Greenhouse Management

ISBN-13: 9783642667800 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 532 str.

J. J. Hanan; W. D. Holley; K. L. Goldsberry

Opis

The change in greenhouse operation and technology in the last 20 years has been unprecedented. Photoperiodic control, mist propagation, green house cooling, clean stock programs, CO injection, to name a few, have 2 all been inaugurated as regular greenhouse practices in this time. The introduction of new markets, new production centers, shifts in public attitudes, and the realization that greenhouse production is not simply growing crops, but the management of an enterprise in which people work, h ve combined to make this agricultural practice a challenging and rewarding vocation. The greenhouse grower, manager, and student who are training for this vocation have not had an up-to-date text book for many years. It has been our goal to bring both published and unpublished work together in this book, and to provide a bench mark from which we can continue to move forward. It is not until a process of writing a text begins that one fully realizes how far we have come-and where we need to go. It is with some sadness that we realize that this book is not likely to remain long as an expression of the state-of-the-art. We do not expect it to be easy reading; for new terms, new technology, and new ways of doing things are not always easy."

Spis treści

1 Introduction.- 1.1 The Industry.- 1.1.1 Some General Characterizations.- 1.1.2 Size of the Industry.- 1.1.3 Structures and Capital.- 1.1.4 Questions to be Answered in Starting a Greenhouse Business.- 1.2 Challenges to the Industry.- References.- 2 Light.- 2.1 Principles.- 2.1.1 The Spectrum.- 2.1.2 Energy.- 2.2 Solar Energy.- 2.2.1 Variation.- 2.2.2 Daylength.- 2.2.3 Other Factors Affecting Solar Energy.- 2.3 Supplemental Irradiation.- 2.3.1 Requirements.- 2.3.2 Illumination Sources.- 2.3.3 Installation.- 2.4 Effect of Radiation on Growth.- 2.4.1 Relationship to the Environment.- 2.4.2 Effect of High Intensity Radiation.- 2.4.3 Low Intensity Radiation.- 2.5 Daylength Control.- 2.5.1 Lengthening the Dark Period.- 2.5.2 Shortening the Dark Period.- 2.6 Measurement of Radiation.- 2.6.1 Photometric Sensors.- 2.6.2 Radiometric Sensors.- References.- 3 Greenhouse Construction.- 3.1 Historical.- 3.2 Planning a Greenhouse.- 3.2.1 Basic Considerations.- 3.2.2 Support Facilities.- 3.2.3 Production Facilities.- 3.2.4 Greenhouse Orientation.- 3.3 Standards for Construction.- 3.3.1 Building Codes.- 3.4 Structural Materials and Methods.- 3.4.1 Materials.- 3.4.2 Erection.- 3.4.3 Glazing.- 3.5 Greenhouse Coverings.- 3.5.1 Glass.- 3.5.2 Plastics.- 3.5.3 Cover Transmission Qualities.- 3.5.4 Optical Properties of Covers.- 3.5.5 Physical Properties of Covers.- 3.5.6 Weatherability of Covers.- 3.6 Greenhouse Designs.- 3.6.1 Free Standing Structures.- 3.6.2 Air-Inflated System.- 3.6.3 Ridge and Furrow Configurations.- 3.7 Perils to the Greenhouse Structure.- 3.7.1 Maintenance.- 3.7.2 Wind.- 3.7.3 Hail.- 3.7.4 Fire.- 3.7.5 Snow.- 3.7.6 Summer Temperatures.- 3.8 Construction Costs.- References.- 4 Temperature.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.1.1 Definitions.- 4.1.2 Climatic Factors of Importance.- 4.2 Temperature and Growth.- 4.2.1 Factors Determining Plant Temperature.- 4.2.2 Effects.- 4.2.3 Optimum Temperatures.- 4.3 Controlling Greenhouse Temperatures.- 4.3.1 Heating.- 4.3.2 Heating Equipment.- 4.3.3 Greenhouse Temperature Patterns.- 4.3.4 Heat Conservation.- 4.4 Cooling Greenhouses.- 4.4.1 Ventilation Criteria.- 4.4.2 Winter Ventilation.- 4.4.3 Computing Ventilation Needs.- 4.4.4 Air Cooling Systems.- 4.4.5 Mist Cooling.- 4.4.6 Cooling by Shading.- 4.4.7 Maintaining Ventilating and Cooling Equipment.- 4.5 Sensing and Controlling Temperature.- 4.5.1 Knowing Your Temperatures.- 4.5.2 Temperature Sensors.- 4.5.3 Greenhouse Temperatures.- 4.5.4 Automatic Controls.- 4.5.5 Making Poly Tubes Work.- 4.5.6 Temperature Control with Infrared Thermometers.- 4.6 Interrelations of Temperature and Greenhouse Production.- 4.6.1 Soil Heating.- 4.6.2 Warm Water.- References.- 5 Water.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Terminology.- 5.3 Effect of Water Stress.- 5.4 Control of Water Demand.- 5.4.1 Behavior of Water in Air.- 5.4.2 Measuring Water Vapor in Air.- 5.4.3 Importance of Wet and Dry Bulb Temperatures.- 5.4.4 Controlling Water Vapor Content of Air.- 5.5 Control of Water Supply.- 5.5.1 Behavior of Water in Greenhouse Soils.- 5.5.2 Measuring Moisture Content of Soils.- 5.5.3 Water Quality.- 5.5.4 Irrigation Systems.- 5.5.5 Automation.- References.- 6 Soils and Soil Mixtures.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Principles.- 6.2.1 Chemical.- 6.2.2 Structure.- 6.2.3 Water Relationships.- 6.2.4 Aeration.- 6.3 Soil Modification.- 6.3.1 Effect of Soil Amendments.- 6.3.2 Soil Mixtures.- 6.4 Inert Media.- 6.5 Soil Handling.- References.- 7 Nutrition.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.1.1 Essential Elements.- 7.1.2 Role of Mineral Elements.- 7.1.3 Expression and Units.- 7.2 Factors Affecting Nutrition.- 7.2.1 Ion Uptake.- 7.2.2 Ion Supply.- 7.2.3 Effect of pH.- 7.2.4 Effect of Salinity.- 7.2.5 Summary.- 7.3 Nutrition Control.- 7.3.1 Macronutrients.- 7.3.2 Micronutrients.- 7.3.3 Application.- 7.3.4 Fertilizer Calculations.- 7.3.5 Aids to Nutrition Control.- References.- 8 Carbon Dioxide and Pollution.- 8.1 Carbon Dioxide.- 8.1.1 Factors Affecting CO2 Uptake.- 8.1.2 Effect of CO2 on Growth.- 8.1.3 CO2 Injection.- 8.2 Pollution.- 8.2.1 Air Pollution.- 8.2.2 Inadvertant Pollution.- References.- 9 Insect and Disease Control.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 The Greenhouse Climate.- 9.3 Major Diseases and Pests.- 9.3.1 Diseases.- 9.3.2 Nematodes.- 9.3.3 Insects and Related Pests.- 9.4 Disease and Pest Control.- 9.4.1 Prevention.- 9.4.2 Control.- References.- 10 Chemical Growth Regulation.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Identified Chemical Groups.- 10.2.1 Auxin or Auxin-Like Compounds.- 10.2.2 Gibberellins.- 10.2.3 Cytokinins.- 10.2.4 Growth Inhibitors.- 10.2.5 Growth Retardants.- 10.2.6 Abscisin (Dormin).- 10.2.7 The Flowering Hormone.- 10.2.8 Juvenility Cofactors.- 10.3 Chemicals for Other Specific Uses.- 10.3.1 Chemicals to Aid Breeding.- 10.3.2 Tailoring Chemicals.- 10.3.3 Stress Chemicals.- 10.3.4 Ethylene.- 10.3.5 Height Reduction.- 10.4 Chemicals Affecting Metabolism.- 10.5 Summary.- References.- 11 Business Management.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Planning.- 11.3 Trends in the Florist Industry.- 11.3.1 Production.- 11.3.2 Transportation.- 11.3.3 Marketing.- 11.4 Directing and Motivating.- 11.5 Controlling.- 11.5.1 The Reporting Function of Accounting.- 11.5.2 The Statement of Income and Expenses.- 11.5.3 The Balance Sheet.- 11.5.4 The Analytical Function of Accounting.- 11.6 Return on Investment.- 11.6.1 Production Costs.- 11.6.2 Alternate Crops.- 11.6.3 Summary.- 11.7 Suggestions for Further Reading.- References.- 12 Marketing.- 12.1 Trends in Retail Production.- 12.1.1 The Retail Florist.- 12.1.2 Wire Services.- 12.1.3 The Retail Grower.- 12.2 Commission Wholesalers.- 12.3 Grower-Owned and Public Markets.- 12.4 Cooperatives.- 12.4.1 How the Pool System of Marketing Works.- 12.4.2 Auction Selling.- 12.4.3 Marketing Orders and Agreements.- 12.5 Advertisement.- 12.6 Mass Marketing of Floral Products.- 12.6.1 Flowers and Plants in Mass Markets.- 12.6.2 Future Involvement.- 12.6.3 Practices.- 12.6.4 The Track Record.- 12.6.5 Overview — Flowers in Supermarkets.- 12.6.6 Outstanding Examples.- 12.7 Floriculture and the Economy.- 12.7.1 Trends in Marketing.- References.- Appendix A Conversion Tables.- Appendix B Symbolism.- Appendix C Definitions.