CO2 diffused into the
plant, the presence
of enhanced CO2 for
plants grown in lower
light levels is greater
than for plants grown in higher light levels. This is because the
CO2 itself will assist in boosting photosynthesis. The evidence
to winning this debate is found in that many greenhouse
growers increase the level of CO2 to three times what is found
in the atmosphere.
The benefits from enhanced CO2 are many and mostly without
much debate within the industry. Most growers want to provide
more of this vital molecule to their crop and are looking for
ways to do this safely and economically.
” Now let’s consider a practice that also
fascinates me: that of foliar feeding
with added CO2. With this technique,
the grower is applying both nutrient
and CO2 (truly a form of nutrient)
directly to the leaf tissue. The response
can be very fast and dramatic. There
are a couple ways to infuse the nutrient with CO2.
Carbonated liquid nutrient is one way to provide nutrient and
CO2 at the same time. Carbonation is simply CO2 added and
diffused into the liquid. As this carbonated liquid is opened to
ambient air, bubbles will be seen coming off from the liquid.
This is the release of CO2 into the air. Within the liquid nutrient
there are millions of tiny bubbles of CO2 gas, and when exposed
to low atmospheric pressure, these tiny bubbles group together,
float to the surface and reunite with the atmosphere. For this
46 Maximum Yield CAN | November/December 2016
reason, the grower using this type of carbonated nutrient
will want to keep the lid on the nutrient container or bottle
as much as possible in order to keep the level of carbon
dioxide as high as possible for as long as possible.
When a carbonated liquid nutrient (containing carbon
dioxide) is applied to living plant tissue, both the liquid
nutrient and the dissolved
CO2 gas are taken into the
plant and then diffuse into
the various cells. With a
single function performed
by the grower, both the CO2
and nutrient needs of the
plant have been satisfied.
Two birds, one stone!
The complication with
trying to use a pump
sprayer pressurized by CO2
Not only is maximum yield our goal,
but optimal economy to go along with
this added yield. “
(taking the place of an air hand pump) is that the gas sits atop
of the liquid and is not diffused with the nutrient spray when
released from the sprayer. The gas needs to be mixed, either in
the chamber of the sprayer or through aspiration at the outlet.
Hose-end sprayers do aspirate the nutrient, but use water
force, not gas, to propel the mixture out of the sprayer and onto
the plant. A sprayer that aspirates with gas pressure would
work, but I do not know where to obtain these.
Nonetheless, it is a very convenient technique to combine
the function of foliar nutrient with CO2 application,
however one may accomplish this. Remember, photosynthesis
makes the diffusion process possible, so make the application
at the right time. Because photosynthesis itself is boosted
through the enhanced availability of CO2, this in effect will
reduce the requirement of light energy to gain the same
amount of growth. Obviously, this can be very cost effective.
Not only is maximum yield our goal, but optimal economy to go
along with this added yield. So, added CO2 can help save on
your energy bill..
FOLIAR FEEDING CO2 HUH???? Would it really work? Like 15 mins after lights on every morning....
