Work

The Effect of Different Levels of Shading in a Photovoltaic Greenhouse with a North–South Orientation

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Photovoltaic greenhouses have been claimed to be a solution to cover the energy demand of the protected crops sector. Thus, there is a need to know what is the maximum percentage of shading produced by roof-top photovoltaic panels that does not affect crop yields. The present study analyzes the effects of increasing percentages of shading in a greenhouse tomato crop located in the southeast of Spain. For this study, photovoltaic panels have been simulated with opaque sheets located in the roof-top of a north–south oriented greenhouse. Three treatments of top roof shading percentage (15%, 30% and 50%) where studied and compared with the control treatment without shading (0%). During the study, parameters registered were radiation, temperature, pH and electric conductivity of the substrate, crop yields and fruit quality. Results of the analysis show that higher percentages of shading in the roof-top of greenhouses reduce so much available radiation for the crop causing a reduction in the yield and fruit quality, even in Mediterranean areas where radiation is not a limiting factor.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app10030882

Authors: Guadalupe López-Díaz, Angel Carreño-Ortega, Hicham Fatnassi, Christine Poncet, Manuel Díaz-Pérez

Institutions: University of Almería, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis

Language: English

Topic: Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Affordable and clean energy, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,901