Plastic Films vs Fluid-Roof Cover for a Greenhouse in a Hot Climate: A Comparative Study by Simulation.

Abstract

Summary (En) 13 fig.; 17 ref. A simulation study was conducted to examine the effects of two types of newly developed plastic films and a fluid-roof cover (hollow-channeled polycarbonate structure with 1.5% CuSO4-water solution) on the air, plant and soil temperatures. Closed fluid-roof and ventilated plastic film greenhouses with moist soil were examined at different plant densities on hot sunny days. The results show that at high plant densities the ventilated plastic film greenhouse gave lower soil and plant temperatures than the closed fluid-roof. The plant temperature in the closed fluid-roof greenhouse was unacceptably high at high plant densities. Thus, the plastic films can be used in hot climates as an inexpensive substitute for the fluid-roof cover with complex structure.