Page 8 - Vol.36-No.9 issue

MOLEAER

HOW NANOBUBBLES ARE HAVING A BIG

IMPACT IN GREENHOUSES AND FARMS

Chemical-free water treatment for greenhouses to optimize irrigation water, reservoirs and water basins in order to increase yield

numerous fresh crops including blue-
berries, table grapes, tomatoes, straw-
berries, almonds, avocados, cherries,
Climate change is creating new chal- citrus fruits, and a variety of leafy greens.
lenges for farmers and growers, with
increased water scarcity, warming en- The results across
vironments, severe droughts, and un-
predictable weather events. Increased crops using nanobubble
temperatures reduce the dissolved ox- technology have:
ygen levels of irrigation water supplies,
depriving plant roots of critical oxygen • Proven to generate up to 25% faster
levels needed for them to develop and growth in crops
creating an environment where harmful cost-efficient, sustainable solution to • Proven to increase yields of up to
bacteria and pathogens such as Pythi- prevent algae and pathogen growth in 56%, and in the case of blueberries and
um, Phytophthora and biofilm can thrive. water storage basins. strawberries, growers observed better
Farmers have been increasing their size ranges and grades of fruit
Nanobubbles’ oxygen transfer effi-
usage of chemical fertilizers and pesti- ciency (OTE) also provides the most • Enabled specialty crop growers to
cides to mitigate against pathogens and cost-effective solution to elevate oxygen reach their harvest weight sooner, en-
harmful bacteria. However, the use of levels in irrigation water, regardless of abling them to get to market faster.
chemicals comes at a cost - contaminat- temperatures. Nanobubble generators
ing water supplies and increasing trace deliver a consistent flow of oxygen-filled
chemicals found in drinking water and nanobubbles to the plant’s roots through
humans.
increased dissolved oxygen levels of
water supplies, including irrigation and
deep water culture (DWC) systems.
This leads to increased root zone oxy-
genation, which increases the healthy
nutrient uptake by plants. The outcome
is healthier, more resilient plants, in-
creased crop yields, and decreased time
to cultivation.
Moving farming indoors:
One example is Revol Greens, a state-
To overcome warming environments, of-the-art hydroponic grower located in
To increase crop production while severe droughts, and unpredictable the USA. The team at Revol found that
overcoming water scarcity and reducing weather events, farming has increasing- super saturating irrigation water with
chemical usage, growers need innova- ly migrated to controlled environments oxygen nanobubbles increased nutrient
tive technology solutions that require where growing conditions can be better uptake and improved plant development
less water with better nutrient absorp- managed to create reliable and consis- and yields. Steve Amundson, Partner &
tion. tent crops. Indoor growing, in green- Head Grower, Revol Greens, says: “We
houses and vertical farms, enables farm- are thrilled with the results we have seen
The nanobubble solution: ers to use new technology to reduce the at our Revol Greens greenhouse since in-
risk of exposure to harsh climate condi- stalling Moleaer’s nanobubble technolo-
Nanobubbles, tiny nano-sized bubbles tions, however, it comes with increased
that are 2500 times smaller than a grain costs for energy and climate controls. gy. The ability of the system to promote
plant growth is substantial to our bottom
of table salt and filled with oxygen, are line. The on-average 15% improvement
a new class of technology. Greenhouse in our yields was very surprising. This
facilities are rapidly implementing this proven technology should and will be
latest technology, with more than 150 fa- standardized into our current and future
cilities globally utilizing it. facilities.”
The nanobubbles increase both dis-
solved oxygen levels and the oxida-
tion-reduction potential (ORP) which
treats or eliminates pathogens and bio-
film through a process known as oxida-
tion. The elevated ORP improves wa-
ter quality, reduces Pythium and other
pathogen levels, and eliminates the need
for chemical treatments and pesticides. Nanobubble generators reduce en-
Irrigation reservoirs and storage ba- ergy consumption and costs for green-
sins for greenhouses are faced with ris- houses, reducing the reliance on indoor
ing bacteria, fungi, and algae growth re- climate controls.
sulting in decreased basin water quality. Greenhouses and indoor facilities are
Nanobubbles provide a chemical-free, using nanobubble technology to grow
Circle 7 on enquiry card
6 Vol. 36 No. 9