ISHS Acta Horticulturae 147: Symposium on Production Planning in Glasshouse Floriculture
DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES BASED ON PLANT GROWTH MODELS |
| Authors: | M. Karlsson, R.D. Heins, W.H. Carlson |
| Abstract:
Production planning occurs at different levels. First, the combination of plant products and marketing times must be determined. After these decisions are made, the optimum environmental strategy in the greenhouse can then be calculated to minimize costs and to produce a plant of a certain size and quality in a known and planned time frame. Greenhouse environmental control strategies used today are primarily based on constant day and night temperature set points. Computers, however, make it possible to use interactive strategies based on solar radiation and stage of crop development. While computers offer these capabilities, little research exists to justify one strategy over another. Our research has centered on developing both photosynthetic and whole plant models. These models can be used with a computer control system for environmental optimization. When chrysanthemum plants were grown under an environmental strategy to maximize photosynthesis, final plant dry weight was 27 to 42% greater than dry weight of plants grown under a conventional environmental strategy. These results show the possibilities of improved production utilizing computerized greenhouse environmental control strategies based on physiological and whole plant growth models. | |
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