Despite the difficulties imposed by the current crisis on the world market, the area for blueberry cultivation is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years, especially in the main exporting countries, and also in hydroponic system, according to industry experts.

The demand for this purple fruit is increasingly booming for its health benefits. Therefore, the race to occupy the top positions among the main producing countries has caused a competitive price adjustment, in addition to increasing the quality requirements of importing countries. Given this panorama, it is necessary to search new more productive varieties that meet the quality and flavor requirements of the markets, but also, increase productivity per hectare to match the great producing powers.

“We know that blueberry production is a medium-term crop that is consolidated in the soil after the fifth year of production. World demand grows exponentially and the market demands a competitive offer both in quantity and quality of the fruit. So, hydroponics is emerging as the only cultivation system that advances market entry from the first year of production”Says Francisco López, Hydroponics Director of Projar, a company specialized in hydroponic solutions for red fruits. 

Why will hydroponic cultivation increase in blueberry production?

The establishment and development of the blueberry plant is extremely demanding, since it requires specific climate, soil and water conditions to obtain a quality crop with high yields. The root system of the bilberry plant is weak and, in this sense, the list of factors to consider is multiplied in conventional cultivation by the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil. "To have healthy and quality plants, it is vital that the soil texture, pH and quality of irrigation water are adequate. In Projar we are committed to hydroponic cultivation, either in a pot with substrate or in coconut fiber, because the producer knows from the first moment that he is growing the plant in an optimal medium and with easily controllable parameters to ensure the success of the production López remarks.

The problems that the soil can present in the blueberry crop and how hydroponics can solve them

Before establishing a blueberry crop in soil, it is necessary to carry out a physical analysis of the growing land to determine its texture and ensure that it has good drainage and high aeration capacity, with sandy and sandy loam soils being the most suitable for fragile root system of the bilberry plant. In addition, it is very likely that there are different types of textures at the implantation site, risk that there is no homogeneity for the entire crop and, consequently, the plants do not develop or produce homogeneously. 

On the other hand, the pH of the soil, its cation exchange capacity (CIC), electrical conductivity (EC) and nutritional levels must be known. The pH of the soil significantly affects the availability of nutrients, being necessary for the blueberry a pH between 4,8 and 5,2. "The main problem is that most soils have a pH higher than the ideal one and it may be too high a value to adjust it to the ideal conditions, especially if the CEC is high, being an optimal level of 10-15 meq / 100 gr of soil ”, explains Juan Manuel García, Product Manager of Projar and specialist in hydroponic cultivation. "Some of the most common abiotic disorders are associated with those related to nutritional deficiencies, since it is difficult to carry out a correct quantitative control of the leachates produced on each irrigation day," he adds.

Increasingly, the cultivation of blueberry in hydroponics (either in coconut fiber or in substrate), is gaining positions with respect to conventional cultivation systems for successfully addressing all the problems associated with the soil explained above. Through this system, producers will have better monitoring of all those aspects that may affect the crop, exercising adequate control by:

• The use of a coconut fiber or a substrate that guarantees a balanced water / air balance. 
• The constant contribution of a balanced fertilization with the adjustment of the pH to the required level.
• The control of the appropriate level of humidity and EC of the substrate at all times by the desired% drainage.

As an example of the benefits of hydroponics. "Our experience and research in the sector has allowed us to verify that plants start producing earlier when hydroponics is used" - explains Francisco López.

In the following graph it can be seen that, During the first year of production, up to 15.000 Kg / ha were obtained compared to 10.000 Kg / ha, at most, from soil cultivation. A difference that is maintained in the first years until finally the production of the crop in soil is equal to the hydroponic production.

This is explained because the substrate is a "more comfortable" environment than the ground. “For starters, the time of planting occurs without stress, because the substrate is a culture medium very similar to the one that housed the plant in the nursery. This causes the plant to start optimally, "explains López. "Also, in container, the roots are going to develop very strong and very quickly, which will cause the harvest to come forward and this will be much higher in those first years.".

Technical knowledge and initial investment may no longer be a problem for the producer

Despite the advantages that hydroponics presents for the cultivation of blueberries, there are producers who are unsure when adopting this system in their plantation. The main reasons are the technical knowledge required to control the plantation and the initial investment that a hydroponic project requires.

"Regarding investment, we start from the basis that in a hydroponic blueberry crop the number of plants per hectare doubles. Therefore, the cost only in plants is already higher if we compare it with a cultivation in soil ”explains López. “However, it has been shown that hydroponics offers greater control over production cycles and guarantees a more homogeneous and quality fruit. Therefore, when entering the production plant from the first year, It is possible to receive income from the beginning that quickly recover the investment during the first three years ”he adds. Continuing with the results of the aforementioned study, we can see in the following graph how income is also higher than a soil crop from the beginning.

On the other hand, the technical knowledge and agronomic management that hydroponic cultivation requires is also no longer a problem with Projar's experience and service. “One of the reasons why more and more producers trust us is for the technical advice we provide,” explains Juan Manuel García. "We offer our clients a consulting and technical advisory service Counting for this with a team of technicians specialized in intensive production in hydroponic systems in the open air and in greenhouses, reinforcing through this service our commitment to guarantee the productive success of our clients ”, indicates García.

Projar thus becomes the perfect ally for any hydroponics project, not only because it is a manufacturer of coconut fiber substrates and products - which has allowed it to know very well the characteristics and behavior of raw materials - but also for offering products, technical advice and logistics service in the same service, all adapted to customer needs. "Our service saves time and money for the producer by having everything you need in a single service”Adds García. “Many growers feel supported because we not only help them carry out a plantation without soil, but also we follow up post-delivery to make sure that everything is going according to plan. ”

Projar is a fruit and vegetable technology company with more than 35 years of international experience that offers advanced solutions to hydroponic cultivation. It belongs to the Projar Group, which brings together various activities related to agriculture and the environment, and has a presence in more than 20 countries around the world. The group billed 50 million euros in 2019 and has more than 3.000 clients worldwide.

Further information:

Ing. Francisco Lopez

Hydroponics Director

Email:  paco.lopez@projargroup.com