Greenhouse climate & Energy

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• Energy in greenhouse horticulture: From saving to producing (296,01 kb)

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• Climate in greenhouse horticulture: From climate management to cultivation control (401,68 kb)
• Integrated greenhouse design for all climates (283,39 kb)

Less frequent opening of greenhouse windows may result in the accumulation of harmful components such as ethene (C2H4) and NOx (NO and NO2) in the greenhouse. This may be the case when CO2 is applied via flue gases from a WKK (combined heat-power installation).

But there a more potential sources of these harmful gases, such as pulsfog systems, leaf blowers, trucks in loading bays, or chimney outlets too close to the windows. Too high concentrations of these components may - especially in winter - cause serious crop growth inhibition.

There still are many questions around greenhouse air quality. The effect thresholds for the various crops, e.g., are not yet known, or in other words, at which concentration of the various components does damage occur? The sensitivity of the crops in the various development stages and whether there is a difference in sensitivity under continuous exposure or at peak concentrations is also unknown. And the effect of the greenhouse climate (temperature and relative humidity) on crop sensitivity is still unclear.

The business unit Greenhouse Horticulture is therefore, together with commercial partners, investigating the various questions around greenhouse air quality. The researchers of Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture are focussing on the questions around crop sensitivity. Partners are dealing with questions around improvement of the technique, such as optimisation of the measuring methods, the more accurate supply of CO2, and the prevention of harmful components.