Shade nets are the cloths used to make greenhouses. They work by diffusing the amount of sunlight passing through it to create the optimal growing conditions for a specific crop virtually anywhere across the world. This is a product of today’s scientific approach to agriculture and this certainly has helped shape the way agriculture is looked upon today. Shade nets are used in other alternative ways also other than agriculture and thus this product has proved to be versatile. Shade nets are often seen in the color green and that is why we call shade net houses greenhouses but shade net are available in more colors and not for aesthetical choices they each have their own specific benefits and characteristics which is why it is important for us to know what color shade net is the best?
When choosing a shade net, it is important to know that the different colors of a shade net influences the growth of different plants in different ways so it is important for us to choose the right one that helps the growth of the plant in the right way.
While the color is an important indicator of functionality. There are other important factors also that are to be considered when choosing the ideal shade net such as:
Fabric Material
Shade net cloths are available in two variants mainly which are knitted or woven. The knitted variant is made of polyethylene blend which can deflect heat and light and is lightweight. It is also sturdy and can maintain regular wear and tear.
Maintain regular wear and tear. The woven variant is purely made out of the polypropylene which has the same benefits as the knitted variant but with added effects like being heavier and more adept to cold weather or use in winter. It does so because of its ability to store heat more than the knitted variant.
Density of Material
The density of the material is important as it is the determining factor to how much light passes through the cloth and how much heat is trapped inside the shade net. The density of the material is hence an important factor for choosing the right shade net as this factor makes sure that there is enough light and heat available for the plants to grow in the optimum conditions. The different available variants of shade nets in order of density of material are: 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70-90%.
Colour
Finally, we come to the color of shade nets and how they affect the usability of shade nets, some of the most commonly available colors shade net cloths are black and green. There are other colors as well such as white, red, yellow and blue.
Effects of Coloured Shade Net Cloth on Plants
Choosing the right colored shade net is not up to the choice of aesthetics as we said earlier, it comes down different factors one of the most important factors being that shade net cloths of lighter colors act as better ventilation for agricultural purposes as they reflect more heat from the sun. White shade net cloths reduce the amount and the harshness or strength of the light entering and not the quality of the light spectrum. Thus, it speeds up the plant growth more than if a green or black shade net cloth was used, for this reason they are often used for flowering plants.
Dark color shade net cloths are better in absorbing the sun’s heat while the light colored shade net cloths reflect the suns heat. Usually dark colored shade net cloths which are green and black are used to deprive the plants of much strong sunlight which keeps the interior heat controlled and it is good for plants that thrive in shade. It has been observed that plants that grow under dark colored shade nets like black or green grow bigger leaves and more nodes in comparison to plants grown under light colored shade nets. Aluminized shade net also provides substantial shade for the plants inside it and promotes a cool growing environment which can help different plants which need cool climate to thrive. Colors such as red and yellow help the plants in the same way as well while they also have the added benefits of being able to filter out different wavelengths of the light which can help protect the plant from radiation damage or sun burns.