ROOT ZONE HEATING AS AN ELEMENT IN ENERGY CONSERVATION IN A SEASONAL HEAT STORAGE GREENHOUSE

Heat storage is considered to be an essential element in the utilization of alternative energy sources for agricultural heat supply.
Recent theoretical and experimental results indicate that a heat storage based on a stratified deposition of heat in the unsaturated zone under a greenhouse is technologically and economically feasible.
With improvements in heat conservation in greenhouse structure, and with appropriate agrotechnical practices, it may supply the whole yearly demand of heat in moderate climatic zones.

This concept has benefited from recent work on plant response to root zone heating.
It was shown that a decrease in night air temperature was tolerated by rose plants (var. ‘Sonia’) without loss of yield or quality when roots were held at the optimum temperature of 21±1°C.

The simultaneous application of these two approaches offers considerable potential for energy conservation and for saving on the air heating equipment.
However, it may require a more stringent root zone temperature control.
Experiments under progress deal with the extent of control required for ‘Sonia’ roses.

III International Symposium on Energy in Protected Cultivation

M. Zeroni, A. Nir, R. Kopel

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1984.148.112