GREENHOUSE TECHNOLOGY & ITS BENEFITS

Dr. Raghwendra SinghSenior ScientistIIVR, Varanasi

Solar heat conversion

Open air Greenhouse

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• Science of providing favourable environment conditions to the plants.

• Creates an ideal micro climate around the plants.

• It is a framed or inflated structure covered with transparent or translucent material large enough to grow crops under partial or fully controlled environmental conditions to get optimum growth and productivity.

Greenhouse Technology

GREEN HOUSE TECHNOLOGY1. Protection from

Extreme temperatures High wind velocity Insect-pest & diseases Torrential Rain fall Snowfall

2. It augments

• CO2 Concentration• Humidity• Nutrient uptake• Soil health• Photosynthesis

3. Resulted in• Increased Productivity• Improved quality

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Principles of protective cultivation

• The sunlight comes in the green house and is absorbed by the crop, floor and other objects which in turn emit long wave thermal radiation

• The solar energy remains trapped in the green house

• This condition of natural rise in green house air temperature is utilized in the cold regions to grow crops successfully

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Crop cultivation under open Sun Crop cultivation under greenhouse

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Advantages of greenhouse cultivation

• Gives higher yield (5-17 times) than outdoor cultivation depending upon the type of greenhouse, type of crop, and its environmental control facilities

• The reliability of crop increases under greenhouse cultivation

• Ideally suited for vegetables and flower crops.• Year round and off season production of floricultural and

vegetable crops• Disease-free and genetically superior transplants, can be

produced continuously.

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• Efficient utilization of chemicals, pesticides to control pest and diseases.

• The water requirement of crops are very limited and easy to control

• Maintenance of stock plants and cultivating grafted plantlets

• Hardening of tissue cultured plants• Production of quality produce• Modern techniques of Hydroponic (Soil less culture);

Aeroponic are possible only under greenhouse cultivation.

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Area under greenhouse(s) in different countries

Country Area (ha)Netherland 89,600

China 51,000Japan 40,000Spain 28,000

South Korea 21, 000Italy 19,500Israel 18,000USA 15,000

Turkey 12,000India only 100 ha (1995) 5,730 (2012)

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Types of Green house structures

Detached Greenhouse Attached greenhouse

Even-span greenhouses Lean-to

Uneven-span greenhouses Ridge and Furrow

Quonset greenhouses Barrel Vault

Saw tooth type Greenhouse

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Even-span Greenhouses

This is the most common greenhouse in IndiaFor single span type the span in general, varies from 5 to 9 m, Length: 20-25 m and Height: 2.5-4.3 meter

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Uneven span type greenhouse

• One roof wider than the other.

• Different pitch angles.• Used on hillsides. • Wider roof faces

south for maximum solar gain.

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Quonset Greenhouses

• Framework consists of curved bars or tubes.• No span.• Often covered with white, polyethylene film and used to

over-winter nursery stock.

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This type of design is used when a greenhouse is to be constructed against the side of an existing building, so the plants can make the best use of sunlight and owner can minimizes the requirement of roof support

Lean to type greenhouse 13/43

Ridge and furrow greenhouse

• Consist of many even-span structures placed one after another forming a range of greenhouses.

• Gutter connected.

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Barrel vault greenhouse

• Several quonset type greenhouses connected together forming a range.

• Gutter connected.

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Saw tooth type Greenhouses

• There is provision for natural ventilation

• Specific natural ventilation flow path develops in a saw tooth type greenhouse

• This design is used in areas under high temperature

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(i) Glass: • Provides good transmission of light. • Glass transmits about 84-87% of available visible light.• Maintenance cost is very high

(ii) Acrylic: • It has a long service life (> 20 years). • Good light transmission (81 %). • It is inflammable and expensive

(iii)Polycarbonate: • Service life upto 10 years. • Light transmission (77%).• Expensive

Covering material used in greenhouse 17/43

(iv) Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Panels (FRPs): •It consists of polyester resins, glass fibers.•Can have minor amount of other resins, stabilizers, etc.•Service life is 4-5 years

(v) Polyethylene: • UV stabilized Low density polyethylene (LDPE) is used . • It has good transmittivity (80-90 %) and can be used for 3-4

years. • It is most widely used . • Basic LDPE without UV stabilizers last for 4-6 months

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Greenhouses should be located in order to receive maximum sunlight.

Orientation north south. Deciduous trees should be placed strategically around the

greenhouse to shade from the intense afternoon sun, but do not shade the house in the morning. (North)

Access to greenhouse should be convenient for utilities as well as people.

A separate storage area should be set aside for supplies, as well as a workplace for potting plants, etc.

Locations 19/43

LADAKH : GEO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

• Region of strategic defence importance due to border areas

(China & Pakistan)

• Snow bound rugged terrain with very meager natural

vegetation

• Remains landlocked during winters (Nov to May)

• Least fertile soil with low water holding capacity

• Less oxygen availability with low humidity

• Temperature ranges from - 300 C to + 350 C

• Precipitation as snow i.e. 9 cm (Leh) & 24 cm (Kargil)

• Average wind speed : 70 nautical mile /hr

• Short agricultural season ( May-October)

• Fragile ecosystem

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Land Statistics of Ladakh

• Total area : 45167 ha

• Total area under cultivation : 8750 ha• Area under vegetable cultivation : 246 ha

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AREA UNDER GREENHOUSE CULTIVATION IN LADAKH

• Greenhouses developed by DIHAR : 17000 m2

• Polyenches /Ladakhi Polyhouse : 70670 m2

• FRPs from other agencies : 9096 m2

• Trenches : 30560 m2

• Total : 127326 m2

(12.7 ha)

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Constraints of High Altitude: LadakhLow vegetationLess Oxygen and CO2 availability

Reduced fresh food availability during winter (Oct-April)

Remoteness and technological backwardness

•Acute Mountain sickness

•Anorexia

•Sleep disturbances

•Reduced physical efficiency

•Frostbite

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Advantages of High Altitude: Ladakh

S ep O ct Nov Dec J an F eb Mar Apr May J une J uly

MonthsH

oursSunrise and Sunset with Hill and Elevation correction

S ep O ct Nov Dec J an F eb Mar Apr May J une J uly

MonthsH

oursSunrise and Sunset with Hill and Elevation correction

S ep O ct Nov Dec J an F eb Mar Apr May J une J uly

MonthsH

oursSunrise and Sunset with Hill and Elevation correction

More Sunshine Hours/day (9 hours to 13 hours)

Clear Sky for more than 310 days in a year

Photo intensitySummer 120000-190000 LuxWinter 95000-140000 Lux70000 – 150000 Lux midday (Plains)

UV RadiationSummer 8900- 12000 µ W/cm2Winter 4300- 5900 µ W/cm2

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Vegetable Agronomy

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TYPE OF GREENHOUSES EVALUATED at DIHAR

Glasshouse Polycarbonate

PUF Greenhouse Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Panels (FRPs)

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TrenchLow poly tunnels

Poly-house (Out-side)

Polyench (In-side)Polyench (Out-side)

Poly-house (In-side)

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LADAKHI POLY HOUSE

Suitable for: Leafy vegetable

and early nursery raising

Made from locally available

unbaked bricks and wooden

ballies

It enhances 7–10 0C temperature

and regulates diurnal variation

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Semi underground double walled greenhouse

Suitable for: Cultivation of round the year leafy vegetables (Swiss Chard, Kale, Lettuce, Endive etc.)

Working on the principle of zero energy chamber made from locally available unbaked bricks and wooden ballies

It enhances 11–12 0C temperature and regulates diurnal variation

50% subsidy to local farmers for construction

The cost benefit ratio is 1:4

POLYENCH

Polyench

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TRENCH

Size 30’x10’x3

Suitable for: Early Potato, Zucchini, Garlic etc.

It is an underground structure covered with transparent UV stabilized polythethylene (200 micron thick) during day time to harvest maximum solar energy and extra cover of black polythene at night time to check the heat loss during extreme winters

It regulates average 7–8 0C higher temperature than open

Cost benefit ratio is 1:3.5.

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Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Panels (FRPs)

• FRP greenhouses of size 100x30 ft were installed at various locations of ‘L’ sector along with technical knowhow and inputs to ensure round the year availability of fresh vegetable

• Cost: 4 Lakh

• Ensured 200% cropping intensity with nursery raising

CROPSTomato, Capsicum, Cucumber, Chilli, Radish, Swisschard

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Tem

pera

ture

(⁰C

)

Months

Monthly diurnal variation in open and protected environment

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Graph showing average maximum and minimum temperature of Trench, Polyench and Polycarbonate green houses during cropping season

Month

Tem

pera

ture

0 C

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PROTECTED NURSERY RAISING

ADVANTAGES

• Ensured quality planting material

• Enhanced crop duration

• Early production

• Higher productivity

• Enhancing number of vegetables

Onion nursery

Cole crops’ nursery

Nursery distribution

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HYBRID TOMATO PRODUCTION IN GREENHOUSE Vegetable Science35/43

Fruit / truss Fruits / plant

Height (cm) Fruit wt. / plant (g) Yield / plant (kg)

Main plot

Polycarbonate 3.8 53.9 219 47.6 4.18

Polyench 2.9 41.5 166 33.6 2.19

Trench 2.3 36.0 131 26.1 2.26

LSD (P=0.05) 0.3 2.1 18.6 1.4 0.11

Sub plot

‘NSX-6868’ 6.4 90.3 216 62.6 5.28

‘Tolstoi’ 6.2 87.6 257 82.9 6.03

‘Pusa Ruby’ 4.8 41.7 180 48.6 2.30

‘Shalimar’ 3.7 21.4 66 52.3 1.23

‘Pusa Uphar’ 3.3 44.8 190 62.4 2.69

‘Cherry’ 10.8 129.7 97 7.9 0.95

‘NSX-99’ 3.9 83.5 222 61.9 5.04

‘P. Chhuhara’ 5.2 65.6 136 63.9 1.46

LSD (P=0.05) 0.4 4.5 19.4 3.7 0.23

Singh et al. (2009)

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Structure Total cost (Rs.)

Life span (Yr.)

Area Covered (m2 )

Cost (m2/Yr)

Prod Cost (Rs/m2/Yr

Crop Yield (Kg/m2 )

Value of produce @ 15/kg

Profit (Rs/m2/Yr

Glasshouse 115200 10 40 288 288 3.3 49.5 -238.5

Ladakhi Poyhouse

5240 3 50 35 35 5.4 81.0 46.0

Polyhouse 17500 2 70 125 125 2.7 40.5 -84.5

Trench 1956 6 24 14 14 6.3 94.5 80.5

Tunnel 6241 2 140 23 22 2.2 33.0 11.0

Cost of Production of Palak in Different Greeenhouse /m2 / Year (Rs.)

Dwivedi et al. (2001)

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YIELD POTENTIAL (Kg / m2) OF SUITABLE CROPS IN FRP & POLYCARBONATE GREENHOUSE

Crops Open FRP Polycorbonate

Tomato 6.2± 0.49 19.7± 1.71 24.8± 3.10

Capsicum 2.1± 0.41 4.3± 0.65 6.8± 0.70

Chilli 1.8± 0.55 3.8± 0.51 5.7± 0.61

Cucumber 6.5± 0.60 11.7± 1.01 14.8± 1.52

Capsicum Cucumber

Tomato

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Crops Yield (q/ha) under different conditions

Open Polyench Polycarbonate NationalAverage

Sponge gourd 70±5.6 295±38.6 460±46.4 150-200

Ridge gourd 55±4.4 170±9.2 335±18.6 150-200

Bitter gourd 38±3.1 166±12.9 280±24.3 150-200

Okra 5±0.7 170±11.8 80±10.6 60-65

YIELD PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT CROPS UNDER VARIOUS GREENHOUSES

Sponge gourd Ridge gourd

Bitter gourd

Okra

Sponge gourd, ridge gourd and bitter gourd performed better under polycarbonate

Okra yielded maximum in Polyench

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Location Average yield (Kg)/year/greenhouse2005 2006 2007

Nubra 987± 30.4 1098±42.4 1846±58.3Leh 1098± 33.6 1246± 45.8 2589± 65.8Kargil 1013± 34.6 1139± 49.8 2497± 53.1

• Increased productivity is due to:

Improved agronomic practicesEnhanced soil genesis and fertility

Performance of green houses at different locations 42/43

Location Average yield (Kg)/year/greenhouse2005 2006 2007

Nubra 987± 30.4 1098±42.4 1846±58.3Leh 1098± 33.6 1246± 45.8 2589± 65.8Kargil 1013± 34.6 1139± 49.8 2497± 53.1

• Increased productivity is due to:

Improved agronomic practicesEnhanced soil genesis and fertility

Performance of green houses at different locations

DEFENCE INSTITUTE OF HIGH ALTITUDE RESEARCH-LEHThank You

My Team at DIHAR