SE—Structures and Environment: A Strategy for Greenhouse Climate Control, Part II: Model Validation

Abstract

The present project tested a model predicting the dynamic ambient greenhouse air conditions maximizing a tomato crop yield value less the energy cost. For simplification, this yield value less energy cost is referred to as net profits. Net profits were equated to crop yield value, computed from the dynamic greenhouse conditions (temperature, incident radiation, CO2level and relative humidity), less the costs of heating, dehumidification and CO2injection. The physical parameters describing a Venlo-type glass greenhouse located in Québec City, Canada, were measured to describe its heat and mass (CO2and water vapour) transfers and test the model. The model was used to predict net profits for 2 months of tomato production. The measured values were compared to that calculated by the sub-models (transpiration rate and tomato yield) and the model itself. The sub-models and model proved to be accurate within a 3% error when used to predict crop yield and net profits for periods of 1 week or longer. The model was found to be especially sensitive to exterior temperature, affecting heating costs but not yield, then incident radiation reducing heating costs and increases yield through transpiration, and finally, relative humidity affecting crop yield and dehumidification costs.