benefits of a greenhouse
The most benefits of a agricultural greenhouse are increased production, short and long-term cost savings, control over temperature and humidity, automation potential and design customization. Compared to indoor grow rooms or outdoor cultivation, greenhouses offer a more sustainable and efficient approach to growing plants.
With the right materials and design, growers can gain complete control over their agricultural greenhouse environment year-round. They can also tailor the structure around their exact needs based on different factors. This includes the location of their operation, the scale at which they grow and the types of plants they produce, from organic vegetables to exotic plants.
The ability to grow more frequent, high-quality harvests without interruption is one of the most significant benefits of a greenhouse. In addition to faster growing cycles, operations can continue production year-round, regardless of the weather conditions outside. This longer growing season allows greenhouse operations to maximize their output over time, especially when compared to their outdoor counterparts.
Cladding is also a key proponent for increasing production in a greenhouse. Indoor facilities are typically set up in warehouses, which provide limited benefits, while outdoor fields are fully exposed to direct sunlight and unfavorable weather. With the right cladding, agricultural greenhouse growers can provide crops with an optimal level of light transmission and diffusion, blocking harmful UV rays and promoting superior plant growth.
Additionally, greenhouses make it easier to improve plant life and eliminate common issues, like pests and disease. With an appropriate plan in place for IPM (Integrated Pest Management), fewer plants will be damaged, and growers can get more valuable crops to market.
When growers look at the benefits of agricultural greenhouse, the potential cost-savings are undeniable. These savings are largely generated by a dramatic reduction in energy use, leading to lower monthly utility costs.
One of the benefits of a greenhouse that makes them inherently more energy-efficient than indoor facilities is the significantly reduced need for lighting. Agricultural greenhouse utilize natural light from the sun to provide crops with sufficient lighting all throughout the day.
If needed, growers can still employ small amounts of artificial lighting, like energy-efficient LED’s. This allows them to optimize plant growth, especially in the wintertime, when there are fewer hours of daylight available.
Depending on their region, operations can also set up agricultural greenhouse with sufficient passive ventilation. Passive ventilation provides valuable air circulation that improves plant health, without using large amounts of energy.
Energy costs can be reduced through other systems as well, like efficient irrigation setups or energy curtains. Energy curtains are a valuable tool for trapping heat inside a greenhouse during winter, keeping the interior warmer through the night and mitigating heating requirements.
Temperature and humidity control are essential benefits of a greenhouse and play a huge role in the growing environment. With a greenhouse, operations can achieve the same level of temperature control that indoor growers are accustomed to.
To combat high temperatures and humid conditions, many greenhouses feature naturally high roof peaks and roof vents that allow heat and moisture to escape. This is a form of passive ventilation, which can be combined with active ventilation systems to achieve sufficient cooling and remove moisture from a greenhouse. Blending the two gives growers an effective way of dealing with both temperature and humidity issues.
Growers in warmer climates can also utilize evaporative cooling to manage the heat within their structure. This cooling method offers a powerful and energy-efficient way to lower greenhouse temperatures, even in larger grow spaces.
In colder regions, a properly sized, energy-efficient heater will help maintain uniform temperatures and keep yields consistent. For more information on how to properly size a greenhouse heating system for optimal temperature control, read this past blog.
With today’s growing technology, one of the greatest benefits of a greenhouse is the potential to incorporate automated systems. Automation allows growers to limit energy waste and the manpower it takes to run their greenhouse operation, while still improving crop quality.
From irrigation to ventilation systems, just about every feature of a greenhouse can be automated and streamlined. Best of all, growers can use greenhouse controllers to synchronize their environmental control equipment. This lets them manage their entire operation from one interface, drastically reducing labor requirements.
