A closer look at greenhouse plastics
For greenhouses to create the most successful yields for your specific crop and environment, choosing the right plastic cover is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Knowing what factors to consider when selecting a cover will equip you with the knowledge to choose the right one for your crop. For example, understanding how much light you want to let in, whether or not you want to retain heat and how much UV blocking you need will all help when choosing a cover.
At Vegtech Netafim, we use advanced plastic films, and here’s an overview of the important physical and mechanical properties some of these coverings offer. Both the physical and mechanical properties are important in any decision-making process.
Physical properties
Each plastic film you consider will have a combination of physical properties, designed to meet various climate and crop requirements.
Light transmission refers to the percentage of light the film allows into your Greenhouse.
Light diffusion talks to the percentage of diffused light that passes through the film. Dispersed light helps to improve photosynthesis, reduces temperatures, and protects crops from sunburn.
Thermicity is all about keeping the heat in your greenhouse, and thermal films help to prevent heat loss, particularly at night. In winter, these films help to minimise frost damage.
Covers with anti-drip properties prevent condensation droplets from forming on your greenhouse cover. If not prevented, droplets may reduce light transmission and increase the risk of fungal diseases.
Covers with Anti-dust properties prevent dust and dirt accumulating on the outside of your greenhouse and ensure that light and diffused light are let in, as planned.
Lastly, film covers with added UV-radiation absorption help to block UV light and, in turn, reduce insect damage and crop diseases carried by insects. They also help to prevent petal blackening in red roses.
Mechanical properties:
There are also a range of mechanical properties to consider when tailoring your film covering. To mention a few, the degree of UV stabilisation, for example, refers to how well the film will hold up under UV radiation – particularly important in a hot African climate, affecting the lifespan of the plastic. And tensile strength refers to how much load or pressure the films can handle before breaking.
Need expert advice? We can help.
Once we know what you’re growing – and where you’re growing it – we’ll recommend the plastics with the most suitable mechanical and physical properties for your crop and environment. And if we don’t have a specific plastic to suit your needs, we can create a custom solution for you.
Good to know: our environmental focus:
We feel strongly about sustainability and environmental responsibility. That’s why we don’t use heavy metal-based compounds to stabilise our plastic films. And why we offer a more eco-friendly 150-micron film alongside our standard 200-micron films – this new film allows us to use 25% less plastic per greenhouse. We’re also in the process of working with several companies to enable our clients to recycle their films once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan.
Ready to chat?
Get in touch and let’s discuss the best plastic options for your greenhouse structure.
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