Shade Net (30%, 50% and 80% Shading)

A shade net is a synthetic fiber material produced with the use of polythene. A shade net is primarily used for the reduction of the intensity of sunlight, that is, a shade net is used for the shading of an area of land or farmland.

In hot and tropical areas like Nigeria, farmers often have shade some of their crops with shade nets. Without shade nets, some crops may not fruit well. A typical example is tomato, when the temperature is too high, a tomato plant will not produce flowers and fruits, hence, it needs to be provided with a shade with a shade net or a shade cloth.

Some types of shade nets can evenly distribute the rays of sunlight to the plants, thereby improving the process of photosynthesis and the crop yield.

What is a shade net?

A shade net also called a shade cloth is a material produced with the use of polythene. A shade net can be used for the shading of sunlight in greenhouses, poly tunnels, garages and homes. It can also be used to reduce the temperature.

Shade nets are manufactured with the use of high density polyethylene, this makes a typical shade net lasts long. Some shade nets can last for several years.

In Nigeria, shade nets are mainly used for the rowing of crops. Crops grown under shade net in Nigeria include tomato, pepper, cucumber, strawberry, kale and sweet pepper. In the northern part of Nigeria where the temperature can be very hot, some smart farmers now practice shade net farming.

Shade nets can also be used for scaffolding during construction work. Scaffolding nets prevents the fall of objects that can injure people.

At Veggie Concept, we stock all types of shade nets.

There are several types of shade nets in Nigeria. The types of shade nets are differentiated by various parameters which are explained as follows:

Percentage of shade of shade net

If you are familiar with shade nets, you will know that shade nets come in different percentages of shade. The percentages of shade of shade nets can be 20%, 30%, 50%, 60% and 80%. 80% percentage of shade means that the shade net will shade 80% of sunlight. 40% percentage of shade means that the shade net will shade 40% of the sunlight.

Colour of shade net

Shade nets come in different colours. Some shade nets are green in colour while some are black in colour. Some shade nets have other colours. Some agronomists have argued that green shade nets can benefit some types of crops. Some types of crops can also grow well under black shade nets.

Uses of shade net

Farming and horticulture: A shade net can be used while farming or cultivating crops. Crops that can be grown under shade nets include tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet pepper, kale, strawberry and watermelon etc. Shade nets can also be used to provide shade in greenhouses and poly tunnels. It is not uncommon to see greenhouses and poly tunnels covered with shade nets. Shade nets can also be used in the raising of seedlings in nurseries. Seedlings often do not like direct sunlight, shade nets can be used to shade some of the sunlight. Most of the tree crops’ seedlings are raised under shade, hence, a shade net is also good for nursery management.

Prevention of hail damage: Shade nets can also be used as anti-hail nets. In this case, the net prevents the damage hail can cause to crops and property. Hail is not common in Nigeria.

Construction Work: Scaffolding nets can be used during construction work. Scaffolding prevents the fall of objects that can injure people. At Veggie Concept, we stock green scaffolding nets.

Decoration: Shade nets can be used for decoration in homes and offices. Even in parks, they are used for decoration.

Shade nets can also be used for car parks, animal houses, insect control, bird control and production of graft saplings and seedlings.

Construction of a shade net house

A shade net house can be constructed just how a greenhouse or poly tunnel is constructed. Galvanised iron can be used to construct the frame of the house while shade nets are used to cover the top and all the sides.

A carpenter can also be asked to construct a shade net house. In this case, planks are used to construct the net house while the shade nets are affixed to the planks using nails and small pegs.

Shade net houses can be used to grow a lot of crops. Vegetables and some types of fruits crops can be grown in shade net houses.

Crops that can be grown under a shade net

Vegetables like tomato, pepper, okra, cucumber, strawberry, watermelon, broccoli, kale, sweet corn and egg plants etc

Fruit and tree crops like cocoa, cashew, mango and oranges can also be grown under shade nets, though this is not common.

Shade net for nursery

Shade nets can be used for the nursery of vegetables’ seedlings. Tomato and pepper seedlings can be grown under shade nets instead of the use of palm fronds and other local unproductive materials.

Shade nets are perfect for nursery management. Just build a structure, cover it with shade nets and start nursing your seedlings there.

Empirical Study of the Effects of Shade Net on Crop Yield

At Veggie Concept, we carried out an empirical study on the effect of shade net on the yield of tomato plants in Nigeria.

We used two plots of tomato with each plot measuring 4,000 SQM (one acre). One plot had tomato plants grown under open field while the other plot had tomato plants grown under green shade nets.

The plot with green shade net had a tomato yield of about 19.5 tonnes per acre while the plot with no shade net had a tomato yield of 11.1 tonnes per acre.

This study showed that shade net is very beneficial to tomato plants.

Should you need shade net in Nigeria, please call us on +2348025141924 or email us at sales@veggieconcept.ng