EFFECT OF GREENHOUSE CLADDING MATERIALS AND THERMAL SCREEN CONFIGURATION ON HEATING ENERGY AND STRAWBERRY YIELD IN WINTER
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Date
2021-12-09
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Abstract
Strawberry cultivation depends on environmental factors, making its cultivation in the
greenhouse a challenge in the winter. This study investigated the most appropriate greenhouse
cladding material and thermal screen configuration for strawberry production in the winter by
considering greenhouse air temperature, relative humidity (RH, vapor pressure deficit (VPD, and
solar radiation (SR). Two gothic greenhouses with different cladding materials and thermal screen
configurations, namely, the single-layer greenhouse and double-layer greenhouse, were used for
strawberry cultivation. The greenhouse microclimate was controlled by natural ventilation aided
with circulating fans and boilers. Strawberries were planted on 5 greenhouse benches, 660 stands
per greenhouse. Daily environmental parameters were recorded and processed into daytime and
nighttime. The impacts of cladding material-thermal screen configurations on temperature, RH, VPD,
and SR, and the subsequent effect on strawberry yield in both greenhouse systems, were evaluated.
Comparing the environmental parameters recorded in the single-layer and double-layer greenhouse
showed that VPD and SR were significantly different in the daytime, whereas RH and VPD were
significantly different in the nighttime. The post hoc test further showed that RH, VPD, and SR
in both greenhouses were significantly different. The significant difference in RH and VPD can be
attributed to the inner layer of polyethene in the double-layer greenhouse, which sealed up the pores
of the thermal screen, resulting in humidity buildup, causing a lower VPD than in the single-layer
greenhouse. The single-layer greenhouse yield was 14% greater than the double-layer greenhouse
yield and can be attributed to the higher daytime VPD and lower RH achieved in the single-layer
greenhouse at night. The study established that though the single-layer greenhouse system was
cost-effective regarding construction, the operating cost of the single-layer greenhouse was higher
than that of the double-layer greenhouse.
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Keywords
cultivation, season, microclimate, yield analysis, fresh fruits
Citation
Agronomy MDPI