Better Roots And Cleaner Water With An Aeration System

Agrona’s OxyBull aeration system ensures an optimal oxygen concentration in the water and root environment. XL Bloom Youngplants in De Lier has been using the device since March last year. A strong pump with a capacity of 60 m³/hour blows a lot of air into the water, so that there is plenty of movement in the water.

“We believe in a lot of water movement. By blowing air with great force at the bottom of the silo, this results in a lot of movements. Agrona’s aeration system does this with the highest capacity per hour. We see that the water in the silo is really starting to swirl,” says Michel van Rijn, director of XL Bloom Youngplants.
This company annually produces 11 million Anthurium cuttings in 4 laboratories in Europe and exports them to 53 countries worldwide. “We want to produce 100% organically and be up-to-date with biostimulants.” The aeration system ensures a healthy and vital crop, which makes cultivation easier.

Increase oxygen content
A high oxygen content in the water is essential for plant development. Greenhouse horticulture companies use the aeration system to achieve optimum oxygen input.
Van Rijn: “We use the system to blow air with 19% oxygen into the return water silos. In a short time we get an incredible amount of oxygen in the water. We measure 5.5 ppm oxygen in the return water. When the OxyBull aeration system is pumping for a few hours, we measure 12.5 ppm oxygen. If the water then passes through the UV disinfector, we still measure 9.5 ppm a day later. So we have to do the aeration of water over and over again, otherwise the oxygen content will drop.”
Before installing the aeration system, the grower had an analysis of the water made. 25 fungi were found in this. “We always have fungi in the return water. After applying the aeration system, no more fungi were found with a new analysis of the water.”

Positive effects
The anthurium grower also sees that the hair roots of the young plants are better, so that they can better absorb the nutrients. “More oxygen ensures more roots and therefore more shoot formation. We achieve a higher quality with this.”
He finds it striking that the aeration of the water has doubled the capacity of the UV disinfectant, because the water is clearer. “The capacity has gone from 3 to 6 m³/hour per disinfector. That’s why you already want an OxyBull aeration system.” Interested growers who want to see the operation and results of the aeration system can make an appointment with Michel van Rijn. “Because if you pass on knowledge, you get it back.”