Analysis of Heat and Mass Distribution in a Single- and Multi-Span Greenhouse Microclimate

Qazeem Opeyemi Ogunlowo,Timothy Denen Akpenpuun,Wook-Ho Na,Anis Rabiu,Hyun-Woo Lee,Hyeon-Tae Kim,Kwame Sasu Addae,Misbaudeen Aderemi Adesanya

doi:10.3390/agriculture11090891

Abstract

Recently, heat and mass distributions within a greenhouse were assumed to be homogeneous. Heat is gained or lost in absolute terms, and crop contribution in a greenhouse or its effect is not considered. In this study, statistical analyses were conducted to establish the significance of heat and mass variation at sensor nodes in two single-span and multi-span greenhouses. Three greenhouses were used in this study, 168 m2 floor area a single-layered (SLG), double-layered (DLG) single-span gothic roof type greenhouses, and 7572.6 m2 floor area multi-span greenhouse (MSG). The microclimatic parameters investigated were temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), solar radiation (SR), carbon dioxide (CO2), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). To check their horizontal distribution, all microclimate data collected from each sensor node in each greenhouse were subjected to descriptive statistics and Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD) test. The lowest minimum temperatures of 2.93 °C, 3.33 °C and 10.50 °C were recorded at sensor points in SLG, DLG, and MSG, respectively, whereas the highest maximum temperatures of 29.17 °C, 29.07 °C and 27.20 °C were recorded at sensor point, in SLG, DLG, and MSG, respectively. The difference between the center and the side into the single-span was approximately 0.88–1.0 °C and in the MSG was approximately 1.03 °C. Significant variation was observed in the horizontal distribution of T, RH, SR, and VPD within SLG, DLG, and MSG. Also significant was CO2 in the MSG. Estimating the energy demand of greenhouses should be done based on the distribution rather than assuming microclimatic parameters homogeneity, especially for T, with VPD as a control parameter. Such estimation should also be done using a crop model that considers instant changes in air and crop temperature.

Highlights

A greenhouse is an agricultural structure used in protecting crops from harmful and extreme weather conditions
The SLG floor is covered with a layer of granite, whereas the DLG is covered with tarpaulin, the effects of which were studied as greenhouse features rather than the heat and mass distribution
The heat source was a diesel-fired boiler connected to heating pipes that run through the greenhouse

Summary

Introduction

A greenhouse is an agricultural structure used in protecting crops from harmful and extreme weather conditions. Energy is required to heat up or cool down greenhouse microclimate in the winter and summer, respectively. The energy demand of the greenhouse should be estimated. The tools accept energyrelated microclimate parameters and return the estimated energy as output. Microclimate parameters are distributed homogeneously or heterogeneously within a greenhouse and are determined by the heat and mass distributions within the greenhouse. Temperature, radiation, and dew point temperature are heat-related parameters, whereas relative humidity (RH) (moisture), CO2, and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) are mass-related. Optimal crop growth in a greenhouse requires optimal temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and solar radiation [4,5,6,7]. Mass and heat transfer phenomena (e.g., evaporation, condensation, photosynthesis, and climate change) affect the quality and quantity of the produced crops

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Results

Conclusion