Gene A Giacomelli

Abstract:

The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technologies are helping in producing vegetables in the icy areas of Antarctica. The CEA-based hydroponic crop production processes used the abundant frozen fresh water, as an alternative food growth chamber to produce vegetables. University of Arizona and Sadler Machine Company, under the Controlled Environment Agriculture Program (UA-CEAC) designed and built the new South Pole Food Growth Chamber (SPFGC) under the direction of the National Science Foundation, which manages the US Antarctic Program. Antarctica provides an unique application for CEA technologies, which can grow plants anywhere, any time, with planning and resources.

Abstract:

One critical factor for crop energy conversion for plant growth is photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) received by the plant. While it is important to know their total solar radiation transmission characteristics in the design of greenhouse for thermal environment management, it is also essential to understand their PAR transmission capability, especially over the winter period for high-latitude regions. This paper presents the results of PAR transmission of four different greenhouse glazings, measured at both the glazing and crop canopy levels. The glazings studied were single glass, double glass, twin-walled acrylic and air-inflated double polyethylene. The first three materials were tested at a commercial rose greenhouse range (gable type) in Connecticut and the double polyethylene greenhouse (bow type) was located at Cook College, Rutgers University. Also reported is the comparison between total solar radiation transmission and PAR transmission in the double polyethylene greenhouse. The glazing level PAR transmission showed mainly the effects of glazing materials, sky clearness and solar angle of incidence, whereas PAR received at the canopy level was strongly influenced by the greenhouse geometric configuration and internal structures. It was found that air-inflated double polyethylene transmitted a higher percentage when measured in the total solar radiation range than in the PAR range. © 1987.

Abstract:

Environmentally sound greenhouse production requires that: demand for market products is understood; greenhouse design addresses the climate circumstances; input resources are available and consumed efficiently, and; there must be a reasonable balance of production products to the environmental impacts from system. Engineering greenhouse production systems to meet these requirements must include: a cost-effective and structurally sound facility; various sub-systems controlled to interact harmoniously together; and educated and experienced system operators. The major components of the environmentally sound greenhouse are: Super-structure and glazing (for a specific location and climate conditions); Climate control sub-systems (ventilation, heating, cooling, CO2 control, pest protection, energy conservation, shading/lighting); Monitoring and control (for system operations data; decisionsupport systems; and, operations control procedures); Automation systems (for quality control, and effective resource utilization); and Crop nutrient delivery system (for control of plant root zone environment). Effective greenhouse engineering design, operations and management, must incorporate input from academic, private and public sectors of society. Therefore this team of researchers, educators, industry/ business, and experienced crop production operators has cooperated to include a current real-world applications perspective to the presentation. Greenhouse production systems are described that not only include the fundamentals for success, but also the combination of sub-systems, at appropriate technological levels to meet the design requirements and restrictions for success. The collaborators on this presentation have capabilities and experiences of successful greenhouse production systems from around the world that range from simple, low-input systems to highly complex production systems. Our goal is to emphasize the current basics of greenhouse design, and to support the symposium about greenhouse production systems for people.

Abstract:

Aqueous foam was developed to serve as a barrier to conductive, convective, and radiative heat transfer. Through the use of a bulking agent, the physical properties of gelatin-based foam were more stable, adhesive, biodegradable, and long lasting. The phytotoxicity, possible environmental hazard and removal of the foam were also considered. Resistance to freezing-thawing, heating-evaporation, and wind were evaluated. Studies to determine the foam's long-term stability under field weather conditions were completed. The handling and performance characteristics of the foam necessary for development of this application were determined. Factors that affect the physical properties and the utilization of the foam were quantified. These included the proportions of the foam components, the mixing temperature of the prefoam solution, the application temperature, and the rate of foam generation. The newly developed foam might be ideal for freeze and frost protection in agriculture.

Abstract:

The energy-balance equation was used to estimate evapotranspiration in a greenhouse, and an instrument was developed to collect data for this purpose. The values estimated by this method were in good agreement with the measured data. It was shown that the net solar radiation term was the largest and cannot be neglected, and that long-wave radiation exchange had a relatively small effect. As usual, soil heat flux can be neglected but the sensible heat transfer term cannot be neglected since the maximum of the possible range of values is large and significant. It was concluded that the method used was simple and suitable for irrigation control in greenhouses. It was also concluded that normal radiation sensor measurements on a horizontal surface are not adequate for measuring radiation received by a plant canopy in a single-span greenhouse. © 2009 IAgrE.