ISHS Acta Horticulturae 155: VIII Symposium on Horticultural Economics
THE INFLUENCE OF PHOTOSENSITIVITY OF CROPS ON THE CHOICE OF ENERGY-SAVING INVESTMENTS IN GLASSHOUSES |
| Author: | C.J.M. Vernooy |
| Abstract:
In Dutch horticulture deficiency of light during wintermonths is for almost all crops the most important restricting factor for production. Every percent more light that can be obtained in this period will directly pay with higher yields (returns). Experiences in practise and technical research give evidence that also in summer the grower has to be careful with loss of light. Reduction of the scarce amount of light is specially in heated cultivation a bad thing; even when it is for energy saving purposes. In the Netherlands in recent years the price of natural gas has more than doubled and the individual grower can only survive by reducing the use of gas. As a result of the increasing costs for heating a large number of energysaving investments became economic interesting. For more insight into the best pattern of energy saving investments to different reactions of crops on loss of light, with the help of a decision model the best combinations of investments are determined. Taking into account that the reaction of the crops to light reductions can vary considerably, in this sensitivity analysis the individual results are less important than the changes in the critical areas due to different reactions of the crops. | |
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