The cultivations in substrates extend by the fields of Peru, Chile, Mexico, and in general, by all the geographic zones of the world where the blueberry is produced. Hydroponics is no longer an experimental or alternative management and is becoming the common way to grow berries.

On Thursday, August 13, in the International Blueberry Month, is exclusively intended to delve into the secrets, news and knowledge of this technique through technical talks given by experts and researchers. It will be accessible from 10.00 am (Chilean time), connecting from anywhere in the world.

Álvaro Villalba, Commercial Director of the Projar Fruit and Vegetable area, will give the talk "Hydroponics solutions for the cultivation of blueberries", and then, María del Carmen Salas, Ing. Agr. Ph.D. from the University of Almería, will do so with the talk "Hydroponic production in blueberries: Key aspects of management, criteria to consider, monitoring and control of the crop".

Three pillars

In this type of management, the vast majority of experts assure that the most important thing is to accurately identify the type of water available, analyzing the environment, the climate, the latitude, etc. Then decisions must be made regarding the type of genetics to be used, choosing the correct variety for the project's objectives, and then, after these two essential pillars, the correct choice of substrate must be faced, because the substrate is the element that unites genetics with water. Your choice is vital to the success of the crop.

Experts assure that these three components are complementary and have the same importance and weight in the success or failure of the project, so there is no need to make a mistake in diagnosing or choosing one of them. The producer should be advised by professionals and experts in hydroponic management.

In Peru, the supply of the hydroponics technology package has grown and values ​​fall as demand increases. A basic package fluctuates between USD30 and USD50 per hectare, a medium one that fluctuates between USD80 and USD90, and a premium package that exceeds USD120 per hectare. In estimated terms, the Peruvian farmer invests between USD 10 to USD 11 on average per plant.

Potted mexico 

In Mexico, hydroponics has turned old orchards into high-tech companies. The fields of Guadalajara or Sinaloa are covered in white, because from south to north the Mexican berry industry converts to these new operations.

Five years ago, approximately 5% of the nursery plants that were commercialized were destined for hydroponics, currently more than 25% of the plants are destined for soilless cultivation or hydroponic management projects.

The future of the berry industry is already in the present. Farmers have accepted technological advances and implemented them achieving high yield and quality indices. With this technology, the producer does not face a blueberry field, but rather high-tech companies in the production of blueberries.

In the context of International Blueberry Month, these and many other topics related to the cultivation of blueberries in their technical and commercial aspects will be addressed in several talks given by renowned experts and researchers.

To participate you can do it from anywhere in the world by connecting to the following link: