Future Initative Low Energy Greenhouses

At the location of Berlin and Großbeeren a system for vegetable production under glass using tomatoes and cucumbers is model plants is developed and investigated. The focus is set on a preferably closed operation mode of the greenhouses with single glazing and multilayer thermal screen. The challenge involves the system's development with the facility setup, process controlling software and MSR concept. Energetic studies for the possibilities of uncoupling, storage and reuse of solar energy, transfer of heat with low content of exergy to the crop, determination of the saving potential and the system boundaries are important parts of the research. Simultaniously, horticultural studies are conducted in order to adapt climate management, irrigation and nutrient supply to the conditions in closed greenhouses with low temperature heating as well as to determine the yield and quality differences. A common approach for the entire cooperation is the application of the Phytomonitoring Technology for evaluation of the crop responses to the various special climatic conditions caused by the reduction of heat use and closed greenhouse operation, respectively. Thus, the HU-Berlin and the ATB Potsdam will enhance the Phytomonitoring concept developed in Berlin to complement additional sensors (e.g. substrate monitoring, nondestructive online measurement of fruit ingredients) and employ them at all three experimental sites.