A novel cover material improves cooling energy and fertigation efficiency for glasshouse eggplant production

Terry Lin, Mark Goldsworthy, Sachin Chavan, Weiguang Liang, Chelsea Maier, Oula Ghannoum, Christopher I. Cazzonelli, David T. Tissue, Yi-Chen Lan, Subbu Sethuvenkatraman, Han Lin, Baohua Jia and Zhong-Hua Chen

Energy, 2022, vol. 251, issue C

Abstract: Glasshouses hold the potential to improve global food security, but high energy costs are an ongoing challenge in bringing them to the forefront of agriculture in warm climates. Here, the energy-saving potential of a ‘Smart Glass’ (SG), diffuse glass fitted with ULR-80 film which permits transmission of 85% of photosynthetically-active light and blocks heat-generating radiation, was characterised for a warm-climate glasshouse. Two consecutive 6-month trials of eggplant crops were grown in a high-tech glasshouse to compare SG to standard diffuse glass (control) in both cool and warm climate conditions. The SG reduced cooling energy use by 4.4% and fertigation demand by 29% in cooler months, and reduced cooling energy use by 4.4% and fertigation demand by 18% in warmer months. The SG did not significantly affect ventilation or heating energy use, but substantially reduced fruit yield. SG may be beneficial for reducing nutrient/water use alongside minor energy savings in commercial glasshouses. However, re-engineering the spectral characteristics of SG could improve eggplant fruit yield while maintaining reductions in energy, nutrient, and water use in the glasshouse.

Keywords: Protected cropping; Light quality; Greenhouse; Glasshouse energy use; Fertigation; Ventilation; Food security; Smart glass film; Solar film; Thin film; Solanum melongena L (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:251:y:2022:i:c:s0360544222007745

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.123871

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