Design of a vegetable greenhouse system for subtropical conditions in Taiwan

The question raised in this study is: What is the optimum greenhouse design for vegetable growing in Taiwan? To answer this question, we have used a systematic design procedure to come to the design of the greenhouse. In this approach, all sub-functions within the greenhouse system are mapped and for each sub-function many possible solutions are identified. The differences between the possible solutions are studied with the use of our greenhouse simulation model KASPRO. The climate and crop growth inside a greenhouse are simulated. This data served as input to the economic model, which was used to come to the economic optimal greenhouse design. The resulting greenhouse design functions well in the Taiwanese climate (which is characterized by a solar radiation sum of around 6 GJ/m and high temperatures and humidity levels. The main elements of the proposed design are a naturally ventilated greenhouse with large windows (0.5 m window area per m greenhouse ground surface) and insect nets to repel white fly. The greenhouse should be covered with a highly transparent plastic film cover that has high haze and is transparent for infra red radiation. Furthermore, the greenhouse should be equipped with a fogging installation and a heating system. © 2012 Wageningen, Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture (Wageningen UR Glastuinbouw) Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture Adres : Violierenweg 1, 2665 MV Bleiswijk : Postbus 20, 2665 ZG Bleiswijk Tel. : 0317 48 56 06 Fax : 010 522 51 93 E-mail : glastuinbouw@wur.nl Internet : www.glastuinbouw.wur.nl