The Carabooda demonstration site, north of Perth in Western Australia, is hosted by hydroponic cucumber producer Grown Smart Produce. 

The site will provide a case study on improving nutrient and water use efficiency by monitoring plant nutrition levels and managing nutrient inputs, temperature and relative humidity in a greenhouse production system. The priority issues being explored include:

  • Irrigation scheduling to ensure plants receive sufficient water in greenhouses with varying temperatures while limiting runoff, including consideration of alternative coir options to improve drainage and reduce potential loss of nutrients.
  • Quality of coir substrate grow bags that can increase the likelihood of pythium soil-borne diseases, and exploring quicker and more accurate testing of plant and soil samples.
  • High electrical conductivity (EC) issues and data availability from current moisture probes for hydroponics and exploring alternative options.
  • Water reuse and treatment using UV testing to ensure captured irrigation water can be re-applied to a crop (e.g. reducing nutrient levels).
  • Adjusting air flow to limit foliar disease pressure such as powdery mildew.