Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) crop cycle estimation in greenhouse, based on degree day heat (GDC) simulated in CFD

Abstract

The degree days heat (GDC) are an indicator of the growth of a crop, which can be used to infer the duration of the tomato cycle under greenhouse. Inferring the duration of the crop cycle, based on temperature, means the possibility of scheduling sowing dates, managing resources and establishing better agricultural practices. The objective of this work was to simulate the thermal behavior of a greenhouse using CFD, under environmental conditions of Navolato, Sinaloa, and Texcoco, State of Mexico, to estimate the duration of the tomato cycle as a function of the GDC for agronomic purposes. The prediction of temperatures inside the greenhouse was made through of a numerical model based on CFD. The simulation results were used to quantify GDC and estimate the duration of the tomato cycle based on its temperature requirement. In Navolato, Sinaloa, 5 772.01, 6 128.34 and 6 411.93 annual GDC were estimated at the entrance, center and exit of greenhouse, respectively. The increase in annual GDC accumulation favors short cycles and consequently increases the number of cycles per year (more than two tomato cycles). In Texcoco, state of Mexico, were estimated 2 447.94, 2 803.5 and 3 076.09 GDC annual, in the entry, center and exit of greenhouse, respectively, which limits to cultivate naturally only one cycle. However, if temperatures in the last third of the greenhouse are favored, it is estimated that two cycles can be cultivated.