Abstract
Greenhouse horticulture is one of the most intensive agricultural systems, with the advantages of environmental parameter control (temperature, light, etc.), higher efficiency of resource utilization (water, fertilizers, etc.) and the use of advanced technologies (hydroponics, automation, etc.) for higher productivity, earliness, stability of production and better quality. On the other hand, climate change and the application of high inputs without suitable management could have negative impacts on the expansion of the greenhouse horticulture sector. This special issue gathers twelve papers: three reviews and nine of original research. There is one review that focuses on irrigation of greenhouse crops, while a second surveys the effects of biochar on container substrate properties and plant growth. A third review examines the impact of light quality on plant–microbe interactions, especially non-phototrophic organisms. The research papers report both the use of new technologies as well as advanced cultivation practices. In particular, new technologies are presented such as dye-sensitized solar cells for the glass cover of a greenhouse, automation for water and nitrogen deficit stress detection in soilless tomato crops based on spectral indices, light-emitting diode (LED) lighting and gibberellic acid supplementation on potted ornamentals, the integration of brewery wastewater treatment through anaerobic digestion with substrate-based soilless agriculture, and application of diatomaceous earth as a silica supplement on potted ornamentals. Research studies about cultivation practices are presented comparing different systems (organic-conventional, aeroponic-nutrient film technique (NFT)-substrate culture), quantitative criteria for determining the quality of grafted seedlings, and of wild species as alternative crops for cultivation.
Highlights
Horticulture is characterized by a wide range of cultivation systems and a plethora of fruit, vegetable and ornamental species
Increasing demand for greenhouse horticultural crops could be explained by the growth of the world population as well as adaptation to negative environmental impacts of future water availability and climate change scenarios
Climate change especially could have a significant effect on greenhouse horticulture since the environmental parameters inside greenhouses are dependent on outside conditions such as temperature and solar radiation
Summary
Horticulture is characterized by a wide range of cultivation systems (i.e., open field, soilless, protected, greenhouse, organic, indoor) and a plethora of fruit, vegetable and ornamental species. Greenhouse horticulture is one of the most intensive agricultural systems, focusing on the production of high-value products. Control of environmental parameters (temperature, light, etc.), higher efficiency of resource utilization (water, fertilizers, etc.) and the use of high-tech systems (hydroponic, automation, etc.). Increasing demand for greenhouse horticultural crops could be explained by the growth of the world population as well as adaptation to negative environmental impacts of future water availability and climate change scenarios. Climate change especially could have a significant effect on greenhouse horticulture since the environmental parameters inside greenhouses are dependent on outside conditions such as temperature and solar radiation. The use of high inputs without suitable management could have negative environmental impacts. Suitable cultivation practices and new technologies will be needed to achieve the maximum benefits from greenhouse horticultural production.
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