The United Nations predicts that the global population will reach 8.5 billion by 2030, up from today’s figure of 8 billion. This will put increased pressure on our ability to produce sufficient food and make it available to people in the right place and in the best condition. Additionally, climate change is creating a growing number of severe weather events, which disrupt the yields from traditional open-field agricultural practices.
In part, this explains the rapid growth of the commercial greenhouse market, which is expanding at over 11% per year and is forecast to reach a value of over 68 billion USD by 2028.
Other innovative crop-growing technologies exist, including hydroponics and vertical growing systems.
Although not all food crops are suitable for indoor production on a commercial scale, improvements in technology in recent years have enabled commercial growers to consider an ever-greater range of produce. For example, the advent of cheap energy-efficient LED lighting has led to a proliferation of indoor vertical growing facilities, often in urban areas or in disused industrial buildings. These are being used for the volume production of many different vegetables, herbs, salads and medicinal plants.
The advantage of indoor growing is the ability to create a precisely controlled environmental space, secure from unpredictable weather events. Key to this is the exact regulation of both humidity and temperature, to ensure optimum germination and propagation conditions all year round.
In this context, humidity refers to the level of water vapor present in the air. It is typically expressed as a percentage, indicating relative humidity (RH). For plants, the correct humidity levels are crucial for various physiological processes. These include:
Process | Impact | |
---|---|---|
Transpiration | Water moves from the roots, through the plant to the leaves, where it evaporates into the atmosphere. | Correct humidity levels are important to ensure that transpiration occurs efficiently, helping in the movement of nutrients and the maintenance of plant turgor pressure. |
Photosynthesis | Light energy is converted to chemical energy. | High or low levels of humidity can affect the rate of photosynthesis, which can then change overall energy production and growth rate of the plant. |
Nutrient Uptake | Ability of plants to absorb water and nutrients from the soil (closely linked to humidity levels). | Inconsistent humidity causing nutrient imbalances and stunted plant growth. |
Incorrectly managed humidity levels can cause poor plant growth, wilting or leaf burn and increased risk of diseases such as powdery mildew, botrytis (gray mold) and downy mildew, all of which thrive in humid conditions. Additionally, some types of plants, such as peppers and tomatoes, require specific humidity conditions before they can be successfully pollinated.
Measuring humidity and temperature in greenhousesHumidity and temperature are generally controlled in greenhouses and other indoor growing areas using ventilation, dehumidification, misting and fogging systems, or heating devices. In each case, it is crucial to measure both humidity and temperature accurately and consistently during the entire growing process.
This is where our latest HC2A-S combined relative humidity and temperature probe comes in.
This compact, robust and lightweight probe uses the latest sensor and electronics technology, creating an instrument that is extremely accurate and stable, producing repeatable results over a wide measuring range and extended periods without the need for recalibration. Importantly, the HC2A-S is highly resistant to the environmental conditions found in greenhouses, ensuring it can provide long-term, highly accurate results.
The HC2A-S also offers a range of options, including both digital and analog outputs, alarm settings, choice of steel or polycarbonate housings and extended cables for ease of installation.
Ultimately, the HC2A-S will help you create the ideal indoor growing environment, protecting your crops while enhancing their growth process and reducing energy use for heating, cooling and humidity control. That translates into lower production costs, less waste and, ultimately, higher profits.
Did you knowIt’s widely believed that, like so many things, the first greenhouse was invented by the Romans. There is a record from 30 CE of an attempt to create an artificial environment for growing cucumbers that had been recommended by royal physicians for the health of the Emperor Tiberius. Although lacking glass, the system used a series of wheeled carts that were put outside in the sun during the day and then moved indoors at night where they were stored under frames shrouded in oiled cloths.
The design of the greenhouse as we know it today probably originated in Korea during the fifteenth century, where plants were cultivated in the winter months using a structure with oiled paper windows. Temperature was controlled using a furnace, while a water-filled cauldron was heated to create steam.
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