In modern horticulture irrigation is a very important thing. Watering the plants with enough water and fertilizers at the right time is a skill which is getting more and more important. Water is one of the most important nutrients for each plant and a good dosage is essential for the success of the cultivation. Therefore, the design and construction of the irrigation systems is work of experts.  V&V calculates and designs the installations with his partners by utilizing computer programs, which determine exactly the pipe diameters, pump capacities and maximum flow velocities on the basis of the desired capacity, resistances in the pipe work and other determining factors. A guarantee for an optimally functional installation! 

Watering systems

Drip irrigation

The optimal way to water your crop is by using drip irrigation. Herewith a right balance of many factors such as choice of the dripper, capacity, dosing differences, bed lengths, etc. is determining a right functioning of the system. V&V chooses the best drippers in combination with the chosen system.

Sprinkler systems 

Sprinkler irrigation in greenhouses is widely applied in the flowers and pot plants cultivation. Choosing the right sprinkler pattern is essential for a perfect functioning. This sprinkler pattern and the sprinklers are, among others, determined by the cultivation, the precipitation, the uniformity, height of the sprinklers above the crop, bed length, etc. Factors that can only be calculated by means of using specific computer programs

Ebb-Flood systems 

This way of irrigation means watering the plants from the bottom up. The crop remains completely dry in order to avoid fungus and other diseases. Through a system of supply- and drain lines the irrigation water will be pumped onto the table or cultivation floor in a short time, where it, if desired, resides a certain time before it is returned to the water storage. Prior to reusing the water, can be disinfected first. This system also requires an accurate design and use of reliable materials.

Roof irrigation

An opportunity to control the humidity, temperature & climate in your greenhouse. Completely installed or supplied as a self-build pack, so that you can take care of the installation under our expert supervision.   

Pump units

V&V deliver a large range of pump units, whether or not provided with a fertilizer dosing and filter section. 

All our pump units are built according to the specifications of the customer. The pump unit, as the heart of your irrigation system, must be designed and constructed to be extremely reliable and safe to operate. Failure of the irrigation can mean the loss of your cultivation!

Mixing Tank

Applying a mixing tank dosing unit, water and fertilizer are mixed in an open tank before being pumped to the plants. For this purpose the fertilizers get joined in the mixing tank by dosing pumps or valve controlled venturies on the basis of computer settings. This continuous process of dosing is monitored by EC and pH sensors. The longer residence time in the mixing tank guarantees an optimal mixture to the irrigation water. All pumps, filters, switchpanels and components are assembled on a very robust frame of stainless steel and wired and tested before delivery. Mixing tank dosing units can be supplied in capacities between 6 and 200m3/hours.

Direct Injection

In a direct injection dosing unit, water and fertilizers are mixed in a closed mixing chamber. The irrigation pump creates hereby a vacuum by using venturies, in order to pull in the fertilizers. The dosage of the fertilizer is controlled here via dosing valves and as a mixing tank is not part of this system switching rapidly between different fertilizing recipes is possible. The number of dosing valves is variable and is customer specific.

Water recirculation

The recirculation and reuse of drain water is a matter of course nowadays.    

This concerns the subsoil drain in the case of soil-based growing, the drain water via growing gutters or subsoil drain in the case of substrate growing, the return water from floors or tables in ebb and flood systems. This water is captured and reused as irrigation water. Whether the drainage water is decontaminated by low or high pressure UV or by heating,

Grow Gutters 

The main function of the grow gutters is to collect drain water.

Slabs, pots or buckets can be placed on the gutter system and by creating a slope, the drain water will be collected at the lowest point. Generally speaking, 2 types of systems are available today. The low budget polypropylene gutters and the more sophisticated steel gutters.

PP Drain Gutters 

PP (PolyPropylene) drain gutters are an environmental friendly and watertight solution for the collection of drain water. The gutters have to be placedd on the ground or on a supporting structure.

The gutters are supplied in rolls and are deliverable in a wide range of sizes and lengths.

Colors (black and white) and material thickness 0.8 – 1.0 – 1.2 mm according to customer specifications.

Steel Grow Gutters 

Depending on your crop we can provide a wide range of steel gutters, including hanging and support systems. Modern mobile profiling machines will roll and form your gutters on site. The most important benefits: gutters can be produced in continuous lengths to any required specification and are always in one piece. Joints are a thing of the past. The gutters can be suspended or supported, depending on the crop and greenhouse construction. Hanging- or supported gutters increase air circulation, create a high uniformity in irrigation, avoid soil leveling/profiling and increase yield uniformity/quality of the fruits.

Water treatment

Drain Water 

The most common method of sterilizing drain water is the use of UV-C radiation. In a UV-C sterilizer drainwater is flowing through the radiation chamber where a UV-C lamp has been installed. 

The high flow rate of the water creates high turbulence, resulting in evenly UV-C radiated water particles. Depending on the radiation level, fungus, bacteria and nematodes, but also viruses become harmless.V&V can deliver both UV sterilizers with high-pressure UV-C lamps as well as with low-pressure UV-C lamps. 

An alternative method of drain water sterilizing is by means of heating whereby drain water is heated up to ± 90 ºC for a short period of time. This high temperature ensures that all pollution is killed adequately and the drain water can be reused safely.

Well Water 

Because of the high salinity without treatment, well water can often not be used as irrigation water.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a filtration method that removes many types of large molecules and ions from solutions by applying pressure to the solution when it is on one side of a selective membrane. The result is that the brine is retained on the pressurized side of the membrane and the pure solvent is allowed to pass to the other side.

High bicarbonate level in irrigation water can be treated by using a Neutrilizer unit. The Neutrilizer adds acid to the fresh water and mixes it thoroughly in a specially designed mixing chamber.

The Neutrilizer can be used when fresh water is pumped into a fresh water storage silo, or when fresh water is circulated through the Neutrilizer.

Filtration 

The prevention of clogging in the water supply system is very important. The right choice of the pre filtration is therefore essential. Common filter systems in horticulture are the screen filters and the media filters. V&V delivers complete filter systems, stand alone or built into the pump unit, with or without automation and depending on the pollution grade of the water.

Iron removal

In some areas the spring water does not contain salts but an excess of iron, In order to extract this excess iron from good water, we supply and fit iron removal systems. Too much iron can block drippers.   

Decalcification

Where water with excess calcium is used (for example, mains water), we can remove the excess calcium using a decalcification system. Too much calcium can block drippers and sprinklers in spraying systems.

Water storage

A safe and responsible way of storing of sometimes large quantities of water is always an issue which requires much attention when designing a greenhouse project. Saving space, but also the management of the water quality during storage is decisive here.

Silos 

V&V provides a large range of silos with capacities of 5 to 1500m silos are manufactured of solid galvanized corrugated plates (possibly with coating) and equipped with a watertight liner. The silo can be covered with a cover or a floating sheeting but also completely closed silo-coverings are possible. The liners are previously equipped with the necessary inserts. A filling line, overflow and suction line make your water storage silo complete

Reservoir 

Especially for the storage of large quantities of rainwater a dug reservoir is the ideal solution. We can advise you the most favorable dimensions regarding basin depth, dike height and water content. For covering the reservoir we deliver a liner, which is suitable for the storage of rain- and drinking water but also for the storage of drain water. In the choice of the liner the temperature- and UV resistance as well as the chemical resistance play a very important role.

Rain Water

Rain water is still the best irrigation water and it costs nothing either! Therefore the effort to collect and capture rainwater quickly pays off. 

In order to handle large quantities of water to the water storage, the design of an adequate piping system

requires an accurate calculation of pipe diameters. 

Also for this V&V uses a calculation module to determine the most efficient pipe diameters. Together with a professional installation work a guarantee for a 100% optimal water use.

Humidification/Cooling

Temperature and relative humidity are undeniably very important factors contributing to the success of your cultivation. Application of a humidification installation creates a better climate, both for the plants as well as for the people who will be working in the greenhouse.

V&V delivers and installs low pressure and high pressure humidification systems. Important in determining the right installation are factors like propagation, water quality, capacity, dimensions of the greenhouse and available budget.

High Pressure 

The high pressure humidification system –or the so called- fog system, produces fog with an average droplet size of 5 microns. Easy to absorb for the greenhouse air.

The system, built-up out of stainless steel pipes and nozzles, operates with a pressure of ±100 bar. The high pressure low-noise pump is built on a stainless steel frame, complete with filter section and controlled by a PLC with touch screen control.

Low Pressure 

The low pressure humidification system is a low budget solution for your humidity problems.

Installed in the top of the greenhouse, PE lines on which mist nozzles are installed, produce mist with an average droplet size of 100 microns. The system operates with a pressure of 4~5 bar at the nozzle. Short pulses in combination with the fine droplet avoids –in most cases- wetting of the crop.