Articles
A SPECIAL HEAT CONSERVING GREENHOUSE WITH SOLAR HEATED SOIL FOR CROP (TOMATO) PRODUCTION
Article number
148_94
Pages
731 – 738
Language
Abstract
This project was initiated in October 1980 with the goal of the development of an energy efficient greenhouse with a south front solar energy collector which, when combined with an active air fluid solar heat collector for heating the plant soil, would reduce the need for fossil fuels by about 85 percent.
The experimental greenhouse selected is 7.32 m wide by 10.97 m long.
It has a single-sloped roof with a 4.88 m high south front and a 2.44 m high north wall.
It also has a permanently insulated north wall, a removable insulated ceiling, and openable and closeable insulating curtains (drapes) over the south, east and west walls.
Three crops of tomatoes were grown in the greenhouse.
In the first trial in 1981–1982, a too low minimum ambient temperature was selected before supplementary heat was called for by the controller, thus tomato production was low.
In the second crop in 1982 Cultivar-Tropic tomatoes were grown and production was excellent exceeding normal production for the period in which the tomatoes were harvested.
Production in the fall of 1982 with Cultivar-Dombito tomatoes was low with yields about one-half as good as the spring, 1982 production.
Supplementary energy requirements were low with solar energy supplying about 45 percent of all heat required for all crops.
The experimental greenhouse selected is 7.32 m wide by 10.97 m long.
It has a single-sloped roof with a 4.88 m high south front and a 2.44 m high north wall.
It also has a permanently insulated north wall, a removable insulated ceiling, and openable and closeable insulating curtains (drapes) over the south, east and west walls.
Three crops of tomatoes were grown in the greenhouse.
In the first trial in 1981–1982, a too low minimum ambient temperature was selected before supplementary heat was called for by the controller, thus tomato production was low.
In the second crop in 1982 Cultivar-Tropic tomatoes were grown and production was excellent exceeding normal production for the period in which the tomatoes were harvested.
Production in the fall of 1982 with Cultivar-Dombito tomatoes was low with yields about one-half as good as the spring, 1982 production.
Supplementary energy requirements were low with solar energy supplying about 45 percent of all heat required for all crops.
Authors
A.C. Dale, V.M. Puri, P.A. Hammer
Keywords
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