Marconi Vivai is a professional plant nursery that has been in business since 1970. The focus of the company has always been on obtaining the highest quality production for its customers. "The historic company in Roverbella di Mantova is helping us to take stock of the decision we made three years ago to introduce ozone in the treatment of irrigation water," says a note released by Ecofarm, Marconi Vivai's supplier.
As Massimo Marconi, one of the plant nursery's owners, points out, "The decision was carefully considered and made to offer our customers a better and better product, trying to limit the chemicals used as much as possible. Of course, after three years of use, we can have even more feedback on the results compared to the initial expectations". It was a decision that was made to prevent the formation of biofilm in the pipes and to avoid the development of plant diseases on the plants. It has since turned out to be an important factor in the nursery's sanitary management.
Third-generation family member Riccardo Marconi emphasizes the agronomic aspect: "We have two important points of emphasis. "The first one is related to our customers, and the second one is related to our internal management. Plants, especially brassicas, lettuces, endive, and chicory, become more resistant. This makes them very suitable for mechanical transplanting. After three years, we can say that we have managed to reduce the pesticides used by up to 50% while achieving better environmental hygiene. Another important aspect is that the germination of seeds of all varieties used in the nursery has increased by a few percentage points."
In this regard, a thesis carried out at the University of Verona, where Ecofarm, the Italian company that supplies the ozone machines, is now a
permanent collaborator, shows how the use of ozone-treated water during germination and seedling development is an important factor in increasing the speed of growth. Riccardo Greco, university researcher and author of the thesis, highlights how the result in the laboratory confirms what was has been observed in the plant nursery.
Giorgio Zaffani, the scientific director of the company, sums up its activities from research to implementation in the field. "Many of the most important companies in the Italian horticulture sector are now users of our technology. The results are obvious, and we work with universities and research institutes to scientifically prove what our customers have appreciated for years."
He concludes, "If I were to quickly summarize the benefits, here are some of them: water disinfection; oxygen saturation in the water; the ability to eliminate fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases present in the environment and on the leaf surface; and plant stimulation. And all of this at an absolutely competitive cost, estimated at 0.40 euros per square meter per year."
For more information:
Ecofarm Storti srl
Via Castelletto 10
37050 Belfiore (VR), Italy
Tel.: +39 045 6134390
[email protected]
www.ecofarmstorti.com