INTRODUCTORY
TUNNEL
FARMING
Horticulture Presentation
What Is
Tunnel ?
A Polythene
made semi-
circular
Structure.
Also called
"Hoop houses",
Original idea
came in 1970's
in South Africa.
What Is
Tunnel
Farming?
"Growing of
horticultural crops
(flowers, vegetables
and fruits) in tunnels
out of their natural
growing season is
called Tunnel
farming".
TUNNEL
Polythene sheet & fabrics
Less durable
Cheaper
Move able
Easy to install
GREENHOUSE
Glassware
Extremely durable
Costly
Fixed
Difficult to install
FEATURES OF TUNNEL
FARMING
Less but fertile soil is needed.
Plants get a constant supply of
nutrients through an automatic
irrigation system.
Able to produce larger yields of
vegetables on a small area of land.
Soil borne diseases are reduced or
eliminated.
Includes different structural
features such as coolers, heaters,
virus net, buffer zone etc for
maintenance.
PURPOSE OF TUNNEL
FARMING
High quality product
To create a microclimate suitable
for plants growth.
To provide a constant supply of
nutrients for best growth of plants.
It protects plants from bright
sunlight, cold waves, winds, and
hailstorms.
To control temperature &
humidity.
To control pests and diseases
efficiently.
PRINCIPAL OF TUNNEL
FARMING
The interior heats up fast because
the incoming solar radiations from
the sun warms the plants, soil and
other things in the tunnel.
Types of Tunnels and
Variety of
Horticulture Crops
grown in them.
Types of Tunnels
1-WITH RESPECT TO HEIGHT
High Tunnel Walk in Tunnel Low Tunnel
( 9 - 12 ft ) ( 6 ft ) ( 3 ft )
2-WITH RESPECT TO STRUCTURAL
Iron rods & Plastic Mulberry Sticks tunnel Bamboo tunnel
pipes Tunnel
HIGH TUNNELS
HIGH TUNNEL
Low-cost as
compared to
greenhouses,
Simplified growing
structures.
Enhance crop growth,
yield and quality.
They are used to
extend the growing
season in spring and
fall.
To protect crops
from the environment
and pests.
High Tunnels
HIGH TUNNEL
HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTION
High tunnels used for growing
horticulture crops commercially Crops
are typically 20-30 ft wide and
100-200 ft in length with a height
of 9-12 ft in center.
Larger size high tunnels retain
heat longer through the night and
provide a more even growing
environment.
Cucumbers,Tomatoes,Grapes,Bottle Gourd.
GROW HEALTHY & SAFE
VEGETABLES WALK-IN TUNNEL
Generally Walk In
Tunnels are used to give
favorable controlled
environment like;
temperature,
humidity,
light intensity, ventilation,
soil media,
disease control, irrigation,
and other horticultural
practices throughout the
season irrespective of
the natural conditions
outside.
Walk-in Tunnel
GROW SAFE
EAT SAFE Major Design Consideration
Crops
Galvanized (coated with metals) Steel Construction.
Easy to assemble & dissemble.
Complete structure is assembled with Nut-bolts.
No welding is required.
Easy to Assembly and Maintenance.
Advantages
Trellising system for vegetable.
Reduction in labour cost.
Less chances of disease attack, thus reduction in disease control cost.
Less fertilizer requirement, thus reduction in fertilizer cost.
Uniform and better quality
Cost of the structure is less than greenhouse.
Cucumber, color Capsicum, Cherry Tomato, Broccoli,
Lettuce, Strawberry, Chives etc.
LOW COST HIGH YIELD
LOW TUNNEL
3-4 ft Height
It is made with
flexible material for
heat retention and
protection for plants.
Protects against cold
winds, frosts, insects,
heavy rain, small hail
and other physical
damage.
Low Tunnels
UNLIMITED BENEFITS
Features
Ideal for early production of many vegetable crops
Creates a greenhouse effect around plants on a smaller
scale
Designed to be easily installed anywhere.
Protects plants from cold weather and frosts, with frost
protection.
Biggest benefit is the increased daytime solar heating
Great for season extension and protection from
damaging winds.
Also used for preparation of seedling.
Sugar Beet, Spinach, Lettuce, corinder, etc
Division via Structure
IRON AND PLASTIC RODS
TUNNEL
Iron Tunnel
TYPE OF TUNNEL IN WHICH WE USE HARD
STRUCTURES LIKE IRON PIPES , PLASTIC
PIPES AND IRON RODS.
Characteristics
HIGH COST
HIGHLY DURABLE
HIGH PRODUCTION
BETTER YIELD AND QUALITY OF CROPS
MAINTENANCE OF CROPS IS REQUIRED
ALLOWS US TO INSTALL DIFFERENT
FEATURES
LIKE COOLERS, HEATERS, TRESSLING
SYSTEM, ETC
CANNOT BE MOVED FROM ONE PLACE TO
ANOTHER
MULBERRY STICKS
TUNNEL
Highly Flexible
branches are
used for
making low
tunnels
specially.
Characteristics
3-4 ft Height from center
4-5 ft Wide
100-200 ft Length
They are bent and fixed in soil
Average life is one season
Cannot be used again and again
Very cheap structure
25-30 thousands per acre
Very easy to construct and install
Good for high wind areas
BEHIND THE SCENES
Bamboo tunnel
Durable and
strong
structures can
be made from
bamboo
sticks.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Bamboo tunnel
Vegetable
tunnels are
mostly made
with flexible
bamboo.
Characteristics
AVAILABLE AT LOW COSTS IN NEARBY
MARKET
VERY STRONG TUNNEL
DURABLE
WALK-IN AND HIGH TUNNELS ARE MADE
WITH IT
MORE PENETRATION OF LIGHT
Problems
THERE ARE TWO BASIC PROBLEMS IN THIS
TYPE OF TUNNEL;
1-FIRSTLY, THOSE BAMBOOS THAT ARE IN
DIRECT TOUCH WITH THE GROUND, ARE
HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROT AND DECAY
DUE TO PESTS TRAVELING UP THE POLE UP
FROM THE GROUND.
2-SECONDLY, IN DRY WEATHER, THE
BAMBOO POLES ATTRACT PESTS THAT FEED
ON RESIDUAL SUGAR INSIDE IT. IN THE
PROCESS, THE POLES DEVELOP HOLES AND
LOSE STRENGTH.
Structural
Engineering Used in
Tunnel Farming
HIGH PRODUCTION
Special
Structures of
Tunnels
Protective Strategies
BUFFER ZONE
A small room between the tunnel
area and the open environment is
called buffer zone.
ADVANTAGE
To prevent disease spread and weed
spores from destroying our crop we
spray different chemicals on buffer
zone to kill all possible harmful
microbes.
TRELLISING SYSTEM
Refers to sticks, ropes or wires which
allows vertical farming.
It allows us to suspend plants
vertically.
ADVANTAGE
Increase yield
Increase quality of your product
by providing proper spacing
Gives adduitional support to
plants.
INSECT NET
It prevents insects and pests from
interring into the tunnel and provide
maximum air flow.
Highly transparent.
ADVANTAGE
Creates a controlled environment,
eliminating pests and preventing
plant disease.
Offers a 12% shade factor.
FANS
A device which allows air exchange
inside and outside the tunnel.
ADVANTAGE
Controls temperature.
Humidity.
Maintains proper temp. and
humidity for optimum plant
growth.
Different Growth
MediaUsed in Tunnel
Farming
Substrates (growing support materials)
Rice husks
Coir peat
Outer Shell of rice grain
Ground coconut husk Good drainage
Favourite media Retains little water
Organic Not expensive
Fungus free Organic byproduct
High EC value{release Decays over time
nutrients}
High Water retention
capacity
PLANT LOVERS
A SANCTUARY FOR
Farm yard Manure is prepared basically using;
1-cow dung,
2- cow urine,
3- dairy wastes.
Like cattles, goat and sheep.
It is highly useful.
Farm Yard Manure
Characteristics
FYM IS RICH IN NUTRIENTS.
A SMALL PORTION OF NITROGEN IS
DIRECTLY AVAILABLE TO THE PLANTS
WHILE A LARGER PORTION IS MADE
AVAILABLE AS AND WHEN THE FYM
DECOMPOSES.
AVAILABLE POTASIUM AND
PHOSPHOROUS.
APPLICATION OF FYM IMPROVES SOIL
FERTILITY
Devices Used in
Management of
Tunnels
TUNNELS
DEVICE FOR SOIL TESTING IN
An electrical conductivity meter (EC meter)
measures the electrical conductivity of the soil.
It has multiple applications in research and
engineering,
Used to monitor the amount of nutrients, salts
or impurities in the water.
Electrical
conductivity meter
TUNNELS
DEVICE FOR SOIL TESTING IN
A pH meter is a scientific instrument that
measures the hydrogen-ion activity in water-
based solutions, indicating
Its acidity or alkalinity expressed as pH.
The pH of soil is animportant factor in
determining the growth and development of a
crop, specially roots.
Highly acidic or saline soils are unfit for
horticultural crops.
Soil pH meter
TUNNELS
DEVICE FOR SOIL TESTING IN
A hygrometer is an instrument used to
measure the amount of humidity and water
vapor in the atmosphere, in soil, or in confined
spaces.
Humidity measurement instruments usually
rely on measurements of some other quantity
such as temperature, pressure.
Humidity directly affects evaporation from
plants leaves, which can affect growth.
Hygrometer
PLANT LOVERS
A SANCTUARY FOR
Factors for Success
of Tunnel Farming
in Pakistan
Proper soil analysis for determining soil
nutritional level.
Use of high quality hybrid seeds.
Fertile land and its maintenance within the
tunnel during the period of cultivation.
Selection of profitable vegetables on the basis
of best analysis of cost and revenues for a
given season.
PLANT LOVERS
A SANCTUARY FOR
Timely control of pests, diseases and exercise
of all recommended agronomic measures.
Maintenance and control of internal
temperature and humidity of the tunnel.
Timely irrigation, fertilization, training and
grading of plantation.
Fertilization as per expert(s) recommendation.
Appropriate post-harvest arrangement for
washing, grading, packing, and transportation
of product to the market.
FUTURE ASPECTS
OF TUNNEL
FARMING
Govt. launched different projects from
tunnel farming.
Role of Non-Government Organizations like
NGO's and Internet.
Banks offer loans.
Present Scenario and the Way Forward for
Tunnel Technology in Pakistan
The Winds of Change.
BUSINESS PLAN
COMPARISON
OF
COMMON AGRICULTURAL
PRACTICES
AND
TUNNEL FARMING
Venturing into E-Commerce
AS OF THE LATEST COUNT
Tunnel Farming vs Common Agricultutral Practices
Advanced Technology in the Traditional type of farming
field of Agricultute Use of old agricultural
Use of Modren equipments equipments
Cannot tolerate to Tolerable to unpredictable
unpredictable weather weather
High input invesment Low input costs to the
Diseases and pests are farmer
easily controlled in tunnels Needs a great amount of
Maintainence is required labour
AS OF THE LATEST COUNT
Tunnel Farming vs Common Agricultutral Practices
Controlled Environment Cannot control envirronment
Better Utilization of Land Cant utilize land efficiently
Suitable for Seed Production Nil
Fresh Vegetables in Off- Nil
season Nil
Helps to overcome food
shortage
Better utilization of space
under young orchards
Conclusion
After keeping all these
aspects in our mind we come
to a conclusion that tunnel
farming is way beyond better
than open agricultural
practices.
TUNNEL WINS
Thus, we must adopt tunnel
farming.
APPROACH DATA
A QUICK WAY TO
References;
https://www.agriculturesolutions.com/low-tunnel-clear-plastic-0-8-mil-6-x-1000
http://www.ethicsinfinity.com/EthicsProduct-flower-vegetable-crop-growing-in-walk-
in-tunnel-in-gujarat-maharashtra-madhya-pradesh-rajasthan-andhra-pradesh-india
https://sustainable-farming.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/High-Tunnel-
Crop-Production-Tips-by-Lewis-Jett-WVU.pdf
https://www.nbp.com.pk/AGRICULTURE/TunnelFarmingReport.pdf
https://www.nbp.com.pk/AGRICULTURE/TunnelFarmingReport.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroponics
http://www.parc.gov.pk/index.php/en/133-technology-reporter/631-plastic-tunnel-
farming
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