'Indispensable if only because of the precipitation data'

Weather data is crucial in the cultivation of flower bulbs such as tulips. Whether it concerns making a schedule, the temperature trend in the winter, monitoring moisture requirements or the spraying conditions. The solutions of AgroExact help the De Lange brothers with this. At their company in Flevoland, weather and soil moisture data have become indispensable.

Gebr. De Lange from Swifterbant (Flevoland) is run by brothers Edwin and Wilmar de Lange. The contracting company is strongly focused on the cultivation of tulip bulbs. From planting to harvesting, the company carries out all the necessary work for various tulip growers. Crop protection and irrigation are important tasks within the cultivation. "Without the solutions of AgroExact we can no longer do anything", says Edwin, who now has several seasons of experience.

No surprises
The company has its own RainExact weather station from AgroExact on the farm and uses the network of stations in Flevoland. From Creil in the Noordoostpolder to the southernmost point in Zeewolde, it takes care of tulip plots. This not only results in an enormous spread in soil types, but also in the amount of precipitation that falls. "In the past, we were sometimes surprised by a local shower when planting or harvesting," Edwin remembers well. "That is no longer possible, because we have local weather data everywhere. This makes it easier to make a plan."

Between April and the end of June, the company is often on the road with multiple irrigation reels. "The tulip is a crop that requires a lot of water, so you can't cut corners here," the contractor explains. "All employees who work with the reels also have the AgroExact app so that they can view the plots. With the CropExact soil moisture sensors, we measure the moisture level in the root zone of the crop. This season in particular, the tulips have very shallow roots, which means that irrigation is quickly necessary. If you wait too long between two sessions, it costs yield. The advantage is also the other way around: if we can save an irrigation session, then the client saves money."

Irrigation strategies
"The soil moisture data has shown us that we need to use two different irrigation strategies on light and heavy clay soils," Edwin continues. "On the lighter soils, you can give a slightly higher dose of water because it quickly seeps into the roots. On heavy soils, it is better to irrigate small amounts and return more often. The quality of irrigation has certainly improved due to accurate data."

As soon as Edwin and Wilmar drive out of the country with the planting machines, a soil moisture sensor is placed in the ground. "The forcing operator wants to know what the temperature trend has been during the winter," says Edwin. "This has consequences for how the crop ultimately performs in the forcing room." He himself also benefits greatly from the accurate weather data. As a permanent driver on the Agrifac self-propelled field sprayer, he pays particular attention to the dew point and the ideal moment for spraying. "If the crop is moist, droplets form on the plant, which can cause spray damage."

Indispensable
For Edwin, the weather and soil moisture data have become indispensable on the farm. "The mere fact that you have all the local precipitation data in your back pocket makes AgroExact indispensable to me. We can irrigate more accurately and better and also use the app as a BOS system for carrying out crop protection and determining the right spraying moment. If you ever need support, AgroExact is quickly accessible. Independent research by the WUR shows that the sensors are reliable. Colleagues are also positive. That was the deciding factor for us. We are very satisfied with this choice."

For more information, look here.