Crop netting
Sunburn is the biggest cause of pack-house waste on open-grown Hass. A shade net keeps the fruit cooler and lifts the share of class 1 fruit.
What the research shows
Of pack-house waste on open-field Hass was caused by sunburn in a Tzaneen trial.
Source: TUT & Westfalia, SAAGA Yearbook 2017
Cooler fruit surface under white, pearl or blue 20% nets than in the open (22–26°C vs 30–32°C).
Source: TUT & Westfalia, SAAGA Yearbook 2017
Blue and white nets gave higher pack-out of class 1 fruit and more of the larger counts.
Source: TUT & Westfalia, SAAGA Yearbook 2017
In the same trial, total yield was highest in the open field, and alternate bearing may have affected the results. The gain from netting was in fruit quality and pack-out, not the number of fruit.
What a net does
Questions
In the Tzaneen trial, blue and white 20% nets gave the best class 1 pack-out. Pearl nets cooled the fruit most but yielded less in that trial.
Slightly, depending on colour. Fruit under red nets ripened later and stayed firmer in the trial.
Free, no-obligation quote
Leave your number and we'll call you back to talk about your crop, the area and the right net.
White River, Mpumalanga, 1240
