Agronomists: Key to growing success
Agronomists play a vital role in helping farmers around the world increase their crop yields, ensure optimal crop quality and maximise their returns. At Vegtech Netafim, our team wouldn’t be complete without the input of leading agronomists, assisting our team to offer insightful, precise and advanced crop expertise.
The role of agronomists
Agronomists are experts in crops and their environments. They work alongside farmers, advising them on crop management, from the pre-planting stage through to harvesting. They regularly collect and analyse soil and crop samples to generate data about a range of factors affecting commercial crops – everything from diseases to climactic conditions. They also highlight areas of possible improvement, investigate issues relating to planting, cultivating, storage, distribution, and pest and weed control, and advance sustainable, environmentally aware farming practices.
Agronomists at Vegtech Netafim
Agronomists form an integral part of our process at Vegtech Netafim and we rely on their knowledge, insights and expertise from the moment we start a new greenhouse project.
What do these parameters include?
- Environmental temperature
By analysing historical weather patterns, agronomists are able to predict future weather behaviour in an area and determine how the temperature inside the new greenhouse structure will be affected by changes in season.
- Radiation
Agronomists carry out investigations to determine the levels of radiation that photosynthesis will cause inside the greenhouse.
- Humidity
By determining the relative humidity in the area, agronomists are able to determine the impact on the crop in question.
- Water quality
Not all water is suitable for greenhouse irrigation. By testing the water quality, agronomists determine whether it requires treatment, e.g. PH control or desalination.
- Soil analysis
An analysis of the soil in the area confirms if the crop is able to grow in the existing soil or if another solution is required.
- Precipitation analysis
A precipitation analysis empowers agronomists to make decisions around whether the crop is best suited to a greenhouse.
The future of agronomy
The agricultural landscape is constantly changing, now more than ever with the rapid rise of AgTech in recent years – in 2019, this industry attracted $16.9 billion worth of investment. Between digital tools designed to give farmers access to critical information within minutes, and the growth of platforms like WhatsApp, which enable farmers and agronomists to remain in constant communication, it seems likely that the role of the agronomist is set to change going forward. But how much will agricultural technology impact the relationship between farmer and agronomist? And to what degree, if any, is this technology likely to replace time in the field?
Planning a greenhouse nursery project?
Vegtech Netafim has extensive experience in designing and constructing hi-tech greenhouses and greenhouse nurseries. If you’re planning an undercover growing project and need a partner who understands your needs – and delivers real results for your business – get in touch today.
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