Modeling canopy temperature in closed greenhouses using coupled elliptic models*

Abstract

Microclimate within the canopy and at the plant surface can have a significant influence on the physiological processes of plants, as well as on the epidemiology of pathogens. Assessing greenhouse climate parameters, canopy microclimate and leaf surface microclimate is essential for developing greenhouse climate control strategies. Considering the canopy as a heterogenous porous medium and using the heat transfer theory, we developed a one-dimensional coupled elliptic system for control purposes to describe the air canopy and crop temperature, and established the existence and uniqueness of the solutions. The corresponding numerical model was derived within the finite difference framework. Simulations were conducted to evaluate the capability of the model to replicate canopy temperature for two arrangements of crops species under different behaviour and environment.