About Greenhouse Management
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010Greenhouse is a plastic or glass building that has a glass or plastic roof, and is used to grow plants.The plants, soil and other things inside the greenhouse get heated up by the solar radiation, and the plastic or glass structure makes sure that the heated up air stays inside building. The size of greenhouse can vary drastically, and it can be as small as a shed, or as big as a large building. Detached, ridge and furor and lean-to are three main types of greenhouses. There are many aspects of greenhouse management including taking care of the heating requirement, diagnosing nutritional deficiencies, growing pH and media, managing soluble salts, fertilizing crops, monitoring the irrigation water quality, treating and recycling irrigation runoff, treating irrigation water and so on.
For most greenhouse producers, heating is the major concern as the cost involved in purchasing and operating the heating equipment is very high and it requires an efficient design. Coal, oil and gas, are the main sources of alternative energy used in the greenhouse, and the choice is largely dependent on availability and economics. For the commercial greenhouse production, there are several types of environmental controllers and thermostats available.
Managing the adequate nourishment is one of the most important aspects of producing crops in the greenhouse. The growth of plants in the greenhouse depends on several factors, and application of fertilizer is a critical element. Though in some cases the nutrients are supplied at the peak per lids of growth, it is also been observed that regular feed of soluble fertilizer at each irrigation is a good system for plant growth optimization. Diagnosing the nutritional deficiencies is critical to maintain the optimum plant growth, and the symptoms are usually dependent on the stage of growth, species of the plant and many other controlling factors.
The quality of water used directly affects the production of nursery and greenhouse crops. Presence of soluble salts in irrigation water is a big limiting factor in the production of greenhouse crops, and some situations may require drastic action. To minimize the adverse effects of high pH and alkalinity in water, and optimize fertility, acid can be injected to treat water. In the greenhouse industry, there is always a threat of potential contamination of surface and groundwater, and greenhouse managers rely heavily on the use of pesticides and fertilizers to get good quality crops.
Presence of excessive soluble salts is one of the major limiting factors in greenhouse crops production, but if the soluble salts are managed properly, their effect on the crops can be minimized. Developing an effective irrigation management plan requires a balance between growing medium and needs of the plant. Most growers are often too concerned about lack of water in the medium, however research indicates that there is a tendency of over watering, which can be more hazardous. The author of this article is good at commercial roofing. He also owns a company for home renovation as well as kitchen studio design.
