Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.33128/pc.28.1-4.4
Properties and application of nets in fruit growing
Marko Vuković
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu , Zagreb
*
Branka Levaj
; Prehrambeno-biotehnološki fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Zagreb
Kristina Batelja Lodeta
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu , Zagreb
Rajko Vidrih
; Biotehniška fakulteta Univerza v Ljubljani, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tomislav Jemrić
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu , Zagreb
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Nowadays, due to increasingly pronounced climate changes, the use of nets in fruit growing is an indispensable measure. Considering their purpose, nets can be divided into those intended for protection against meteorological disasters (hail, rain, wind, solar radiation) and anti-insect (biological) nets. Nets intended for agricultural use are primarily manufactured from high-density polyethylene. The properties of the nets can vary depending on the knitting method, thread thickness, mesh size, colour, and mechanical and physical properties that are influenced by the additives incorporated during production. Anti-insect nets present an environmentally friendly pest control method when, by enclosing the entire orchard with nets (of defined mesh sizes), they represent a mechanical barrier to the pest. Photoselective nets present a relatively new technology, where the nets, in addition to their protective function, cause scattering of radiation that comes into contact with their threads, thereby increasing the proportion of diffuse light and modifying its spectrum. This can ultimately stimulate the desired physiological responses of fruit trees. For installation of anti-hail nets in orchards usually "pergola" or "flat net" systems can be used.
Keywords
anti-insect nets; photoselective nets; climate changes; light modification
Hrčak ID:
328656
URI
Publication date:
23.1.2025.
Visits: 400 *