Greenhouse Enrichment
Carbacid (CO2) Ltd. offers a comprehensive gas supply and storage package to the horticulture industry for artificial CO2 enrichment.CO2 enrichment of greenhouse atmosphere is a well-established method of increasing the rate of Photosynthesis. Essential elements for plant growth are: Water- CO2 - Light - Heat - Nutrition
All are interrelated and dependent upon each other. If any one factor is limited, the others can only perform to the level of the limiting factor.
The Leaves are called food factories of plant. In the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll, the leaf prepares Sugar, cellulose and starch using carbon dioxide and water and the process is called Photosynthesis.
The ambient level of CO2 at sea level is between 330 to 350ppm. In Nairobi it is about 370 ppm, Kampala 340ppm, Naivasha 260ppm and inside one green house in Naivasha it was as low as 230ppm. Photosynthesis appears to stop, when CO2 concentration drops below 150 to 120ppm and such low levels have been detected in closed green houses after two to fours hours of Photosynthesis.
The technique of CO2 enrichment is, therefore, not only designed to compensate for the depletion of natural CO2, but to raise the rate of growth with favorable Light and temperature conditions.
Pure Carbon dioxide has been used successfully for variety of protected crops, including:
Asparagus, Carnations, Celery, Chrysanthemums, Cucumbers, Freesias, Gerbera, Lettuce, Orchids, Peppers , Pot -Plants, Roses, Tomatoes.
Carbacid (CO2) Ltd. supplies pure carbon dioxide to some of the reputed growers in Kenya, to realise one or more of the following benefits:
- Increased crop weight of up-to 300% during the first four weeks picking of long season crops.
- Increased crop weight of up -to 30 to 35% over whole growing season.
- More rapid growth in leafy vegetable crops, due to better use of light.
- Improves quality, including thicker, longer stems and better flower size, color.
- Increase number of Flowering stems and reduce the percentage of blind shoots to rose crop.
- Enhanced commercial returns, which arise from the improved yield, earlier crop and /or crop rotation times.
