Spatial, Vertical, and Temporal Variability of Ambient Environments in Strawberry and Tomato Greenhouses in Winter

Purpose: In protected crop production facilities such as greenhouse and plant factory, farmers should be present and/or visit frequently to the production site for maintaining optimum environmental conditions and better production, which is time and labor consuming. Monitoring of environmental condition is highly important for optimum control of the conditions, and the condition is not uniform within the facility. Objectives of the paper were to investigate spatial and vertical variability in ambient environmental variables and to provide useful information for sensing and control of the environments. Methods: Experiments were conducted in a strawberry-growing greenhouse (greenhouse 1) and a cherry tomato-growing greenhouse (greenhouse 2). Selected ambient environmental variables for experiment in greenhouse 1 were air temperature and humidity, and in greenhouse 2, they were air temperature, humidity, PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density), and $CO_2$ concentration. Results: Considerable spatial, vertical, and temporal variability of the ambient environments were observed. In greenhouse 1, overall temperature increased from 12:00 to 14:00 and increased after that, while RH increased continuously during the experiments. Differences between the maximum and minimum temperature and RH values were greater when one of the side windows were open than those when both of the windows were closed. The location and height of the maximum and minimum measurements were also different. In greenhouse 2, differences between the maximum and minimum air temperatures at noon and sunset were greater when both windows were open. The maximum PPFD were observed at a 3-m height, close to the lighting source, and $CO_2$ concentration in the crop growing regions. Conclusions: In this study, spatial, vertical, and temporal variability of ambient crop growing conditions in greenhouses was evaluated. And also the variability was affected by operation conditions such as window opening and heating. Results of the study would provide information for optimum monitoring and control of ambient greenhouse environments.