1. 1. Vegetables Tunnel Technology By Allah Dad Khan
2. 2. Introduction: 1. Growing out-of- season crops in controlled atmosphere inside polythene tunnels is called Tunnel Farming. In Pakistan, this kind of farming is normally adopted for off-season cultivation of summer vegetables. 2. As it is not possible to grow summer vegetable in open fields from December to February due to low temperature and high frost levels, so these are grown inside polythene tunnels so that proper atmosphere may be given to plants for their maximum growth and yield. 3. Because of controlled atmosphere, Tunnel farming is the source of higher yields and earlier production, and this earlier and quality produce gives good profits to farmers. 4. For this reason, modern and progressive farmers of Pakistan are adopting this advance mode of farming
3. 3. Tunnel Farming for Off season Vegetables Tunnel farming is the only way to get off-season production of summer vegetables. Tunnel farming involves constructing tunnels like Greenhouses i.e. hut-like structures swathed in plastic that serve as cocoons for growing cucumber, tomato, pepper, carrot and lettuce etc. In addition to summer vegetables, production of strawberry inside tunnels has also become very popular in the recent years.
4. 4. Basic Idea of Tunnel Farming The idea of tunnel farming is to shield the crops from the elements and trap the heat of the sun, extending the growing season and increasing production. Tunnel farming is gaining acceptance among educated farmers as it provides them with an opportunity to save the input resources by using less than 40 per cent water, fertilizer and other resources under controlled conditions. Through tunnel farming, it is possible to overcome the three main impediments that impact agricultural growth: chronic water shortages, low yield per acre and low value of crop production.
5. 5. Principle of Tunnel Farming Tunnel farming operates on the principle that of creating conditions during winter that are equivalent to those in summers. The vegetables sown in summer are then cultivated in these tunnels during winter. The entire farming area is covered by transparent polythene sheath fixed over D-shaped Bamboo/steel/aluminum pipes. The soil/growing media is also covered with black colored polythene sheath with small holes in which the seeds are sown. The sunlight during the day passes through transparent polythene sheath and is absorbed by the black sheath spread over the soil/growing media. This raises the temperature to desired level inside the tunnel. The plastic sheet on the soil serves three purposes: i) First it traps heat, ii) it reduces water loss and iii) it eliminates growth of weeds enormously.
6. 6. Things to remember before start: Prior to start off-season vegetable cultivation in tunnels, the investor must have practical knowledge about farming. Soil and water quality of the farming site should be tested before start. Self-pollinated plants should be grown. Recommended seed should be used. Farmer must have complied and critically analyzed market in formation to earn high profit.
7. 7. Benefits/Objectives of Tunnel Technology To introduce intensive cultivation per unit area. To get maximum output/unit area. To get production as per market demand. To minimize the environmental Hazards. To increase the life span and production ability of the plants. To promote vertical cultivation to enhance quality and quantity of the produce and to lessen the area availability issues. To get 3-5 times more production as compared to that taken in an open field. To fetch higher price of produce because of its early availability in the market. To save the input resources like water, fertilizer and Time & space. To manage the crops in controlled and comparatively easy conditions.
8. 8. Suggestions for Successful production: Always keep the direction of the tunnel from East to West for better temperature gains inside the tunnel. Always use good quality seed. For cucumber, use Parthinocarpic variety seed. For tomato, use indeterminate variety seed. Use fertile soil and maintain its fertility during throughout the season. Always grow more profitable vegetables as per market survey. Protect seed of cucumber from rodents and insects till its germination. Irrigate in morning and evening or as per experts advice according to the growing/atmospheric conditions inside your tunnel farm. All plants are tied up with rope. Prune the plants particularly three nodes at initial stage. Use minimum quantity of farm yard manure for cucumber as compared to sweet pepper and tomato crops. Use drip irrigation for economic irrigation and fertilizer application. To avoid germination of weed, use black mulch into the growing bed. Apply proper pesticide at proper time to control the insects or fungi. Smoking is strictly prohibited inside Tunnel as it may cause a quick spread viral diseases throughout the tunnel.
9. 9. What is Tunnel Technology Tunnel Farming Growing out-of- season crops in controlled atmosphere inside polythene tunnels is called Tunnel Farming. In Pakistan, this kind of farming is normally adopted for off-season cultivation of summer vegetables. As it is not possible to grow summer vegetable in open fields from December to February due to low temperature and high frost levels, so these are grown inside polythene tunnels Tunnel farming is the only way to get off-season production of summer vegetables. Tunnel farming involves constructing tunnels like Greenhouses i.e. hut- like structures swathed in plastic that serve as cocoons for growing cucumber, tomato, pepper, carrot and lettuce etc. In addition to summer vegetables, production of strawberry inside tunnels has also become very popular in the recent years. so that proper atmosphere may be given to plants for their maximum growth and yield. Because of controlled atmosphere, Tunnel farming is the source of higher yields and earlier production, and this earlier and quality produce gives good profits to farmers. For this reason, modern and progressive farmers of Pakistan are adopting this advance mode of farming at a faster pace.
10. 10. Plastic Tunnel Cultivation by this method is gaining popularity because of low cost and easy usage.Plastic tunnels are transparent which provides required sunshine to the plants, and the plastic also plays a barrier against the cool air in winter
11. 11. Concepts of Tunnel Technology Tunnel farming involves constructing greenhouses-hut-like structures swathed in plastic that serve as cocoons for growing tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, carrots, strawberries and bushels of other fruits and vegetables. The idea of tunnel farming is to shield the crops from the elements and trap the heat of the sun, extending the growing season and increasing production. The tunnels provide a microclimate around the crops that essentially fools them into thinking it is a different season than it really is, agriculture specialist explained.
12. 12. TUNNEL STRUCTUR It depends upon type of tunnel. If tunnel is: - LOW then structure will be different. - WALKIN then it would be different. - HIGH then it would be different.
13. 13. TYPE OF TUNNEL Depends upon:- 1. Crop to be sown. 2. Stature of the crop. 3. Investment capacity. 4. Nature of the crop. 5. Variety to be sown. 6. Management level.
14. 14. Type of tunnel Veg to be grown Tunnel Type Tunnel Height Cucumber Tomato Bottle gourd High tunnel 10 to 12 feet Sweet Pepper Hot pepper Walk in tunnel 5 to 6 feet Sponge gourd Water melon Musk melon Bitter gourd Bottle gourd Low tunnel 2.5 to 3 feet
15. 15. Low Tunnel It is cheaper than high tunnel but creates difficulty for soil preparation, spraying and picking.The tunnels are suitable for cucumber sown flat bed, melons, watermelons, bitter gourds, squashes, and snake gourds etc. The crop yield in this type of tunnel ishowever low compared to high tunnels
16. 16. Low Tunnels Merits: Used to protect vegetables from frost & chilling. All types of vegetables can be grown. Very cheap Very popular in farmers being less expensive. Installation is easy& quick. Demerits: Vegetables can only be early for 20-30 days. Production of vegetables and Income is too less than walk in & high tunnels. Crop Management operations i.e spraying, hoeing, fertilizer application etc are difficult and are conducted by lifting plastic paper.
17. 17. Low Tunnels Kinds of structure ii. Bamboo/Mulberry sticks Structure 3 height from center 4-5 width & 100-200 length. Bamboo or Mulberry of 0.5 to 0.7 dia &10 long are bent into half moon shape & fixed in soil. Average life 1 season. Very Cheap structure (Rs. 25-30 thousand/acre) Good for heavy wind area. Very easy to construct & install.
18. 18. LOW TUNNEL (5 x 2.5 ft) Best Material Steel rods of 6mm dia and 10 feet long bent in the shape of half moon. Sticks of different plants can also be used but often create problems. Plastic need to be removed at flowering for pollination. Make the crop about 1.5 month early. Problem of weeds if not controlled. Courtesy: Shadi Farm
19. 19. Walk-in Tunnels Walk-in tunnels are lower than the high tunnels but they are gaining popularity asthey provide high yield compared to low tunnels. The tunnel is suitable for growingtomatoes, cucumbers, sweet pepper and hot pepper.
20. 20. Walk-IN Tunnels Merits: Best for bushy vegetables i.e sweet/hot peppers, squashes, Freshbean etc. Vine vegetables i.e tomato, cucumber, bitter gourds, spong gourds etc. can also be grown. Relatively less expensive & high profitable. Very popular in farmers being less expensive. Installation is easy, quick and needs no technical expertise Demerits: Production of vine vegetables remain less than high tunnels due to restricted growth. Income is also relatively less than high tunnels. Management operations i.e spraying, hoeing, plants training are difficult than high tunnel.
21. 21. Walk-In Tunnels Kinds of Structure G.I. Pipe structure 6-6.5 height from center 2 to 2.5 height from sides 10-12 width & 100200 feet length. Made by 1/2 & 3/4 dia & 18-20 long G.I. pipe. Average life 10-12 years. Less expensive structure (Rs. 3 to 3.5 Lac/acre) Good for heavy wind area. Very popular due to low cost & high profitability. Very easy to construct & install.
22. 22. WALK IN TUNNEL (12 W x 6 ft H) Best Material Zn galvanized steel pipes of 0.75 inch dia and of medium thickness bent in the shape that it gives 12 ft wide and 6 ft high tunnel. It should be at least 2.5 ft high at the sides.
23. 23. High Tunnel High tunnel facilitates easy access for soil preparation, picking and spraying due to itswidth and height. The crop yield is maximum in this type of tunnel. The tunnel issuitable for growing tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet peppers.
24. 24. High Tunnel Technology
25. 25. High Tunnels Kinds of structure 1. T.R / Angle Iron structure 11 to 14 feet height from center 7 to 8 feet height from sides 30 feet width & 100 200 feet length. Made by T. Iron & Angle Iron Average life 20-25 years. Safe for heavy productive vegetables. But; Most expensive structure (Rs.14-15 lac/acre) Not good for heavy wind area.
26. 26. Kinds of structure 2. Pipe Structure Made by iron pipe of 1.5 dia & 14 -16 gauge. 11 to 14 feet height from center 7 feet height from sides 30 feet width & 100 200 feet length. Average life 15-20 years. Safe for heavy productive vegetables. Relatively less expensive ss than T. R structure (Rs. 9-10 Lac/acre) Good for heavy wind area. Relatively more popular than T.R tunnels. Good for all vine type vegetables
27. 27. Kinds of structure 3. Bamboo or Mix Structure Made by bamboo or bamboo + iron pipe 1.5 dia. 10-11 height from center 7 height from sides 30 width & 100200 length. Average life 1 to 2 years. Very risky for heavy productive vegetables. Very cheap structure (Rs. 1 to1.3 Lac/acre). Very risky in heavy wind area. Farmers use it to initiate the tunnel farming. Some times structure collapsed due to heavy load. Not reliable.
28. 28. Production Process for Tunnel Farming 1. The production flow varies slightly for different vegetables. The following production flow 2. is based on the production of tomatoes. 3. Sowing of seeds in a separate plot of land for nursery. 4. Preparation of seed beds in the field for cultivation of vegetables. 5. Using fertilizer in the soil to maintain its fertility. 6. Transplantation of nursery in the soil or sowing of seeds directly in the soil. 7. Maintaining level of moisture in the soil. 8. Protection from the pests, diseases and other wild growths by using pesticides/sprays 9. of chemicals, and trimming. 10. Using fertilizer of different varieties for the smooth growth of plantation. 11. Picking/harvesting at various times as per nature/requirement of the plantation. 12. Grading of crop on the basis of quality and other standards. 13. Application of post harvesting technology for picking/plucking, packing and storing 14. the vegetables in order to fetch the maximum price. 15. Transportation to the sale points in local or export markets.
29. 29. Questions