Tomato grower invests in nanobubbles: “Nothing could go wrong anymore”
Tholen – Stoffels Tomatoes has faced several challenging years, dealing with root problems and virus issues. In search of improvements, the company undertook a thorough overhaul of its water system. “We actually made three changes, with the investment in nanobubble equipment being the most striking,” says Paul Stoffels.
Last summer, the owner of the tomato-growing company purchased two Agrona nanobubble systems for their 10-hectare site in Rijkevorsel. “We critically examined everything—nothing could go wrong anymore,” the grower reflects nearly a year later. The results of these efforts are evident this year, with root development being better than ever.
Root health had been a major concern last year. Like many tomato growers, Stoffels also faced virus issues in recent years, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact causes of the problems. However, oxygen measurements clearly showed room for improvement.
The Nanobubble Equipment
Low Oxygen Levels
At its 10-hectare location in Rijkevorsel, the tomato grower uses a drain water heater for water disinfection. “We invested in this a long time ago—probably about twenty years ago. We grow on coconut substrate, which makes our drain water slightly more turbid compared to cultivation on rock wool. This made UV disinfection of our drain water more challenging.”
Paul is satisfied with the heater, as it is reliable, but it does have one drawback. “Due to heating at temperatures exceeding 90°C, oxygen is lost from the water.” Measurements at the farm confirmed this last year.
Nadir Laaguili from Agrona has the data on hand. “Especially in one of the silos near the heater, the water temperature was on the high side. When we started up the Agrona nanobubble systems, we initially measured an oxygen level of 4.8 ppm, which increased to 23 ppm immediately after startup. Even in the silo with the warmer water, we reached 22 ppm.”
