Thu, 2012-11-15 14:22 | 
Overview of the project
In nowadays horticultural production emphasis is given in reducing energy and chemical inputs. Growing crops inside screenhouses (construction similar to greenhouses, but covered only with screens) reduces inputs of pesticides since the screens prevents bio-aggressors from entering inside the screenhouse ecosystem. But, covering nets are not only used in horticulture for insect exclusion but also for protecting the crops from the extreme climatic conditions during the hot period of the year. Although, the total ground area covered with screenhouses is constantly increasing, there are little scientific facts concerning, the optical and the aerodynamic properties of the screens that should be used. Furthermore, the microclimate inside these constructions, their ventilation, the mass and energy exchange and finally the crop transpiration and consequently the water use from the protected crops inside screenhouses, have not yet fully investigated.
Subjects of this research are:
- Study and characterization of the microclimate inside screenhouses
- Study of ventilation and mass and energy exchange of screenhouses
- Study of the impact of the nets (shading and/or insect-proof) to the yield and the quality of the production of the protected crops
Aim of this research are:
- The optimization of these constructions, not only through the characterization of their microclimate in-situ, but also using mathematical models for the microclimate and the energy and mass balance.
- The optimization of the irrigation thus, irrigation water and fertilizers saving and the increase of the Water Use Efficiency (WUE) i.e., the increase of the yield per unit of used water.
In order to fulfill the above mentioned, the methodology which is used for the characterization of the microclimate and the irrigation of the crops inside greenhouses, will be suitably modified for screenhouses. The innovation of the project is the combination of the in-situ measurements, measurements of microclimate distribution, analysis, model calibration and validation in order to optimize screenhouse constructions and there microclimate.
The results of the present research are expected to serve the spread of screenhouses in Greece, retaining the countryside population to their roots by giving alternative cropping methodologies/tools.
