Articles
Assessing the cooling effect of shade nets in walk-in tunnels: a trade-off between landscape regulations and strawberry production in the Trentino region (Italy)
Article number
1437_14
Pages
103 – 110
Language
English
Abstract
Strawberries are cultivated in the Mediterranean area within unheated tunnels, enhancing productivity and quality compared to open fields.
However, high temperature reduces growing period, yields and fruit quality.
Strategies like shade nets, improved ventilation, and evaporative cooling can help reduce high temperatures.
In areas with landscape protection, like Trentino (Italy), an Alpine region, landscape impact restrictions pose additional challenges for producers.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of employing an external, fixed shade net on reducing indoor temperatures in tunnels and its effects on strawberry yield and quality.
This approach also aimed to ensure compliance with landscape restrictions.
An experiment took place between July-October 2023 in a mountainous area of northern Italy.
Treatments included: 1) a reference tunnel with plastic film (light transmissivity 78.8%), 2) a green shade net laying on the cover (combined transmissivity 47.2%), and 3) the same kind of net, raised about 1 m above the cover material.
Evaporative cooling, along with irrigation, was applied in all three treatments using the same activation parameters.
The results of the experiment revealed that the shading was excessive and significantly reduced yield (234 g plant‑1 in the reference case, compared with 181 and 178 g plant‑1 in the shaded tunnels), but without significant effects on fruit quality.
Lower yields were due to fewer fruits produced.
The light use efficiency (LUE) was about 3.5 g of fresh weight per mole of PAR light at the level of the canopy and the water use for irrigation ranged between 30 and 43 L kg‑1. The trial laid the foundation for a second study, which will assess the effect of less shading.
Ideally, alternative cover materials with desired optical characteristics and thermal infrared properties could offer an optimal solution, avoiding the need for shading and offering a compromise between strawberry production and landscape constraints.
However, high temperature reduces growing period, yields and fruit quality.
Strategies like shade nets, improved ventilation, and evaporative cooling can help reduce high temperatures.
In areas with landscape protection, like Trentino (Italy), an Alpine region, landscape impact restrictions pose additional challenges for producers.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of employing an external, fixed shade net on reducing indoor temperatures in tunnels and its effects on strawberry yield and quality.
This approach also aimed to ensure compliance with landscape restrictions.
An experiment took place between July-October 2023 in a mountainous area of northern Italy.
Treatments included: 1) a reference tunnel with plastic film (light transmissivity 78.8%), 2) a green shade net laying on the cover (combined transmissivity 47.2%), and 3) the same kind of net, raised about 1 m above the cover material.
Evaporative cooling, along with irrigation, was applied in all three treatments using the same activation parameters.
The results of the experiment revealed that the shading was excessive and significantly reduced yield (234 g plant‑1 in the reference case, compared with 181 and 178 g plant‑1 in the shaded tunnels), but without significant effects on fruit quality.
Lower yields were due to fewer fruits produced.
The light use efficiency (LUE) was about 3.5 g of fresh weight per mole of PAR light at the level of the canopy and the water use for irrigation ranged between 30 and 43 L kg‑1. The trial laid the foundation for a second study, which will assess the effect of less shading.
Ideally, alternative cover materials with desired optical characteristics and thermal infrared properties could offer an optimal solution, avoiding the need for shading and offering a compromise between strawberry production and landscape constraints.
Publication
Authors
I. Righini, C. Stanghellini, G. Savini
Keywords
shadow screens, Mediterranean climate, strawberry crop, unheated tunnel
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