Articles
NEW GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION CONTROL STRATEGY
Both the quality standard of the products and the yield have to be high to compete on the market and allow operation in an economic way.
Recently, environmental friendly operation of intensive greenhouse horticulture is required, with low emission of contaminants to soil, to surface and ground water and to air.
Moreover energy consumption induces carbondioxide emission.
Prevention of emission and diminishing energy consumption can be achieved by control of the production process.
In this respect the potentials of closed loop production systems are in study at the moment together with energy saving strategies.
In a closed loop system, growing is separated from soil, watered and fertilized with a closed loop watering system with desease control.
Moreover it is in study if the air compartment can be closed, seperating the greenhouse from its environment.
In this way, the penetration of insects and diseases is low, thus demanding a low amount of plant protection chemicals and making biological control an operational tool.
Another advantage is that contineously high CO2 levels can be maintained.
Moreover a more direct conditioning of the air allows a more direct control of the plant environment making optimal control easier.
Therefore strategies for optimal control are developed, applicable in conventional and closed greenhouses.
A closed enclosure can be constructed in a much simpler way than the greenhouses nowadays, thus having higher light penetration and higher production potentials.
Also energy saving techniques can be easier implemented in such a greenhouse.
This has to be combined with strategies for more efficient use of energy, like cogeneration.