More glass and less metal means better light and plant growth at the University of Saskatchewan’s newest greenhouse.
The new greenhouse has three metres of glass space between metal frames instead of 1.2 m in the existing greenhouses.
Ten percent more light means plants can grow 10 percent faster, said Doug Waterer, a horticultural specialist who heads the greenhouse management team.
Available greenhouse space doubled to 6,666 sq. metres when the $2 million project opened in April, helping to eliminate long waiting lists for plant breeding and disease research projects.
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The university’s new glass house is especially important to plant breeders of grain, oilseeds, pulses, fruits and vegetables, who use greenhouses to grow plants faster under controlled conditions.
“We represent the safe alternative,” Waterer said.
“Here they can be absolutely sure they’ll get a crop.”
The expansion was funded through the university’s agriculture building trust fund and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Founded in 1997, CFI is a federally funded independent organization that supports innovation by providing money for equipment and facilities.
CFI president David Strangway said this project was funded because of the calibre of the researchers and the proposed research.
“They couldn’t do that without this facility,” he said.
“If you don’t have the equipment, you can’t do the research and if you can’t do the research you can’t attract the graduate students and if you can’t attract them, you can’t attract the faculty.”
The glass houses can help produce as many as three cycles or generations of plantings in a season, allowing breeders to try different crosses and get new seeds into the field for farmers faster.
“It’s a race against the clock in churning out new varieties,” said Waterer.
He said the facility also rehabilitates ailing plants from the agriculture buildings and includes a special room for a horticultural club.
The greenhouse project plays a major role in supporting hands-on education in greenhouse management, he added. While matching growing conditions of commercial horticultural operations, it can also show what more can be done with modern growing systems.
“We have the luxury of many features to demonstrate how you can make your operations better,” he said during a tour of a 1,600 sq. m polyethylene-covered house adjacent to the glass houses.
Sliding benches for rows of plants allow more efficient use of greenhouse space, and an in-floor water heating system and energy curtains keep out extremes of cold and heat.
Flood floors for watering plants are a labour saver that can be turned on with the flick of a switch. Water can be pre-mixed automatically with fertilizer, with excess water drained off and used again during numerous daily waterings.
Fifteen researchers conduct experiments here, assisted by two full-time managers. They are linked to the greenhouse by computers that alert them to problems and allow them to turn waterers on and off from their homes, if necessary.
Winter is the busiest time, with most projects moved outdoors in the summer , Waterer said.
Research is now under way on the effects of changing fertilizer in the growing cycle, dusting wheat with sulfur to reduce mildew, the economics of growing echinacea in greenhouses and the role of fungicides and growing techniques in reducing leaf spots.
Waterer said the new facility is important in developing new opportunities for greenhouse operators, such as green tomatoes, herbs, medicinal plants and locally grown produce.
Bedding plant businesses have grown to the point where Waterer worried the market is becoming saturated.
“The pony ridden so far has been bedding plants, but we need another one-trick pony real soon.
