Designing the Greenhouse to

Meet Your Expectations: Whats

Your Technology Level?
Dr. Gene Giacomelli, Director
Controlled Environment Agriculture Center
CEAC
The University of Arizona, Tucson
You and your crop against the world!
Changing weather affecting greenhouse climate
Changing plant response to changing climate
Accept these facts! Meet these demands!
Monitor the greenhouse environment, know conditions,
respond quickly and appropriately
Control the air conditions around the plant
need climate control for the air environment
Control the root zone conditions of the plant
need climate control for the root environment
Determine your production demand and marketing period
define seasonal environments that you must manage
Select Technology Level to meet your needs!
For every complex problem there is a solution
that is simple, neat and wrong.
H.L. Mencken
Why Greenhouses ?
Why Greenhouses ?

Increased independence from outside climate
Increased independence from outside climate

Grow year round and out
Grow year round and out
-
-
of season
of season

Usage of unproductive land
Usage of unproductive land

Better usage of
Better usage of
irrigation
irrigation
water & fertilizers
water & fertilizers

More control over pests & diseases
More control over pests & diseases

Year round jobs
Year round jobs

create career professionals

create career professionals

Significant production & quality increase
Significant production & quality increase
Greater Profits!
Greater Profits!
__________________________________
Greenhouse Crop Production and Quality
Environment
Air temperature, humidity, sunlight
Culture
Nutrients, EC, pH, cultivar
Plant growing system
Management
Experience, training
Knowing when to get help
__________________________________
Environment
Natural climate [outside]
+
Greenhouse design
+
Management
creates
Greenhouse climate
[inside]
Greenhouse Crop Production and Quality
__________________________________
Environment
Natural climate [outside]
+
Greenhouse design
+
Management
creates
Greenhouse climate
[inside]
Controllable?
No?
Yes
Yes?
Greenhouse Crop Production and Quality
__________________________________
Greenhouse Design
Structure
Cover
Environmental control
systems
Greenhouse Crop Production and Quality
__________________________________
Greenhouse Design
Structure
Cover
Environmental control
systems
Affects Environment?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Greenhouse Crop Production and Quality
__________________________________
Environmental Control
Aerial
Cooling Heating
CO
2
VPD
Root Zone
Nutrition
Oxygen
Greenhouse Crop Production and Quality
__________________________________
Environmental Control
Cooling
Shading
Natural Ventilation
Evaporative Cooling
Greenhouse Crop Production and Quality
__________________________________
Environmental Control
Nutrition
Soil culture
Soil-less culture
(Hydroponics)
Greenhouse Crop Production and Quality
__________________________________
In summary...
Selection of greenhouse
design and its environmental
control systems
affects
Production Quality and Yields
Greenhouse Crop Production and Quality
How do Technology Levels help
determine success
(or the dreaded alternative)
Consider Technology Levels as the amount
of control systems and management
capabilities that you provide for the
greenhouse
Climatic factors (yearly radiation, Temp, Humidity)
Level of technology (High, Medium, Low)
Knowledge of target market (orientation, price
fluctuation, location)
Strategic Planning (cultivar, density,
season)
Crop management (education, experience)
How do Technology Levels help
determine success
(or the dreaded alternative)
Levels of Technology
High
Plant-based environmental control to
optimize plant growth, maximize
productivity and fruit quality.
Computer automated control of
temperature, irrigation and shading based
on integrated light, CO
2
enrichment.
Hydroponic systems with closed irrigation.
High cost ($100-$200 per m
2
).
* Classification according to Pardossi et al., 2004
Multi-span, gutter-connected saw-tooth design with
rigid single-layer polycarbonate covered,
truss-frame greenhouse
Natural ventilation and fan & pad evaporative
cooling
HIGH TECH Greenhouse
HIGH TECH Greenhouse
HIGH TECH Greenhouse
HIGH TECH Greenhouse
Fan ventilation
Evaporative Cooling
Heating
CO2 Enrichment
Soilless Root Zone
EuroFresh Farms
Traditional Dutch Venlo style
glass greenhouse with ridge ventilation
Computer-based Controller
Multiple Zones
Multiple Sensors, Multiple Types
View, Process and Store Data
Control Software
Highly Flexible
100-200+ 50 - 75
High wire
culture
Fully
computerized
fertigation
Recirculation
Hydroponics
Soiless
substrate
Rockwool,
coir, other
Drip
irrigation
with full
automated
control
(EC control
according to
light
intensity)
Forced
ventilation+
evaporative
cooling + hot
water pipe
heating + CO
2
enrichment +
shading f (
light) + energy
blanket
Steel or
Aluminum
frame
Glass,
polyethylene or
Polycarbonate
High
Investment
Cost
a
$/m
2
Expected
yield
kg/m
2
/yr
Culture
method
Root Canopy Structure
& Glazing
Environment
HIGH TECH Greenhouse
For Tomato
Production
Levels of Technology
Medium
Combinations of Low & High Tech
Passive or Active cooling
With or without heaters
Basic environmental control
Soil or soilless substrate
Cost ($30-$100 per m
2
)
* Classification according to Pardossi et al., 2004
MEDIUM TECH Greenhouse
Natural ventilation or
Fan ventilation
Heating
Soil grown or
Soilless root zone
MEDIUM TECH Greenhouse
Natural ventilation or
Fan ventilation
Heating
Soil grown or
Soilless root zone
Retractable Roof Greenhouse Technology
for vegetable production
MEDIUM TECH Greenhouse
MEDIUM TECH Greenhouse
Retractable Roof Greenhouse Technology
for vegetable production
Exhaust Fan with
Plastic Tube Air
Distribution Duct
30 - 100 20 - 50
High wire
culture
Longer
season
Usually
computerized
fertigation
Soil or
soiless
substrate
Drip
irrigation
some control
Passive/Active
cooling (vents
+pad /fan)
with or
without air
heating
basic level of
computer
control
Steel frame
Double PE
film or rigid
plastic
Medium
Investment
Cost
a
$/m
2
Expected
yield
kg/m
2
/yr
Culture
method
Root Canopy Structure
& Glazing
Environment
MEDIUM TECH Greenhouse
For Tomato
Production
Levels of Technology
Low
Minimal modification of the GH
environment
GH environment greatly dependent on
outside
Passive ventilation (roof, side wall vents)
No heaters
Soil root zone
Low cost ($25-$30/m
2
)
* Classification according to Pardossi et al., 2004
Natural ventilation
No heating
Soil grown
LOW TECH Greenhouse
LOW TECH Greenhouse
LOW TECH Greenhouse
LOW TECH Greenhouse
LOW TECH Greenhouse
Basic
Air Temperature
Monitoring
Inexpensive
Accurate
Manual
25-30 10-20
Med-high
wire
Soil or
tezontle
sand
Drip
irrigation
with
manual
control
Passive
cooling
(roof and
side wall
vents)
no heating
Wood or
Steel
frame
Single
layer PE
film
Low
Investment
Cost
$/m
2
Expected
yield
kg/m
2
/yr
Culture
method
Root Canopy Structure
& Glazing
Environment
LOW TECH Greenhouse
For Tomato
Production
What is level of technology?
Combination of systems/equipment that
modifies canopy and root environment
Selection of technology depend on desired
level of independence from outside climate
and expected productivity and quality
Link between crop environmental needs
and local climate limitations
Levels of Technology
High
Medium
Low
* Classification according to Pardossi et al., 2004
Increased insulation from outside condition
Increased importance of training
Increased cost per unit area
Increased Yields per unit area
Questions to consider before selecting
Greenhouse Technology
Crop? (Market?)
Climate?
Capital?
Grower Experience?
Expected (Desired) Yields?
Harvest Window?
Technology for environmental control
of upper part of plant
Technology for environmental control
of root zone
Challenges
Selection of most suitable level of
technology for the different climates and
target market
Plastic film or glass covering
Passive or active cooling
heating
Soil or soilless cultivation
Good understanding of the technology
Consistent Technical Support
Continuous labor training
Summary
N. America has variety of climates & greenhouse levels
Big challenge is to reasonably match both for your crop
High Tech is not necessarily the best solution
High Tech GH is particularly suitable for locations with
high production potential, close to highly demanding
markets
Low Tech GH is a good solution for regions where high
summer temperatures or cold winter temperatures can
be avoided
1. Glass
2. Plastic films
3. Rigid plastic panels
Three categories of coverings
used for commercial greenhouses
Rigid plastic structured panels
fiberglass reinforced polyester (FRP)
polycarbonate (PC),
acrylic (PMMA, polymethylmethacrylate)
polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Thin films
low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
polyvinylchloride (PVC),
ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)
Manufactured in single, double and triple layers
Modern Plastic Alternatives
Plastic Thin Films
minimum useful life of 24 months
three and four year films available
Manufacturing
co-extruding and multi-layering
Additives
ethyl vinyl acetate [EVA]
cracking resistance in cold temperatures
tear strength (at folds)
ultra-violet radiation [UV] inhibitors
infrared [IR] barrier
condensate control
wavelength selective transmission [filter]
The Beauty of Glass
GLAZING
GLAZING
Polyethylene Film
Double wall, acrylic-coated polycarbonate
GLAZING
Single wall, corrugated polycarbonate sheets
Is there any hope for improvement..
Give me some perspective
Thank you very much
Muchas gracias