To explore the interactions among key environmental factors in solar greenhouses under sunny winter conditions, the Pearson correlation coefficient method and regression modeling were employed to analyze highly correlated environmental factors. Multiple regression models were subsequently established for factors with consistent variation trends, based on the fitting performance of optimal regression models. The results indicated that solar radiation intensity exhibited a strong negative correlation with air humidity, with a second-order polynomial fitting R 2 of 0.860. Temperature and humidity were negatively correlated, achieving a third-order polynomial fitting R 2 of 0.962. Temperature and CO 2 concentration also showed a strong negative correlation, with a third-order polynomial fitting R 2 of 0.965. Air humidity and CO 2 concentration displayed a high negative correlation, and the nonlinear Boltzmann model yielded an excellent fitting effect. Solar radiation intensity and CO 2 concentration were highly positively correlated, with a fifth-order polynomial fitting R 2 of 0.822. Soil temperature and soil moisture were moderately highly positively correlated, with a fifth-order polynomial fitting R 2 of 0.618. In summary, the established coupling models between greenhouse environmental factors are suitable for predicting environmental conditions in greenhouses, reducing test consumables, and are characterized by simplicity in calculation and operation.

Exploring the application mode of artificial light sources in solar greenhouses based on functional-structural plant model

Consequent upon the inestimably magnificent rise in the necessity to considerably minimize the worrisome menace of global dependency on fossil fuels (such as coal, oil and gas), combat the pollution caused by green house gas emission emanating from same and lead a crusade against energy insecurity; the renewable energy sources (RES) became a panacea to the incessant imbalance between the ever- increasing demand and meagre supply of energy throughout the entire universe. Nevertheless, the output of RES is characterized with some unpleasant traits which include intermittency coupled with variability and unpredictability since it is largely constrained by annual weather pattern thereby inflicting a very severe injury on transient and steady state stability, reliability and profitability index. Thus, the certainty that this attributes do not only possess a gigantic capability to render synchronization futile but also initiate regular system collapse in the grid network cannot be over-emphasized, especially if the necessary precautionary measures are not taken into consideration. Therefore, this research work provides a compact review on the impacts of integration of large scale renewable energy sources into grid-connected power system. The methodology would involve an elucidative investigation of the associated benefits and obstacles after which possible mitigations to the challenges are accorded an extensive analysis while useful inferences are drawn meticulously leading to qualitative conclusions and useful recommendations from the results and findings so obtained.

This study explores the role of solid-state digestate management in biogas systems as a decarbonisation strategy within the circular bioeconomy. A meta-synthesis of 45 Scopus-indexed studies reveals that, sustainable digestate utilization enhances bioenergy efficiency, soil health, and biodiversity, while simultaneously reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions through carbon sequestration. Key agronomic benefits include nutrient recycling, enhanced soil fertility, and reduced dependency on synthetic fertilizers, contributing to regenerative agricultural practices. Despite its potential, challenges such as contamination risks, policy gaps, and infrastructure limitations hinder widespread adoption, particularly in emerging economies. Developed regions employ advanced valorization technologies and regulatory frameworks, whereas low-cost, scalable solutions offer promise for resource-limited settings. Integrating biochar with solid-state digestate further enhances carbon storage, soil resilience, and microbial safety, supporting sustainable agroecosystems. Policy recommendations highlight the need for harmonized quality standards, financial incentives, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure Digestate's safe and effective utilization. This research underscores its role in circular agriculture, fostering economic and environmental sustainability in biogas systems by positioning solid-state digestate as a key enabler of the bioenergy transition.

ABSTRACT Solar greenhouse dryers have emerged as an alternative renewable energy‐based drying technology to address the inefficiencies, long drying times, and post‐harvest losses associated with traditional open sun drying. This holistic review looks at recent technology developments in solar greenhouse dryers, looking at their set‐ups, their performance, and their applications in various climates and products. Significant outcomes indicate that solar greenhouse dryers have tremendous reduction in drying time, such as in the sinusoidal design which experiences temperatures of 49.11°C and dries products 32%–67% faster compared to the open sun systems, and energy efficiency (thermal efficiencies vary between 17.96% and 80.66%). The performance of hybrid systems that combine solar collectors, biomass, or a heat pump are even better and are already at specific moisture extraction rates: 3.725 kg/kWh and payback periods of as low as 0.41 years. Machine learning and CFDs allow optimising the design of dryers so that flow and temperature are evenly distributed. Also, solar greenhouse dryers reduce CO₂ emissions (up to 726.92 tonnes during their working life) and maintain quality of products as observed by color and increased content of essential oil in dried herbs. It is concluded that solar greenhouse dryers, especially those using hybrid and forced‐convection designs, are available as scalable, cost‐effective, clean drying alternatives with current materials, geometry and control technology innovations leading to an increased uptake of this technology in terms of global sustainable agriculture.

Coupling equipment operation parameters with the hourly heat balance model, this study realized the integrated estimation of energy consumption and costs. Meanwhile, two typical greenhouse growth settings were investigated: one at an average temperature of 22.5 °C (25/20 °C and 30/15 °C) and another at 25 °C (35/15 °C and 30/20 °C). Based on the simulation results, in an average temperature of 22.5 °C, the target temperature of 30/15 °C is suggested, whereas in an average temperature of 25 °C, the target temperature of 30/20 °C is suggested. Moreover, two different electricity rate systems, mainly unit-form and time-of-use rates, were used to analyze the running costs of the greenhouse. Due to the energy demand, peaks often happened between 12:00 and 14:00, requiring the manipulation of mechanical environmental control strategies to keep the target temperature; the total electricity cost in time-of-use rates system was a little higher than that in unit-form rate. Results of the dry weights analysis suggest that the DIF30/20 scenario is more practical due to the substantial rise in electricity costs relative to its modest yield improvement for the others. This method achieved an RMSE of less than 2.7 °C for estimating summer greenhouse cooling energy consumption and can provide growers with quantitative temperature setting schemes during hot summers.

A novel air conditioning system combining double-coil heat exchangers and heat pump in a Chinese solar greenhouse

Coupled optimization of daylighting, insulation and active heat storage in cold-region solar greenhouses

Thermal characteristics and structural configuration of solar water curtain heating system for solar greenhouse

Understanding green house gases emission dynamics from forest fires in Thailand using predictive models

The optical properties of greenhouse cover materials play a critical role in controlling the internal light environment, directly affecting photosynthetic performance and crop productivity. This study evaluates the impact of a high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance and high-light-diffusivity polyethylene film on the microclimate, photosynthetic activity, yield, and disease incidence of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) crops grown in a Mediterranean passive solar greenhouse. Trials were conducted over two consecutive autumn–winter seasons using a multi-span greenhouse divided into two sectors: one covered with an experimental high-transmittance film and the other with a standard commercial plastic. The experimental cover increased PAR transmission by 8.7% and 11.6% at canopy level in the first and second seasons, respectively, leading to improvements in leaf-level net photosynthesis of 9.3% and 17.9%. These effects contributed to yield increases of 5.0% and 17.3% in the respective seasons. The internal air temperature rose by up to 1.3 °C without exceeding critical thresholds, and no significant differences were observed in plant morphology or fruit quality between treatments. Additionally, the experimental film reduced the incidence of major fungal diseases, particularly under higher disease pressure conditions. The use of high-PAR-transmittance films enhances radiation use efficiency and crop performance in resource-limited environments without increasing energy inputs. This approach offers a sustainable, low-cost strategy to improve yield and disease resilience in protected cropping systems under passive climate control.

Abstract Brazil has a longstanding and significant tradition in the development of social housing; however, this topic remains underexplored within the field of social policy. This study adopts qualitative methods, including an analysis of housing legislation, from the past two decades and, and data from 20 semi-structured interviews conducted between June and September 2021 with key stakeholders in housing policy, such as policymakers, and activists. The findings reveal a persistent gap between policy promises and actual implementation, alongside a continuing trend toward the financialization and commodification of social housing – particularly in programs such as Minha Casa, Minha Vida (My House, My Life) and Casa Verde e Amarela (Green and Yellow House). The study offers novel empirical insights into the role of social housing within broader ecosocial policy frameworks. One of the central findings is the interconnection between social housing, environmental concerns, and sustainability. The Brazilian case, in particular, stands out as a distinctive and pioneering contribution to the field.

Horticultural facilities can boost crop yields and quality. However, their structures, costs, and resource efficiency vary significantly. Many facility operators prioritize short-term economic gains at the expense of long-term investments in energy efficiency and environmental management, ultimately leading to increased energy consumption and higher greenhouse gas emissions. A systems-based assessment of tomato production is essential for optimizing resource use. This study integrated emergy analysis (EMA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the sustainability of three tomato production systems: polytunnels, solar greenhouses, and glass greenhouses. The Results demonstrated that polytunnels exhibited the best environmental performance, with the lowest environmental loading ratio (ELR, 19.06) and environmental final index (EFI, 1.62). Solar greenhouses showed the best environmental composite index (ECI), outperforming others in mitigating potential environmental impacts. Glass greenhouses imposed the greatest environmental pressure (ELR, 168.51), primarily due to substantial natural gas consumption and infrastructure investment. Scenario analyses revealed that environmental performance across all systems could be significantly enhanced through shortening transport distance, extending the service life of construction materials, and managing energy use. The maximum reduction potentials for the environmental composite index (ECI)were 23.80% for polytunnels, 18.60% for solar greenhouses, and 19.90% for glass greenhouses. This study confirms that polytunnels are the most environmentally friendly option, and targeted management strategies can effectively steer facility-based agriculture toward a more sustainable trajectory.

The transformation of agricultural waste into eco-friendly manner and reduces the effect of green house gases emission due to burning of crop residues. The organic biomass was converted and utilized it in another form with the concept of developing agro waste composite material. Hence, the primary objective of this study was developed a lightweighted, durable and biodegradable composite materials supports sustainable production and attempt a new opportunities as alternatives method over traditional materials. These composites offer significant advantages, particularly in terms of energy savings, low cost, and minimizing environmental impact. The objective of study was developed a yoke that is lightweight, ergonomic comfort to neck, durable, and sustainable by valorising abundant agricultural residue. Wheat straw was grinded in hammer mills and used as reinforcement agent with an unsaturated epoxy resin matrix material. Different combinations of samples were prepared in the laboratory. The composite yoke was fabricated using a compression moulding technique. The samples were tested for mechanical and physical properties. The optimization was done by analysis the strength of different samples and which combination was best for superior toughness and improved stress materials was developed due to the combined effect of silica and agriculture biomass. The results demonstrated that filler type and loading significantly influence the mechanical behaviour of the composites. Among all formulations, the hybrid composite containing 10 wt% silica and 10 wt% biomass (S9) exhibited the most balanced and superior overall performance. This composition showed maximum tensile strength (25.2 N/mm²), compressive strength (79.30.00 N/mm²), and impact strength (8.23 N/mm2), representing improvements of approximately 54%, 44%, and 58%, respectively, compared to the unfilled control. This study successfully demonstrates the potential of wheat straw-based composites as a viable alternative to wood for manufacturing ergonomic and sustainable harnessing technology (animal yoke), directly contributing to manage crop residue and prevent it from burning and generate income for farmers.

The present study is reported from the central region of Indian Kashmir Himalayas with the aim of (i) identifying and documenting tree species in the agroforestry systems along with the preferred usage, (ii) quantifying green house gas (GHG) emissions and avoided deforestation potential, and (iii) assessing biomass and carbon stock for their trade potential. Purposive, multi-stage, and random sampling procedures were followed for the selection of sampling units based on the availability of agroforestry land use systems. A total of 19 tree species belonging to 9 families and 12 genera were documented. Species like Populus deltoides, Populus nigra, Salix alba, and Salix fragilis were found to be highly preferred for fuelwood, fodder, and small timber extraction. The total green house gas (GHG) emission potential of this extracted material is 64.35 tC and 235.95 tCO 2 , with the maximum CO 2 emission from Salix alba (28.05 tCO 2 ). A total quantity of 143 quintals of biomass is extracted annually from the 19 tree species utilized for fuelwood, fodder, and small timber, resulting in an average avoided deforestation potential of 75.26 m 3 . The highest offset value of US$ 1492.79/Mg was recorded for Horti-silvi-pastoral systems, followed by Homegardens (US$ 1414.51/Mg), and the minimum offset value of US$ 626.38/Mg was recorded for Boundary plantations. On an average, a single sampled household helps to sequester 4.7 Mg of carbon annually in the present study. Therefore, a cluster-based approach by bundling villages together in the entire Ganderbal district would result in approximately sequestering 213,196 Mg CO 2 e and hence would yield US$ 536,620 per annum. The present study's estimation of carbon stock and carbon offset values could act as a baseline for the future implementation of CDM, REDD, and REDD++ projects in J&K.

Effects of heat transfer medium with carbon nano tube and nano silicon carbide coatings on thermal characteristics of half cylindrical shaped solar greenhouse dryer

BackgroundThe agronomic quality of cutting-propagated strawberry seedlings is a critical determinant of subsequent field performance and economic returns in the annual production of fresh-market strawberries. Although far-red light (FR) has been well established as a key regulator of plant architecture and productivity in many horticultural crops, its specific physiological roles during the strawberry seedling establishment stage remain poorly understood. Thus, investigating whether end-of-day far red (EOD-FR) light treatment can effectively enhance the growth vigor and overall development of strawberry runners addresses a significant knowledge gap, with direct implications for commercial seedling production systems.MethodsThe experiment investigated the effects of 0 (CK), 3 h, 6 h, and 9 h EOD-FR durations on strawberry cuttings (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cv. Benihoppe). The 60-d period experiment was conducted in a solar greenhouse, employing a completely randomized block design. The sampling was carried at 30 d and 60 d to assess physiological and morphological responses of strawberry seedlings.ResultsCompared with the control (CK), 6 h EOD-FR supplementation markedly enhanced seedling growth, including increases in height, leaf area, petiole diameter and length, biomass accumulation, root development and vigor index. In addition, anatomical observations revealed that while prolonged EOD-FR exposure led to reduction in leaf thickness, the 6 h EOD-FR increased the number of vascular bundles in petioles and accelerated floral bud differentiation. The physiological analysis showed that 6 h EOD-FR supplementation enhanced net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency. This was observed alongside increased activities of antioxidant enzyme and greater accumulation of osmolytes, including free amino acids, soluble sugars, and proteins. Hormonal profiling indicated that 6 h EOD-FR increased the IAA, Brassinosteroids, and ABA levels in leaves and petioles. However, the marked increase of ABA content and reduce of GA₃ content were only found in shoot apices. Based on membership function values and principal component analysis, the order of treatment performance (6 h > 3 h > CK > 9 h) was consistent across both 30-d and 60-d experimental durations.ConclusionIn summary, supplementation with 6 h EOD-FR optimizes photosynthetic performance, strengthens antioxidant capacity, regulates hormone balance, and promotes nutrient accumulation in strawberry seedlings, ultimately leading to enhanced growth and stimulated floral induction.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-025-08092-3.

Maintaining adequate root-zone temperature in solar greenhouses during extreme cold is crucial for crop production. This study investigated the optimization of an auxiliary biomass heating system in a solar greenhouse. The heating performance was evaluated using an integrated methodology that combined orthogonal experimental design, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation, and Machine Learning (ML) surrogate modeling. First, a reliable CFD model, validated against experimental data (Index of Agreement, IA = 0.954), was used to generate high-fidelity temperature field data for nine layout schemes. Parameter sensitivity analysis revealed that the burning cave Diameter is the dominant factor (R = 6.01), followed by burial Depth (R = 2.00), with inter-pool Spacing having the least impact (R = 0.89). Subsequently, six ML algorithms were compared for use as a predictive surrogate model, with Lasso Regression demonstrating superior performance (R2 = 0.934). Comprehensive optimization focused on maximizing the Suitable Area Ratio (Rs) in the critical 0.2 m depth root zone. The analysis conclusively identified the 2.5 m diameter group as optimal, achieving a maximum Rs of 90% and the lowest temperature standard deviation. The final recommended optimal design (2.5 m diameter, 0.7 m depth, 10 m spacing) significantly improves heating uniformity and efficiency. This integrated CFD-ML approach provides a scientific basis and a rapid assessment tool for the design and structural optimization of similar underground thermal systems in cold-climate agriculture.

ABSTRACT This paper illustrates possibilities and pitfalls of two different approaches to causal analysis, the Rubin causal framework (RCF) and spatial econometrics, namely the spatial Durbin model (SDM). The two are directly opposing, for unlike the RCF, spatial interaction is embodied within the SDM. The main innovatory aspects are an attempt to reconcile RCF and SDM via ATIVE, meaning the average treatment instrumental variable effect, which parallels the average treatment effect (ATE) based on regression adjustment (RA). Additionally the paper illustrates the efficacy of using synthetic instrumental variables, providing estimates of the impact of London’s Green Belt on house prices.

Hydrogel-based hydrated salt composite PCMs for TES in agricultural solar energy utilization facility- solar greenhouse