Greenhouse: Science and Technology

The greenhouse maintains an atmosphere congenial with regards to temperature, humidity, sunlight and carbon-dioxide concentration for the vigorous growth of different types of plants. It has been observed that an ability to exercise control over the crop microclimate results in many fold increase in the crop photosynthesis. Thus agricultural production per unit area could be increased to a great extent and crops can be taken over a wider period of time., if controlled environment practices are followed. The present book gives a compressive view of various aspects of greenhouse technology. In this book, detailed experimental, theoretical and techno-eoconomic studies have been undertaken. This book covers different designs of greenhouse suitable for different climatic zone, mathematical model to see the effect of various parameters viz. solar radiation, ambient temperature, ventilation rate etc. On the performance of greenhouse, a procedure to calculate the transmittance through curved surface. This book also covers a time dependent heat and mass transfer analysis of greenhouse to predict inside environmental conditions as well as heating and cooling requirements for maintaining congenial air temperature inside the greenhouse for all climatic zones. One case study has been under taken for cultivation of safed muslin and ornamental plants inside the greenhouse under composite climate of Udaipur (Rajasthan, India) and detailed economic analysis has been carried out for above case study using different economic indicators namely Net Present Worth (NPW), Internal rate of return (IRR), benefit-Cost Ratio (B/C Ratio) and Payback Period. It is hoped that the book will be helpful in designing and installing greenhouse, farmers and persons interested in greenhouse as they will get all the needed information complied at one place.