Greenhouse environment modeling and simulation to monitor micro-climate issues

Abstract. Plants growing in greenhouse under same treatment, could vary in growth stages due to changes in microclimate inside the green- house. This research proposes a modeling approach for a modern greenhouse to monitor micro-climate issues based on the evaluation of dynamic heat and mass transfer functions. For this purpose, a computational greenhouse model was developed using inputs form real design, materials and location of Purdue greenhouse in West Lafayette, Indiana (40.4259 N and 86.9081 W). Measurements of micro-climate variables, including air temperature, humidity, crop temperature, intercepted net radiation and soil temperature, were carried out over several weeks covering various weather conditions. Same inside environment factors were simulated with the proposed greenhouse model. By comparing measured micro-climate variables with predicted variables obtained from the computational model, the results showed this model could predict crop temperatures and intercepted net radiations for plants at different positions under the same greenhouse condition. The prospects for future progress in making use of computational greenhouse model to monitor micro-climate issues were accessed.