Increase crop harvest with Aviary Netting
Around the globe, tree, fruit, and crop growers are using aviary netting to protect high-value crops. Orchardists have been slow to adopt the practice, but are beginning to realize that using this system could increase their returns on investment. It is a common sight to see aviary netting used not only to keep birds out but as a protective cover in orchards in Italy and France, where hail often occurs. In Australia, growers use netting covers mainly to protect their crops from bird damage. While in New Zealand, nettings are also used to protect from storm damage. South African farmers, who have noticed a substantial decrease in sunburn and an increase in harvest from the use of netting, are rapidly adopting the system.
Two ways to install Aviary Netting for your crops
A common problem facing growers was the need to determine which aviary netting technique achieves the desired effect. Different methods require different netting materials and infrastructure. Additionally, a robust supporting system to hold the cover will ensure its success.
For example, aviary netting draped over crop rows with the trees covered on all sides and three rows covered by each drape. Initial data has shown that there was far less sunburned fruit under the draped netting. The harvest was more substantial under the enveloped crop, but still susceptible to bird and pest damage. Hail storms will even affect the fruit when using a wrapped aviary netting technique.
When establishing aviary netting in an enclosure type infrastructure, as in a fully covered type setup, the entire crop is encompassed in the netting material with access to the plants at various locations around the perimeter. This technique proves to be the most efficient at completely minimizing bird and pest damage, storm damage, and overuse of irrigation. The significant reduction of sun-burnt crops as the netting acts as a filter to the harmful UV rays from the sun which also aids in the prevention of over dehydration of the soils and plants
The high cost of setting up an aviary style enclosure attributes to the slow adoption of netting for crops, the financial investment required for a large area can be prohibitive to many farmers and growers, add to that the difficulty finding installers with the expertise to build good set-ups. The local weather conditions must be taken into account when deciding on netting, for example, if heavy snow is frequent in winter months in the area then snow loads can damage the structure. Therefore easy rolling back of the netting will be required. Another disadvantage is the matter of replanting the crops underneath an existing structure. Because of the expenses involved in enclosure netting, many growers have resorted to draping the aviary netting over individual crop rows, using a machine to roll out the netting, instead of attaching it to a permanent structure enclosing the entire crop.
The benefits of Aviary Netting
Aviary netting helps you achieve the best outcome for your crops, as the crop will have better yields with minimal losses. The instances of bird attacks will be negligible, insect blight, and diseases are dramatically reduced. Aviary netting is manufactured primarily for containing small birds as well as larger birds of prey, but will also repel these animals. The mesh size of aviary nets is small enough to stop smaller sized birds from gaining access to your crop.
Using Aviary Netting as a SCROG System
If you are keeping up to date with any growing methods for making the most of the growing season of your crops, then you may have heard the term scrogging. The name comes from “ScrOG,” which officially means screen of green.
SCROG netting infrastructure is intended to urge the most growth and yield from your crop within one season. The lighting available to and used by the plants, improves by setting up a SCROG layout, making the flowering stage of your plants predominantly efficient.
Scrogging is a specially good setup for low growing crops that tend to try to grow taller so, therefore, minimising the surface area that is used to absorb light and nutrients. It forces horizontal growth rather than only vertical growth.
There are a few straightforward stages that any grower can implement in getting started with a SCROG setup. The use of aviary netting, wire, or thick rope. The best size of aviary netting has a grid that is 2-inch squares. The mesh needs to be sturdy and durable so that the growing plants do not bend or pull the support out of shape. Do not underestimate the pressure being exerted on the netting, as this is the most fundamental and structurally important piece of the setup when implementing a SCROG system.
The theory for successful scrogging is to “manipulate” your plants. That means training them to grow in a precise way, the way that you want. Sometimes the line between manipulating and damaging your crops is a fine line, so new implementers of this system should be particularly careful. That said, scrogging is a comparatively safe and natural type of plant training.
Placing an aviary netting screen above your plants forces them to remain shorter without restraining their growth. Instead of growing tall, your plants will increase in width, allowing for the light that they do have access to, to be distributed uniformly across the branches and leaves. Studies have shown that bushier plants tend to have higher harvests.
To set up a SCROG netting system: Place the aviary netting between 20 and 25 inches from the tops of the seedlings. Next, trim off the uppermost vertically growing branches of each of your plants. As soon as the plants have developed sufficiently to be touching the underside of the screen, start pruning the branches at the bottom of the plants.
Whether you use the net as a protective cover or also use it as a SCROG plant training system in conjunction with the enclosure will significantly benefit your crops.