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 reduce yields, quality and increases pest and disease pressure thereby increasing costs. Overall, the economic viability of a greenhouse decreases if temperature is not controlled sufficiently. One of the latest [...]

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 should last 5 years. Fortunately the grower has the opportunity to spend very little money on small items which will increase the lifespan of the evaporative pad. Considering the cost [...]

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 than no cooling at all. Using an evaporative pad-and-fan requires a fan mounted opposite the evaporative pads. Evaporative pad-and-fan systems are referred to as “pad and fan” systems because the [...]

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 air sound right. However, fogging does not just decrease the temperature, it increases the humidity as well. A fogging system cannot operate efficiently if it does not have a very [...]

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 the desired effect. Screening is limited since it can only be applied during certain periods of the day and it limits the amount of sunlight reaching the plants. Evaporative pads [...]

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 tunnel during summer months. According to Arbel, Segal, et al. (1990), greenhouses found in arid areas have specific needs that should achieve the following: Low cost of construction and maintenance [...]

  Ventilation is the exchange of air inside the greenhouse with air taken from outside the greenhouse using either natural or forced methods. Ventilation efficiency is critical in successful crop growth. The most common problem encountered in hot arid climates is to cool a greenhouses down in comparison with Northern Europe where greenhouses need to be [...]

LDPE HDPE Difference is crucial when designing a good system.  You can either save a lot of money initially and waste a lot later when your irrigation system starts popping. The irrigation pipes ensure that water is supplied to the plants. The most common used pipes are the LDPE types. They range between 1 and [...]

Hydroponic pumps are at the heart of your irrigation system. Many people tend to neglect this area just because they do not understand what is involved in selecting the right hydroponic pump and the requirements for pumps used in hydroponic conditions. It must be emphasized that the pumps used in hydroponic systems have different requirements [...]