Horticultural Crops
Horticulture is referred to the agricultural techniques dedicated to the production of fresh vegetables, generally in an intensive fashion. The main characteristic of the horticultural production is its economic relevance that constitutes a differentiator amongst Mediterranean countries.
Regarding their exploitation regime there are plenty production models that range from open field cultivation to protected/covered crops, known as greenhouse crops. The farming practices applied to these species are almost infinite and can be combined with the cultivation of different plants by introducing a crop rotation. This sector implies large money investments and requires a lot of labour force.
The different species found in the horticultural crops are very numerous and their classification is very varied. In this section we present one of the most common classifications that divide the different species according to their cropping seasons.
Cold season crops: their growing temperature range is low which makes these crops very appropiate during the winter. Among these we can find:
- Onion
- Potatoe
- Garlic
- Carrot
- Chard
- Lettuce
Warm season crops: this group is characterised because their growing temperature range is above 18 ºC. Among these we can find:
- Tomatoe
- Eggplant
- Cantaloupe
- Watermelon
- Pepper
- Cucumber
Plantae in Horticulture
What does Plantae contribute to horticulture?
As we have described, horticulture is one of the most diverse cropping systems. It can be cultivated in open field, inside, on soil, sustrate and even as hydroponics. This makes cultivating horticultural crops a very complex process..
It is important to give the exact water amount that the plant needs in each moment, respecting the salt concentration and the soil's composition. Finding this point of equilibrium guarantees the maximisation of productivity and improves the harvest's quality . All of this combined with the introduction of different crop cycles implies that during the year there is a succession of vegetable species in the field. Crop rotation presents a great challenge to the farmer that must adapt the soil for the arriving crop while adjusting the inputs to each of the crop's needs.
At Plantae, we are aware that these decisions involve a critical moment in the design of the productive plan, therefore we offer the necessary tools to guide the irrigation management towards the optimum point. The Plantae station's readings provide with the necessary data on which to base the irrigation program. Each reading has its function:
- Humidity:change the irrigation cycles based on each reading to give the crops the exact water it needs: quantity, frequency, duration
- Conductivity:keep the soil's salinity levels below the detrimental thresholds for the crops.
- Temperature:: actuación frente a heladas y control de otros parámetros (plagas, fenología…).
- Subsoil temperature:control of the soil's temperature and correlation with the surface temperature.
- Flowmeter: irrigation monitoring, irrigators control, incidence localisation...
All the stations are adapted to the soil type and reading depth relevant in each case. Also, always accompanied by the support and follow-up of a team of agricultural technicians and engineers that adjust the reading ranges, analyze the soil and provide counseling monthly while accompanying you in the optimisation of resources and increase of the productivity..
English 
Spanish