ISHS Acta Horticulturae 287: II International Symposium on Protected Cultivation of Vegetables in Mild Winter Climates
THE INFLUENCE OF THREE GEOTHERMAL HEATING SYSTEMS ON THE GROWTH AND THE YIELD OF TOMATO CROP |
| Author: | G.G. Martzopoulos |
| Abstract:
The geothermal energy application for heating greenhouses is of importance in reducing the cost for the out of season plan production. For this reason a research project was initiated in 1985 to investigate the effect of different geothermal heating systems on plant growth and production. The experimental site is located in Eleochoria - Chalkidiki (N. Greece). The geothermal fluid is artesian of low enthalpy (33,50 C). The heating systems were based on the following principles a. on thermal insulation (system A), b. on forced convection (system B) and c. on free convection (systems C and D). Tomato crop was used for the experiment. The results derived after three successive years showed that the energy saving with the systems used was ranged between 55.5 W/m22 and 110.5 W/m2. The yield was ranged between 10.6 kg/m2 and 14.5 kg/m2 for the first eight inflorescents. A comparison between the systems showed that the system A is significantly superior to the other systems with refference to the plant growth while systems C and D gave a significant better yield. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
