The last months of the growing season are crucial for growers. Are you almost finished harvesting, or can you still achieve a good yield? Thom van Wesel, application specialist at Cultilene, explains how the right substrate block can help maximize production in the final months of cultivation.

Stimulating root growth

While achieving good yields is important year-round, the final months can determine whether a year is good or exceptional. During the summer, there’s often an abundance of production, leading to lower prices. In autumn, however, prices rise, creating an opportunity for better profits.

But autumn cultivation comes with its challenges. With less sunlight, lower temperatures, and reduced transpiration, irrigation frequency reduces. While this is necessary to prevent overwatering, it also increases the risk of blocks drying out too much between waterings.

This is a concern because even in autumn, plants continue to develop roots. If the water content in your blocks is too low, this process slows down or stops. This directly affects plant health, leading to reduced fruit development and ripening, and ultimately lower yields.

Monitor water levels in blocks

To achieve good production during the final months, it’s essential to monitor the water content in your blocks carefully. Aim for a moisture level between 35% and 60%. Below 35%, plants experience drought stress, which can slow down root development and reduce the overall efficiency of the root system. 

Using sensors, such as those from Growficient, can simplify this process. These sensors provide a quick overview of moisture levels, allowing you to adjust your irrigation strategy more accurately. This helps prevent both drought and water stress.

Adjust your blocks 

If you’re struggling to maintain proper water levels despite good monitoring, consider switching to a substrate that retains water more effectively for the next season. Cultilene offers various block types to help with this.

One of the factors that influence water retention is the density of the substrate. Higher density (more weight per cubic meter) means the substrate releases water more slowly. Another factor is the thickness of the stone wool fibres: thicker fibres lose water faster, while thinner fibres retain it better.

Lastly, the fibre orientation is important. Most blocks in the market have vertical fibre orientation, encouraging root growth straight down. Although this can be beneficial for some crops like pepper, other crops benefit from a different fibre orientation. 

This is why Cultilene’s RootmaXX blocks feature a cross-fibre structure (X-fibre). This stimulates horizontal root distribution first, followed by vertical colonisation. The result is a more uniform and active root system throughout the entire block.

A well-distributed root system helps maintain moisture across the block, especially at the base, and improves capillary action. This is crucial at the end of the season, when water uptake becomes more challenging. A block that supports root growth both at the top and bottom stays moist longer and enhances the overall plant resilience.

The information provided by Saint-Gobain Cultilene has been compiled with great care and is intended solely as a guideline for the user. Saint-Gobain Cultilene therefore cannot guarantee any errors and no rights may be derived from the information or advice provided. The user himself is responsible for checking the accuracy and suitability of the information and advice for application. No commercial use may be made of the information and advice provided by Saint-Gobain Cultilene, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Saint-Gobain Cultilene.