Page 14 - Griffin Gazette Spring 2017
P. 14
Keeping
it Clean
SANITATION FOR CEA CROPS
By Tami Van Gaal, CEA Division Leader be treated include benching, floors, walls, irrigation lines and any
containers or other crop supports that will be reused.
Growers of Controlled Environment
Agriculture (CEA) crops face the same Regardless of the surface treated, end of crop sanitation is always
sanitation needs as their ornamental a three-step process: 1) Physical cleaning, 2) Chemical cleaning/
counterparts: Preventing the introduction rinse and 3) Sanitizing. First, physically remove as much debris as
of pests (pathogens, insects and mites) possible from benching and floors. When reusing pots, brush or
from new plant material entering the scrub the pots to remove any remaining media and plant material.
greenhouse, preventing the spread of pests Next, chemically clean to ensure that the surface is truly ready for
that become established during production, sanitizing. You wouldn’t skip the soap when washing your hands,
controlling algae in the production space, so don’t skip the cleaner when washing your benches!
and preventing carryover of pests between crops. The catch for
CEA growers is that their crops and/or their production spaces CEA growers can choose between two products for chemical
can limit product-use options. Fortunately, there are effective cleaning. Strip-It is an acid cleaner, suitable for use in greenhouse
products labeled for use with edibles and for use in typical CEA structures where spaces are large and air exchange is good.
production spaces. Information below details recommendations Horti-Klor is an alkaline cleaner, used for cleaning warehouse
for surface sanitation in production spaces. Best practices to production spaces and produce packing rooms. Horti-Klor can
minimize introducing pests to the production space and preventing also be used in a greenhouse, but Strip-It should not be used in
movement of these pests through the space during production smaller, enclosed spaces commonly found in warehouse settings.
are outlined in the digital bonus content of the online version of Either product can be applied to benching, concrete floors,
the Gazette. evaporative cooling pads, greenhouse glazings, gravel floors and
other non-porous surfaces, including most structural insulated
Best Practices for Cleaning Hard Surfaces panels. Application with a foamer provides ideal contact. Use
Surface sanitation between crops will drastically limit pest either product at a rate of 5 oz/gal, allowing a wet treatment time of
carryover to future crops, help to limit development of algae and 3-5 minutes, followed by a rinse.
greatly minimize the growth of biofilm in irrigation lines. Surfaces to
14 | Griffin Gazette Spring 2017
