Articles
Greenhouse environment control technologies for improving the sustainability of food production
Article number
1107_1
Pages
1 – 14
Language
English
Abstract
Protected cultivation, especially in Asia, is operated at a small scale (KLEINERDAN0.1 ha) using a relatively low-cost structure.
This type of operation is a low-input, low-output system with low resource use efficiency, while larger industrial operations (GROTERDAN1 ha) with high-input, high-output systems that adopt modern high technologies have increased in number during the past few decades.
In contrast, technology-intensive indoor agriculture operations (i.e., plant factories with artificial lighting or PFALs) in urban/suburban areas are steadily increasing in number.
Such operations are a potential driving force for the development of resource-efficient technology to enhance the sustainability of both small- and large-scale protected cultivation.
This paper focuses on recently developed controlled-environment technologies for these contrasting but technologically complementary applications.
We discuss: A) low-cost intelligent environment controllers suitable for small-scale greenhouses; B) the concept and methodology of variable rate control; and C) closed plant production system (CPPS) and PFALs.
Topic A includes intelligent controllers that can be used independently at a cost of around 100 Euro, and can also be used as a distributed environmental controller connected with an integrative environment control system for a large-scale greenhouse.
Examples include controllers for: 1) null balance CO2 enrichment; 2) variable-rate fogging; and 3) multi-purpose heat pumps.
This type of operation is a low-input, low-output system with low resource use efficiency, while larger industrial operations (GROTERDAN1 ha) with high-input, high-output systems that adopt modern high technologies have increased in number during the past few decades.
In contrast, technology-intensive indoor agriculture operations (i.e., plant factories with artificial lighting or PFALs) in urban/suburban areas are steadily increasing in number.
Such operations are a potential driving force for the development of resource-efficient technology to enhance the sustainability of both small- and large-scale protected cultivation.
This paper focuses on recently developed controlled-environment technologies for these contrasting but technologically complementary applications.
We discuss: A) low-cost intelligent environment controllers suitable for small-scale greenhouses; B) the concept and methodology of variable rate control; and C) closed plant production system (CPPS) and PFALs.
Topic A includes intelligent controllers that can be used independently at a cost of around 100 Euro, and can also be used as a distributed environmental controller connected with an integrative environment control system for a large-scale greenhouse.
Examples include controllers for: 1) null balance CO2 enrichment; 2) variable-rate fogging; and 3) multi-purpose heat pumps.
Authors
T. Kozai, C. Kubota, M. Takagaki, T. Maruo
Keywords
artificial lighting, fog cooling, heat pump, null balance CO2 enrichment, resource use efficiency, transplant production, VPD control
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