CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY BY HUMIDIFICATION
Of all the factors in greenhouse production, climate control is the most important. The development of crops in their different stafes of growth is conditioned by different climatic factors such as temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, CO2…
On this occasion we are going to discuss humidification as a technique for controlling relative humidity and temperature. Humidity and temperature control is essential, and even more so during hot preiods such as these summer months.
If the conditions inside the greenhouse are not optimal in terms of humidity and temperature, photosynthetic activity is reduced and plant growth is affected. During the day, the plant opens its stomata to promote has exchange and actívate transpiration. If the relative humidity is low and the temperature high, the plant will close its stomata, reduce transpiration and consequently reduce its photosynthetic production.
For humidity and temperature control in the greenhouse by means of humidification, different humidification systems are available; misting valves connected to one or more misting pumps, and fans with built-in mist blowers (Hygrofan Rotator), which spray water and distribute it indoors through the air flow produced by the fan. The aim will be to combine ventilation of the greenhouse and misting, in order to maximise water evaporation, and to achieve a drop in temperature.
Nutricontrol climate controllers are capable of controlling humidification in each of the climate compartments. Any of the systems described above can be activated with the following functions:
- Humidification: the humidification system is activated in situations of lack of humidity (low Relative Humidity or high Water Deficit).
- Cooling: the humidification system is activated in situations of excess temperature in the greenhouse. By evaporating the water mist produced by the system, heat is removed from the surrounding air.
Controlling the temperature and humidity by means of a climate control system guarantees optimum environmental conditions for the crop.
