Nevalanmäki Berry Farm has been cultivating berries since 2010 and was among the first to adopt the then-new growing technique of tunnel cultivation in 2014. Today, berries are grown on 2.5 hectares, of which 0.5 hectares are raspberries and the rest strawberries. This past season, the farm boldly took another step forward by investing in a Finnish EOD nano-oxygen generator, Nanoboost.
“We had heard about the nano-oxygen device and its benefits, and instead of expanding the farm with new tunnels, we decided to focus on improving the efficiency of our existing area,” says Teresa Majuri, co-owner of Nevalanmäki Berry Farm. Teresa and her husband Jyrki grow strawberries and raspberries in Kytökylä, Haapavesi. Most berries are sold wholesale to local S- and K-chain stores, and the farm also has its own sales points in shops.
“We stopped open-field cultivation last year and now focus solely on tunnel cultivation. Our three sons also help with farm work,” Teresa adds. “In tunnels, conditions can be controlled much better compared to open fields. The quality of the berries is also superior.”
Before deciding on the nano-oxygen generator investment, the farm measured the oxygen level in irrigation water using a device borrowed from Schetelig. As on many farms, the oxygen level was very low—only 2.5 mg/l, while the target is at least 8 mg/l, preferably higher. “We use groundwater, which explains the low oxygen level. Such low oxygen definitely affects plant health and growth,” Teresa notes. “Now we aim to keep irrigation water at 20 mg/l initially. Even though oxygen decreases in the pipes, our measurements never dropped below 10 mg/l.”
Yields Increased and Input Use Decreased
Nevalanmäki Berry Farm keeps detailed records of inputs and yields year by year. “Fertilizer use this season was about 25% lower than in previous years. We also used less irrigation water, which may explain the difference,” Teresa reflects.
“We also made better use of biological growth enhancers like Lalstop. Strawberry plants were clearly healthier throughout the season, and we reduced pesticide use by up to one-third. The only real issue this year was thrips, which made it hard to assess the late season for everbearing varieties. Still, overall strawberry yield was 10% higher, and for some varieties even 20–30%. With this kind of yield increase, the nano-oxygen device pays for itself in a year,” Teresa calculates.
Tips for Those Considering a Nano-Oxygen Investment
Accuracy in calculations is key when planning new investments. Teresa recommends measuring irrigation water oxygen levels and reminds that every farm is different. “We use coarse peat as a growing medium, and irrigation amounts could be reduced thanks to nano-oxygen water—at least based on this summer’s experience. Of course, other substrates may behave differently,” she notes.
“For us, this summer’s results were positive for strawberries, our main crop. For raspberries, results weren’t as good, but there could be many reasons. After the season, we’ll take a short break and then think about how to improve next year, also with nano-oxygen water,” Teresa says.
Running trials on farms is challenging since irrigation water either contains nano-bubbles or doesn’t. “We think a lower level of precision is fine for a production farm. We’re very happy we made this investment. It’s also ecological to unlock the full yield potential of the plants,” Teresa concludes.
Towards Even Better Yields
Text and photos: Eija Lankinen and Nevalanmäki archives
With Finnish EOD’s nano-bubble oxygen solution, irrigation water gains properties that promote plant health. The solution strengthens plants’ natural defenses and reduces pesticide needs—protecting soil and waterways from unnecessary chemical load. At the same time, profitability improves as yield and quality increase significantly.
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