Articles
Total evapotranspiration estimation in multi-crop layers of indoor vertical farms for energy savings
Article number
1426_24
Pages
167 – 174
Language
English
Abstract
Besides electrical power consumption for lighting, climate control, especially for de-humidification, contributes to the highest fraction of total energy use within indoor farming.
Staggering different crop varieties at different growth stages and with different potential evapotranspiration rates, as determined by stomatal conductance, decreases the humidity load produced through evapotranspiration of the growing space and thus decreases dehumidification.
However, even more relevant, it is to reduce the maximum capacity of the equipment for dehumidification loads.
The optimal multi-crop combination can be identified by modeling the evapotranspiration of different overlapping growth cycles and crop varieties.
This work focuses on short-cycle crops using previously obtained transpiration rates of lettuces (Lactuca sativa ‘Alyssa’) and one variety of leafy greens (Genovese basil ‘Eleonora’). The model estimation aims to include crop-specific stomatal conductance values reflecting the differences.
The targeted results are to minimize space and dehumidification loads by combining growth cycles of lettuces and herbs.
Staggering different crop varieties at different growth stages and with different potential evapotranspiration rates, as determined by stomatal conductance, decreases the humidity load produced through evapotranspiration of the growing space and thus decreases dehumidification.
However, even more relevant, it is to reduce the maximum capacity of the equipment for dehumidification loads.
The optimal multi-crop combination can be identified by modeling the evapotranspiration of different overlapping growth cycles and crop varieties.
This work focuses on short-cycle crops using previously obtained transpiration rates of lettuces (Lactuca sativa ‘Alyssa’) and one variety of leafy greens (Genovese basil ‘Eleonora’). The model estimation aims to include crop-specific stomatal conductance values reflecting the differences.
The targeted results are to minimize space and dehumidification loads by combining growth cycles of lettuces and herbs.
Publication
Authors
T. Ramírez, O. Körner
Keywords
hydroponic, soilless, indoor farming, humidity, leaf area index, cultivar specific control, stomatal conductance, modelling
Groups involved
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Working Group Nettings in Horticulture (subgroup of Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates)
- Working Group Light in Horticulture
- Working Group Organic Greenhouse Horticulture
- Working Group Vegetable Grafting
- Working Group Modelling Plant Growth, Environmental Control, Greenhouse Environment
- Working Group Protected Cultivation, Nettings and Screens for Mild Climates
- Working Group Computational Fluid Dynamics in Agriculture
- Working Group Design and Automation in Integrated Indoor Production Systems
- Working Group Mechanization, Digitization, Sensing and Robotics
- Working Group Greenhouse Environment and Climate Control
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Working Group Vertical Farming
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