Understanding the greenhouse environment
The protected greenhouse environment The greenhouse environment is designed to allow plants to perform close to their genetic optimum so that the grower achieves maximum...
Category Archives: Greenhouses
Solution heating of a tomato crop has limited effect on early yields
Heating the nutrient solution of a NFT hydroponic system may sound like a lucrative option for early yields. Tampering with the nutrient solution temperature is...
Greenhouse heating – 5 facts you should look at
Greenhouse heating can be very expensive, especially if you greenhouse is not optimally set up for heating. There are factors that can be taken into account in...
Calculating pad and fan requirements
The effectiveness of a pad and fan system will not only depend on the design, but also on the wet bulb temperature outside the greenhouse....
Lime – a cheap way to reduce greenhouse temperatures
Cooling a greenhouse can be just as expensive as heating, well almost. There are some very practical methods that you can use to save money. ...
Insect screens in greenhouses – effective biological control
Insect screens or thermal screens are designed to reduce heat in summer and increase temperatures during the night, but also to reduce the number of insects entering the...
Thermal screens greenhouse cooling – are they effective
Heat is always a problem in greenhouses during summer months and even during winter in some areas. Extreme high temperatures cause stress in plants and...
Evaporative pads – maintenance in commercial hydroponics
The installation of new evaporative pads is expensive. The material should last at least two years if not more. With good regular maintenance, evaporative pads...
Cooling a greenhouse with evaporative pad-and-fan
Pad-and-fan systems, also called evaporative pad-and-fan systems, is the most common method of cooling a greenhouse in warm weather regions. Although not optimal, it is better...
Cooling a greenhouse with fogging nozzles
Many growers have tried reducing temperatures (cooling) with fogging nozzles. The concept of spraying the air with microscopic water droplets which absorb the heat in the...
Natural ventilation in humid regions.
Ventilation of greenhouses in humid tropical areas presents the grower with a complete new set of problems. There are various methods available but none have...
Natural ventilation of single span tunnels in arid regions.
Arid regions are characterized by low rainfall, low humidity and high temperatures during summer. The largest problem is temperature during the day time inside the...
What is natural ventilation
Ventilation is the exchange of air inside the greenhouse with air taken from outside the greenhouse using either natural or forced methods. Ventilation efficiency...
Which cladding should be used for greenhouses
Solar radiation is the most important factor affecting plant growth. Without light plants will not grow. Plants require a very narrow spectrum of solar light...
Greenhouse size – Important factors to take into account
Greenhouse size is determined by the width and height. The height will determine climate inside the greenhouse and the width will determine what crops you...
