: Low cost shade net structure (50%)
Fig. 3: Low cost shade net structure (25%)
Fig. 2: Low cost natural ventilated GH

30. Materials required for construction
of protected structure
Structure
Cladding materials
Gadget for environmental control

31. Other facilities required
Growing media: Artificial growing media
Drip irrigation: Excess moisture, runoff &
percolation loss
Fertigation system: Improve the fertilizer
use efficiency, reduce the leaching losses
Plastic mulching: Water loss, weed growth
& leaching of fertilizer: plastic mulching
Others: Planting materials, plastic rope with
clip for training of tomato

32. Greenhouse
It is generally covered with a transparent
material (such as polythene or glass) and
depending upon the cladding material and
its transparency, major fraction of sunlight
is absorbed by crops and other objects.
These objects in GH in turn emit infrared
radiation for which cladding material has
lower transparency.
With the result, solar energy is trapped and
raises the temperature inside the
greenhouse. This is popularly known as
greenhouse effect.

33. Fig.6: A greenhouse traps energy by allowing the solar radiation to come in
but not allowing the infrared radiation to go out.

34. Greenhouse Effect
An effect caused by the existence of a cover
characterized by its low transparency to far
infrared radiation (emitted by the crop, the soil
and the inner greenhouse elements), but its high
transparency to sunlight.
A confinement effect, resulting from the
decrease in the air exchanges with the outside
environment

35. 1. Low cost natural ventilated GH
Structure: Bamboo, timber
Cladding materials: UV stabilized
plastic film (200 micron), insect proof
net material (40 mesh)
Environmental Control device:
Temperature & RH are regulated by
natural ventilation

36. Fig. 7(a): Top view (Dimentions are in meter)
Fig. 7(b): Sideview (Dimentions are in meter)
Fig. 7(c): Frontview (Dimentions are in meter)
Fig. 7(b): Sideview (Dimentions are in meter)

37. Fig.8: Isometric view of low cost NVGH
Fig. 9: Pictorial view of NVGH

38. Table 1: Environmental conditions in open field condition
Cultivation time Environmental conditions in open field
Temperature
(0C)
Light
intensity
(Klux)
RH (%)
Winter season (Mid
Oct- Mid Feb)
0-26.6 30-55 51.8-85.5
Summer season (Mid.
Feb-June)
7.5-39.5 28-100 69.9-85.3
Rainy season (July-
Mid. Oct)
10.4-37.5 34-59 71.5-84.9

39. Table 2: Desired environmental conditions for
cultivation of tomato/capsicum
Vegetables Desired environmental conditions
Temperature
(0C)
Light
intensity
(Klux)
RH (%)
Tomato 10-28 40-60 55-60
Capsicum 12-25 40-60 65-70

40. Months Open field Low cost natural ventilated GH
Temperature Light Temperature Light
Soil Air Intensit
y
Spectru
m
Soil Air Intensit
y
Spectru
m
Mid.
Oct-
Mid.
Feb
Min.
low
Min.
low
OK Natural OK OK OK Natural
Mid.
Feb-
June
Max.
High
Max.
High
Max.
High
Natural Max.
High
(++)
Max.
High
(++)
Max.
High
Max.
High
July-
Mid.
Oct
OK OK OK Natural OK OK OK Natural
RH, CO2, Insect, Rainfall: No control RH: Can be controlled
CO2: Can be controlled
Insect: protection
Rainfall: Protection
Table 3: Environmental parameter under open field and
low cost natural ventilated GH

41. Advantages NV GH
Any crops can be grown round the year
regardless of open field condition, depending
upon type of control system.
Off season production, gives better prices
realization.
Crops can be grown in waste land and at any
altitudes.
Vertical cultivation can be done.
Productivity and quality is better than open field.
Disease free nursery can be raised round the year
for early/off season crops in open field.
Others

42. Disadvantages
Construction and operational cost is high
(depending on type of structure, medium/high
cost GH).
Regular power supply required (cooling &
heating system etc.)
Very little work has been done on
standardization of GH based on agro-climatic
zones.
GH cultivation entail higher investment per unit
area as compared to open field cultivation.
No specific breeding study has been done on
suitable varieties of GH crops.
Others

43. Conclusion
It can be effectively utilized for crop
cultivation and or nursery raising during
July-Mid. Feb.
The temperature (soil/air) and light
intensity is very high during summer (Mid.
Feb-June), so difficult to do cultivation.
It can be controlled but the construction
and operating cost will be very high.
During summer it can be best utilized for
drying and soil solarization.

44. 2. Low cost multipurpose GH
Mid Feb-June: Utilized for drying & Soil
solarization.
Drying process: Passive (natural) & active (using
fan or chimney)
Fig. 10: Low cost
multipurpose GH
Fig. 11: Tomato cultivated under
low cost multipurpose GH

45. Fig. 12a: Open field dried tomato (WB) Fig. 12b: Open field dried tomato (B)
Fig. 13a: Low cost multipurpose GH
dried tomato (WB)
Fig. 13b: Low cost multipurpose GH
dried tomato (B)

46. Advantages
It can be efficiently utilized for cultivation
of vegetables or nursery raising during
June-Mid. February.
It can be used for drying of cauliflower,
mushroom, mahua etc. during Mid. Feb-
June due to high temperature (40-550C).
It can be also be utilized for soil
sterilization before next crop.
Youtube video: Low cost multipurpose
greenhouse (MGH)
https://youtu.be/Xbyq8U9TUaE)

47. 3. Low cost shade net structure
During summer season temperature (soil/air) &
light intensity is very high.
It is used to reduce the temperature (soil/air)
and light intensity during summer.
During summer season plant growth is affected
mainly due to high temperature and it affects
photosynthesis and respiration.
Care should be taken on selection of shade
(25%, 50%, 75%, 90% etc.) and color (green,
black, red and white etc.) based on requirement.
The color affects the quality of spectrum.

48. Months Open field Low cost shade net structure
Temperature Light Temperature Light
Soil Air Intensity Spectru
m
Soil Air Intensit
y
Spectru
m
Mid.
Oct-
Mid.
Feb
Min.
low
Min.
low
OK Natural Min.
low
Min.
low
Low
(-)
Modifie
d
Mid.
Feb-
June
Max.
High
Max.
High
Max.
High
Natural Max.
low
(-)
Max.
low
(-)
Max.
low
(-)
Modifie
d
July-
Mid.
Oct
OK OK OK Natural OK OK Low
(-)
Modifie
d
RH, CO2, Insect, Rainfall: No control RH, CO2, Insect, Rainfall: No
control
Table 4: Environmental parameter under open field and
low cost shade net structure

49. Fig. 14: Tomato cultivated under low cost shade net structure
(50%)

50. Conclusion
It reduces the light intensity round the year.
During summer best for tomato and capsicum
cultivation.
The shade net structure reduces the light
intensity in rainy & winter season below
required limit for cultivation of tomato and
capsicum.
If the shade net is already constructed, the crops
should be selected based on available
environment conditions during rainy & winter
season.

51. 4. Temporary shade net structure (TSNS)
Sunscald in tomato
It fruit disorder caused by high-localized fruit temperature and exposure to
direct sunlight (tomato tissue by 100C or more above ambient temperatures).
S.N. Cultivation Average
Yield (t/ha)
Marketable
yield (%)
Marketable
yield (t/ha)
Average
price
realized
(Rs./kg)
Average
income
(Rs./ha)
1. Farmer practice 30 50 15 10 1,50,000
2. TSNS 50 90 25 15 3,75,000
Table 5: Average income under temporary shade net structure (TSNS)
Fig. 15a: Sunscald in
tomato cultivated open
field
Fig. 15b: Tomato
cultivation under TSNS
Fig. 15c: Tomato
cultivated under TSNS

52. Conclusion
It reduces the air temperature by 2-40C, hence
reduces soil temperature also. It reduces the light
intensity.
The tomato/capsicum can be cultivated under
plastic mulch (25 micron, silver/black or
white/black) with drip irrigation-fertigation system.
The construction cost is around Rs. 50-55/m2 in
comparison to permanent shade net structure of Rs.
250-300/m2
The same shade net material (green, 35-50%) can
be used for at least 6-7 years in comparison to
permanent shade net structure for 3 years only.
Youtube video: Low cost temporary shade net
structure (https://youtu.be/PhZmEyKXEY4)

53. 5. Low cost insect proof net structure
The insect proof net is selected (mesh size) based on size
of insect from which crop is to be protected but keeping its
(mesh size) effects on inside environment conditions.
Selection of mesh size is very important to make it more
effective i.e. 32 mesh (32 mesh per square inch).
A double door with two sliding panels is adequate but an
arrangement of two double doors at right angles to each
other is best.
Fig. 16a: Brinjal
cultivation under open
field
Fig. 16b: Low cost
insect proof net
structure
Fig. 16c: Brinjal
cultivation under low cost
insect proof net structure
(40 mesh)

54. Months Open field Low cost insect proof net structure
Temperature Light Temperature Light
Soil Air Intensity Spectru
m
Soil Air Intensit
y
Spectru
m
Mid.
Oct-
Mid.
Feb
Min.
low
Min.
low
OK Natural Min.
low
(+)
Min.
low
(+)
OK Natural
Mid.
Feb-
June
Max.
High
Max.
High
Max.
High
Natural Same Same Same Natural
July-
Mid.
Oct
OK OK OK Natural OK OK OK Natural
RH, CO2, Insect, Rainfall: No control RH, CO2, Rainfall: No control
Insect: Can be controlled
Table 6: Environmental parameters under open field and
low cost insect proof net structure

55. Advantages
It can be efficiently utilized for vegetables cultivation
or nursery raising round the year (January-December).
The air velocity inside the structure is better than low
cost natural ventilated GH, which affects the crop
performance.
The quality of produce is better than open field due to
favorable environment condition.
The marketable productivity (kg/m2) and water
productivity is much high than open field condition.
The temperature inside the insect proof net structure
is 1-30C more than open field condition, which is very
favorable during winter season.
It also protect from damages due to hail, strong
winds, heavy rain, insect etc.

56. Insect proof net structure
RH, CO2, Rainfall: No control
Insect: Can be controlled
(Problem in rainy and summer season)
NV Greenhouse
(problem in summer season and
high cost)
RH: Can be controlled
CO2: Can be controlled
Insect: protection
Rainfall: Protection
Temprature and light intensity : No
control
Shade net structure
RH, CO2, Insect, Rainfall: No
control
(Problem in winter and rainy
season)
Low cost
detachable roof
GH (suitable in all
seasons)
6. Low cost detachable roof GH

57. Fig. 17a: GH during rainy & winter season and cladding material fixed using
aluminum profile & gripper
Fig. 17b: GH during summer season with cladding material fixed using
aluminum profile &gripper

58. • The whole structure (except roof) is covered
with insect proof net material (40 mesh).
• The roof is covered with UV stabilized film
(200 micron).
• The fixing of cladding material (plastic film) is
done with profile & gripper system, so that it
can be easily removed during summer (Mid.
Feb-June) and replaced with shade net material
(green, 35-50%) without damaging it.
• The same plastic will be again fixed to structure
for July-Mid. February.
Major points to be considered in design

59. Comparison between conventional NV and detachable roof GH
BASIS NV GH Detachable roof GH
Duration of utilization 8-9 months 12 months
Time of produce Off season(1 months)
and peak season (3.5
months)
Off- season(4.5 months)
Number of crops 1 crop (8-9 months) 1 crop ( 8-9 months) & 3
month for nursey or 2 crops
( 6 months)
Cost of construction Rs. 1050/m²
(source: mission for
integrated development
of horticulture( MIDH)}
Developed low cost(Rs300-
350/m2)
MIDH low cost(Rs450/m2)
NV GH(Rs700-750m2)
Energy Utilization Active system (cost
more)
passive system (no cost)
Economics Less economical or not
viable
More economical or
profitable

60. Conclusion
The low cost detachable roof GH can be constructed
using fixing of plastic film or shade net with profile
and gripper system.
The minimum temperature was (2-70C) more than
open field condition during winter season (Mid. Oct-
Mid Feb).
The maximum temperature was (2-40C) less than
open field condition during summer season (March-
May).
It reduced the light intensity by 25-40% during
summer (Mid. Feb-June).
Youtube video: Low cost detachable roof green
house (GH) (https://youtu.be/fy1U3Y759l8)

61. 7. Rain shelter & shade net structure (modified low
cost detachable roof GH)
It is modified low cost detachable roof GH without insect
net proof in sides.
It can be used for protection from high temperature (soil
& air), high light intensity, rainfall, hailstorm, etc.
It can be used where insect, wind speed is not major
challenge.
The construction cost is low and stability is better in
comparison to low cost detachable roof GH.

62. 8. Protected structure with peripheral insect proof net
Here insect proof net is used at peripheral cultivable land.
It can be used where insect and wind speed are major
challenge.
Under the peripheral boundary cultivation of crops can be
done with protected cultivation technologies (drip
irrigation, plastic mulching, plastic low tunnel, temporary
shade net structure, Rain shelter & shade net structure).

63. 9. Plastic low tunnel technology
Low cost compared to other protected
structures
Used for nursery raising and cultivation
The off season Cucurbitaceae, leafy vegetables
etc. can be grown under plastic low tunnel with
different cladding materials (plastic film, insect
proof net material & shade net material).
The suitable cladding materials can be used to
make favorable environment for round the year
cultivation under surface irrigation.
Youtube video: Low Cost Plastic Low
Tunnel- प्लास्टिक का गुफा नुमा घर
(https://youtu.be/XCJrqvmFqrk)

64. Geometry of plastic
low tunnel in 3D

65. Important points to be considered
Structure of low tunnel: GI wire, plastic
pipe, bamboo etc. but we are promoting
bamboo due to its local availability.
Cladding materials: UV stabilized plastic
film (50 micron), insect proof net material (40
mesh) and shade net material (Green & 35-
50%).
Nursery growing: Soil & pro-tray with
growing media
Cultivation: Drip irrigation with fertigation &
plastic mulching

66. .

67. .

68. 10. Mulching
Mulching is an agricultural cropping technique that
involves placing organic or synthetic materials on the
soil around plants to provide a more favourable
environment for growth and production.
The soil temperature has direct dramatic effects on
water & nutrient absorption by roots, microbial growth
& development, organic matter decay, seed
germination, root development etc.
Youtube video: Selection of Plastic mulch for
vegetable Cultivation
(https://youtu.be/qIxUO1hWHD4)

69. Working of plastic mulch
Plastic mulches reflect, absorb or transmit
incoming sunlight, the extent of which depends on
the type of mulch.
It should maximize the transmission of the soil-
warming portion of sunlight (the near infra-red
radiation) and minimize the amount of visible
light that is transmitted. This visible light can
increase the weed growth under the plastic.
Mulch’s color affects the temperature below and
above the mulch though the absorption,
transmission and reflection of solar energy.

70. Advantages
Primary effect
Soil & air heating/cooling
Secondary Effect
Earlier and higher overall yields: due to
favorable soil environment
Moisture conservation: due to reduction in
evaporation
Weed control: due to reduced light (PAR)
penetration
Reduced fertilizer leaching: Excess water
runoff the impervious mulch and it aids in
retention of nutrients within root zone.

71. Soil temperature
It is generally lower than that of the air but seasonal
fluctuations can occur with depth depending on soil and above
ground factors.
Above ground plant development as well as changes in soil
water status can also influence seasonal changes in soil
temperature at various depths.
It has direct dramatic effects on seed germination, root
development, water and nutrient absorption by roots,
microbial growth and development, organic matter decay. In
general, the higher the temperature the faster these processes
occur.
The size, quality, and shape of storage organs are greatly
affected by soil temperature.
Dark-colored soils absorb more solar energy than light colored
soils. The capacity of water to move heat from one area to
another (conduction) is greater than that of air. Heat is therefore
released to the surface faster in clay soils than in dry sandy
soils.

72. Advantages
Secondary Effect
Cleaner product: soil is not splashed on the plant or fruit.
Gas exchange: Carbon dioxide released by roots or
decomposition of organic matter in the soil, the film do not allow
the gas to penetrate, it has to escape through the holes punched
for plants. This creates a chimney effect, resulting in higher level
of CO2 for actively growing leaves near the transplant hole.
Ability to double/triple crop
Better insect management: Reflective mulches repel insects such
as aphids and thrips.
Potential decrease in disease incidence: Due to better water
drainage, incidence of soil borne diseases may be reduced. Virus
diseases are reduced because reflective mulches repel vectors
(aphids/thrips).
Aids in fumigation and soil solarization
Reduced drowning of crops

73. Disadvantages
Removal and disposal:
Photo/biodegradble mulch can be used.
Disposed off routinely by burning,
burial or dumping in landfills but
banned. Retrieval and recycling or
incineration/energy reclamation.
Greater initial costs: Mulch, mulch
laying machine and transplanter.

74. Important points to be considered
Season of mulching (increase or decrease in soil
temperature or weed control). The requirement during
winter season will different from summer season.
How many crops will be taken under mulch.
Water scheduling under plastic mulching
Fertilizer scheduling under plastic mulching.
Plastic mulching normally used under drip irrigation with
fertigation system.
In some cases, during kharif season mulch can be used
without drip irrigation system but only one crop during
kharif can be taken.
Removal & disposal issues with plastic mulching.
The black plastic mulch (25 microns) can be used during
winter & rainy season and silver-black mulch / white-
black mulch (25 microns) during summer season.

75. .

76. Way Forward
We are mainly focusing on protection from temperature (Max
& Min soil and air), light (intensity & quality), rainfall, hail
storm, insect, etc.
During winter depending upon low temperature, we can use
plastic mulching and/or low tunnel, NV detachable roof GH,
rain shelter.
We at Ranchi center still working to scale up low cost NV
detachable roof GH for bigger area.
The detachable roof concept can be used in already
constructed medium cost NV GH (GI pipes) with fogging
system.
The effectiveness of low cost NV detachable roof GH during
summer can be further improved by increasing the side (from
2 m to 2.5 m) and center height (from 3 m to 3.75 m). The
fogging system can be used to further reduce the temperature
during summer.

77. Proposed technologies for Demonstration unit at COE,
Mulugu, Telangana State
It is proposed that various protected cultivation technologies
can be demonstrated at COE, Mulugu, Telangana State.
Plastic mulching: The open field cultivation under drip
irrigation with fertigation can be used to reduce & increase the
soil temperature with usual other benefits of plastic mulching.
Plastic low tunnel: The micro climate can be make conducive
using various cladding materials. It can be utilized for nursery
raising or cultivation short crop round the year.
Detachable roof GH (with and without insect proof net):
With slight modification in side and center height.
Detachable roof GH with fogging system (with and without
insect proof net): With slight modification in side and center
height. The fogging system will make the GH further effective
in reducing the temperature during summer.

78. If you have any question/suggestion
Mail me: pramod_kgp@yahoo.co.uk
Contact me on WhatsApp: 8986644713