Greenhouse cover management: solar radiation effects on production and quality of a gerbera crop

Este trabalho propôs avaliar a influência das malhas de sombreamento (termorrefletora) instaladas externa e internamente em ambiente protegido coberto com polietileno de baixa densidade (PEBD), cultivado com gérbera, na radiação solar global (Qg) e nos parâmetros da planta: crescimento, desenvolvimento e qualidade da gérbera. O experimento foi conduzido em dois ciclos no ano de 2004, na ESALQ/USP, em Piracicaba, SP, em ambiente protegido, dividido em dois módulos de produção. Os ambientes foram diferenciados um do outro pela instalação da malha termorrefletora (50%): malha externa (ambiente 1 - A1) e malha interna (ambiente 2 - A2). Nesses ambientes, os resultados dos dois ciclos mostraram alteração na Qg; nos ambientes A1 e A2 as Qg foram respectivamente 33,6 e 21,7 (1º ciclo) e 27,2 e 17,9% (2º ciclo) em relação à observada externamente. Considerando-se os dois ciclos conclui-se que os resultados indicaram que não houve diferenças na qualidade das plantas nos dois ambientes, mas, analisando-se separadamente os dois ciclos da cultura, o A1 (malha externa) foi o que mais favoreceu a qualidade das plantas de gérbera e somente as gérberas presentes no A1 (malha externa) atenderam às exigências mercadológicas, quanto aos números de botões florais.The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of low density polyethylene (PEBD) as a greenhouse cover in association with thermal shading screen installed in two different positions (outside and inside), cultivated with gerbera, on solar radiation (Qg), as well as on the growth and quality of gerbera plants. The experiment was carried out during two crop cycles in 2004, at ESALQ/USP, in Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brasil. A greenhouse was sub-divided into two parts and covered with PEBD differing from each other by the position of the thermal shading screen (50%), witch was installed inside (at 3 m height) and outside (covering the plastic cover). The environment with the thermal screen outside was named A1 and the other one with the thermal screen inside was named A2. The results from the two crop cycles showed that the microclimate was changed by the covers of the greenhouses. Qg inside for A1 and A2 were respectively 33.6 and 21.7 (first cycle), and 27.2 and 17.9% (second cycle) of the values measured outside. Considering the two crop cycles, the results showed that there were no differences in plant quality in both environments. However, A1 was the most favorable environment for plant quality when considering the two crop cycles, separately the results separately. Also, only gerberas from A1 showed themselves to have marketable characteristics

Vineyard microclimate and yield under different plastic covers.

The use of plastic cover in vineyards minimizes effects of adverse weather conditions. The northwest of São Paulo State is one of the largest grape producing regions in Brazil; however, few studies investigate the effects of different plastic covers on vineyards in this region. This study compared the effect of black shading screen (BSS) and braided polypropylene film (BPF) on BRS Morena vineyard microclimate, grown on an overhead trellis system in the northwestern São Paulo. The experiments were carried out during three growing seasons (2012 ? 2014). BSS allowed superior incoming solar radiation (SR) transmissivity, resulting in higher net radiation (Rn), and higher ratio between photosynthetically active (PAR) and SR. No differences were observed between the average air temperatures (T) and relative humidity (RH) of covered environments (BPF and BSS) and outside condition (automatic weather station ? AWS), due to high air circulation, despite wind speed (WS) reduction caused by plastic covers. BPF provided better conditions for vineyard growth with higher fruit yield than vineyard under BSS regarding the number of shoots with bunches per plant, bunch and stem weights, longitudinal diameter of berries, quantity of fertile buds per shoot, and yield per shoot and per plant. BPF covers also influenced leaf size and growth speed of plants in vineyards. Keywords Black shading screen . Braided polypropylene film . BRS Morena . Leaf wetness duration . Yiel

Disease warning systems for downy mildew control in vineyards cultivated under plastic coverings in Northwestern São Paulo, Brazil

A região noroeste do estado de São Paulo é um importante pólo produtor de uvas de mesa, porém possui condições ambientais muito propícias à ocorrência de doenças fúngicas durante todo o ciclo da videira. Alternativas como o uso de coberturas plásticas e de sistemas de alerta fitossanitário têm se mostrado bastante vantajosas para tal, porém, ainda com poucos estudos sobre isso na região. Deste modo, objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a eficácia de sistemas de alerta fitossanitário no controle do míldio (Plasmopara viticola) em videiras cultivadas sob coberturas plásticas, e, consequentemente, na produtividade e na qualidade das uvas, no Noroeste Paulista. O experimento foi realizado na Estação Experimental de Viticultura Tropical (EVT) da Embrapa Uva e Vinho, localizada no município de Jales, SP, durante os anos de 2012 e 2013. Foram conduzidas três ruas de 120 m de videiras, cultivar apirênica \'BRS Morena\', em espaçamento de 3,0 m entre plantas. Metade do vinhedo foi coberto com filme plástico de polipropileno trançado sobre estrutura metálica em forma de arco (PPT) e a outra metade com tela preta, com 18% de sombreamento (TP18%). O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados compostos por cinco tratamentos, com seis repetições por ambiente coberto. Os tratamentos foram determinados a partir de diferentes manejos de controle do míldio da videira: TE - Testemunha (sem controle fitossanitário para o míldio); CA - Controle convencional (calendário); BA - Alerta fitossanitário denominado \'Regra 3-10\' (BALDACCI et al., 1947); MA25 - Alerta fitossanitário com eficiência de infecção baixa - i0 > 25% (MADDEN et al., 2000); e MA75 - Alerta fitossanitário com eficiência de infecção alta - i0 >75% (MADDEN et al., 2000). De acordo com os resultados, sob o PPT a transmissividade média da radiação solar global foi de 82,4% em 2012 e 67,3% em 2013 e sob a TP18%, da ordem de 90% nos dois anos estudados. Os ambientes sob as coberturas apresentaram temperaturas máximas do ar superiores aos valores observados a céu aberto, sendo as diferenças da ordem de 0,7 °C sob ao PPT e de 1,0 °C sob a TP18%. Sob o PPT, a duração do período de molhamento foliar foi 34% superior do que sob TP18%. Os tratamentos baseados nos sistemas de alertas fitossanitários (BA, MA25 e MA75) revelaram níveis baixos de severidade do míldio da videira sob PPT, semelhantes aos verificados no tratamento com base no calendário (CA). Os tratamentos BA, MA25 e MA75 sob TP18% indicaram um número de pulverizações similar aos realizados sob o PPT, porém foram menos eficientes em relação a CA. Houve uma significativa redução no número de pulverizações entre o tratamento CA e os tratamentos BA, MA25 e MA75, da ordem de 70%. As videiras, sob o PPT, pulverizadas com base em BA, MA25 e MA75 apresentaram características produtivas e qualitativas semelhantes às das videiras pulverizadas de acordo com CA. Conclui-se que o cultivo de videiras sob cobertura plástica de polipropileno, aliado à adoção de sistemas de alertas fitossanitários, resultou em excelentes níveis de controle do míldio da videira no Noroeste Paulista.The Northwest region of the state of São Paulo is one of the main producers of table grapes in Brazil, however has a very favorable environmental conditions to fungal diseases during the growing season. The use of disease warning systems and plastic covers are promising alternatives for disease control, but there are not many researches about that in this region of the state. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of warning systems for managing downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) in vineyards cultivated under plastic coverings, and, consequently, their impact on vine productivity and quality, in the northwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil. The experiment was carried out at the EMBRAPA - Tropical Viticulture Experimental Station (EVT/Embrapa Uva e Vinho), located in Jales, SP, Brazil. Three rows of 120 m of the seedless grape cultivar \'BRS Morena\', spaced with 3.0 m between plants were conducted during 2012 and 2013 growing seasons. Half of the vineyard was covered with braided polypropylene plastic film installed over a metallic arc-shaped structure (PPT) and the other half with black screen, with 18% of shading (TP18%). The experimental design was randomized blocks composed of five treatments, with six repetitions per covered environment. The treatments were defined by the different grapevine downy mildew management : (TE) Control (no sprays against downy mildew); (CA) Conventional control (calendar); (BA) Warning system \'Rule 3-10\' (BALDACCI et al., 1947); (MA25) Warning system with low-infection efficiency - i0 > 25% (MADDEN et al., 2000); and (MA75) Warning system with high infection efficiency - i0 > 75% (MADDEN et al., 2000). According to the results, under the PPT the average global solar radiation transmissivity was 82.4% in 2012 and 67.3% in 2013 and under TP18%, around 90% along the two growing seasons. The microclimate under the plastic covers showed maximum air temperatures higher than the values observed in the external environment, and the differences was around 0.7 °C under the PPT and 1.0 °C under TP18%. In the PPT, leaf wetness duration (LWD) was about 34% higher in relation to the TP18%. The treatments based on warning systems (BA, MA25 and MA75) revealed low levels of severity of grapevine downy mildew under PPT, similar to those observed in the treatment based on a calendar spray (CA). The treatments BA, MA25 and MA75 under TP18% indicated a number of sprays similar to those obtained under the PPT, but less efficient in relation to the CA. There was a significant reduction in the number of sprays between the CA and BA, MA25 and MA75 treatments, about 70%. The vines under the PPT and sprayed based on BA, MA25 and MA75 had productive and quality characteristics similar to those sprayed according to the CA. It is concluded that the association of cultivation under polypropylene plastic cover and the use of disease warning systems resulted in excellent levels of downy mildew control in vineyards in the Northwest region of São Paulo state

Microclimate and cherry tomato production in greenhouses with different plastic covers

Em regiões de intensa disponibilidade de energia solar e elevadas temperaturas, os produtores de tomate procuram limitar a radiação no interior dos ambientes protegidos para reduzir a temperatura, principalmente por meio de malhas aluminizadas. Porém, o uso dessas malhas provoca redução demasiada na transmitância da radiação fotossinteticamente ativa, trazendo conseqüências negativas à produtividade. Desse modo, é importante se caracterizar o microclima desses ambientes em função da cobertura empregada. O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a influência de diferentes coberturas plásticas em ambientes protegidos no seu microclima e na produtividade e qualidade do tomateiro tipo cereja. Para tanto, um ambiente protegido de 50 m, instalado em Piracicaba, SP, foi dividido em dois ambientes distintos: Ambiente I - coberto com filme plástico anti-UV e com uma malha termo-refletora e Ambiente II - coberto com filme plástico difusor. Nesses ambientes foram cultivadas, em duas épocas distintas, duas cultivares de tomate tipo cereja (Sweet Grape e Sweet Million), submetidas a diferentes soluções nutritivas (relação K:N 2:1 e 3:1) na fertirrigação. No Ambiente II houve maior transmitância da radiação solar, sendo 50,3% superior à transmitância observada no Ambiente I. A temperatura média do ar no Ambiente II foi 5,2% e 2,1% superior à temperatura no ambiente externo, respectivamente para o 1º e 2º ciclo. Já no Ambiente I, as temperaturas foram praticamente iguais às observadas externamente. A cultivar Sweet Grape produziu maior quantidade de frutos pequenos (163 frutos pl-1) e grandes (341 frutos pl-1) do que a cultivar Sweet Million (102 e 261 frutos pl-1, respectivamente). A solução nutritiva com relação 2:1 de K:N promoveu maior produção de frutos pequenos (144 frutos pl-1) do que a relação 3:1 (122 frutos pl-1). As plantas no Ambiente II produziram, em média, 146 frutos pequenos por planta e 368 frutos grandes por planta, enquanto que no Ambiente I essa produtividade foi de 119 e 235 respectivamente. Os diferentes ambientes não tiveram influência sobre o diâmetro dos frutos, no entanto, promoveram diferenças no peso desses. Os frutos pequenos e grandes no Ambiente II pesaram respectivamente 6,66 g e 11,91 g e no Ambiente I 6,09 g e 11,21 g. A cultivar Sweet Million produziu 4,58 kg pl-1 e 3,85 kg pl-1 e a cultivar Sweet Grape produziu 3,94 kg pl-1 e 3,53 kg pl-1 nos 1° e 2° ciclos, respectivamente. Quanto à qualidade do fruto, o ambiente influenciou somente a porcentagem de acidez e o teor de vitamina C. A relação K:N 2:1 promoveu valor médio de oBrix ligeiramente superior ao valor obtido com a solução 3:1. Os frutos da cultivar Sweet Million apresentaram maior acidez e maior teor de vitamina C do que a cultivar Sweet Grape. Com base nesses resultados, concluiu-se que a cobertura com o filme plástico difusor foi eficiente em manter a temperatura e a radiação solar em níveis adequados para uma boa produtividade e qualidade das cultivares de tomateiro tipo cereja estudadas.In the regions where solar energy is very intense and temperatures are high, the tomato growers use to reduce the incoming solar radiation inside the greenhouses, aiming to promote the temperature reduction, mainly by installing aluminated shading screens inside. However, the use of such covers promotes an intense reduction of the photosynthetic active radiation, bringing negative consequences for yield. Therefore, it is important to characterize the microclimate inside the greenhouses in relation to the cover material used. Based on that, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of different covers on microclimate and the cherry tomato yield and quality in greenhouses, in Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, Brazil. For that, a 50-m greenhouse was divided in two different environments: Environment I - covered with plastic film anti-UV and with thermo-reflective shading screen disposed internally, and Environment II - covered with diffusive plastic film. Both environments were cultivated with two cultivars of cherry tomato (Sweet Grape and Sweet Million), fertilized with two different solutions (K:N relation of 2:1 and 3:1) by fertirrigation. Environment II had 50.3% more availability of solar energy than Environment I. The temperature inside Environment II was slightly higher (5.2 and 2.1% in the first and second cycles) than Environment I, which had similar temperatures to outside condition. The Sweet Grape cultivar produced more small (163 fruit pl-1) and large (341 fruit pl -1) fruits than Sweet Million (102 and 261 fruits pl-1, respectively). The 2:1 K:N solution promoted greater production of small fruit (144 fruit pl-1) fruits than 3:1 (122 fruit pl-1). Plants in the Environment II produced, in average, 146 small fruits per plant and 368 large fruits per plant, whereas the ones in Environment I produced 119 and 235 fruits per plant, respectively. The different environments did not have influence on fruit diameter; however, they promoted differences in the weight of the fruits. Small and large fruits in the Environment II weighted 6.66 g and 11.91 g and in the Environment I they weighted 6.09 g and 11.21 g, respectively. Sweet Million cultivar produced 4.58 kg pl-1 and 3.85 kg pl-1 and Sweet Grape 3.94 kg pl-1 and 3.53 kg pl-1 respectively in the 1st and 2nd cycles. In relation to fruit quality, the environment had influence only on the percentage of acidity and vitamin C content. The ratio K:N 2:1 resulted in a small °Brix difference in relation to the ratio 3:1. The Sweet Million fruits had higher acidity and vitamin C content than Sweet Grape ones. Based on these results, it is concluded that the cover of Environment II (diffusive plastic film) was efficient to keep the temperature and solar radiation in favorable levels for high productivity and quality of both cherry tomato cultivar during the two seasons evaluated

Cherry tomato yield in greenhouses with different plastic covers

ABSTRACT: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of different plastic covers on microclimate and cherry tomato yield in greenhouses. The experiments were carried out in Piracicaba, state of São Paulo (Brazil), during three growing periods (2008/2009/2010). A greenhouse was divided in: Environment I (EI) - covered with plastic film anti-UV and thermo-reflective shading screen, and Environment II (EII) - covered with diffusive plastic film; monitored with automatic weather sensors; and cultivated with cherry tomato (‘Sweet Grape’ and ‘Sweet Million’). Use of diffusive plastic in greenhouses provides a better inside distribution of solar energy without causing major changes in air temperature and relative humidity, resulting in higher yield (kg plant-1), fruits quantity (number plant-1) and fruits average weight than those obtained under thermo-reflective shading screen

Cherry tomato yield in greenhouses with different plastic covers

ABSTRACT: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of different plastic covers on microclimate and cherry tomato yield in greenhouses. The experiments were carried out in Piracicaba, state of São Paulo (Brazil), during three growing periods (2008/2009/2010). A greenhouse was divided in: Environment I (EI) - covered with plastic film anti-UV and thermo-reflective shading screen, and Environment II (EII) - covered with diffusive plastic film; monitored with automatic weather sensors; and cultivated with cherry tomato (‘Sweet Grape’ and ‘Sweet Million’). Use of diffusive plastic in greenhouses provides a better inside distribution of solar energy without causing major changes in air temperature and relative humidity, resulting in higher yield (kg plant-1), fruits quantity (number plant-1) and fruits average weight than those obtained under thermo-reflective shading screen

Microclimatic changes caused by different plastic coverings in greenhouses cultivated with cherry tomato in southern Brazil

In regions with intense solar radiation it is common the use of aluminated covers in greenhouses, with the aim of reducing the inside temperature. However, the use of these covers reduces photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) transmitted into the greenhouse. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of different covers on microclimate in greenhouses cultivated with cherry tomato during three growing seasons. The environment I was covered with plastic film anti-UV and with thermo-reflective screen (40%) disposed internally. The environment II was covered with diffusive plastic film (55%). The transmitted solar radiation to the interior of covered environments was, on average, 5.5 MJ m-2 day-1 in the environment I and 8.2 MJ m-2 day-1 in environment II. The air temperature in environment II was, on average, 1°C higher than external conditions. The highest difference for the relative humidity (RH) was also observed between environment II and the outside conditions, with 10.7% for the minimum RH during the first growing period. Considering all growing periods, the diffusive plastic film provided higher solar energy availability inside the greenhouse than the plastic film with thermo-reflective screen, without causing major changes in air temperature and relative humidity, and promoting greater productivity of tomato grown under this environment for the three periods evaluated

Microclimate under different shading screens in greenhouses cultivated with bromeliads Microclima sob diferentes malhas de sombreamento em ambiente protegido cultivado com bromélias

This study had as its objective the evaluation of the influence of shading screens of different colors on the different microclimate variables in a greenhouse covered with transparent low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The experiment was conducted with five treatments: thermo-reflective screen (T1); a control - without screen (T2); red screen (T3); blue screen (T4); and black screen (T5), all of them with 70% of shading. An automatic micrometeorological station was installed in each treatment, measuring air temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), incoming solar radiation (Rg), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and net radiation (Rn) continuously. The control (T2) and red screen (T3) treatments promoted the highest solar radiation transmissivity, respectively 56.3 and 27%. The black screen (T5) had the lowest solar radiation transmissivity (10.4%). For PAR and Rn the same tendency was observed. The highest temperature was observed under blue screen (T4) treatment, which was 1.3 °C higher than external condition. Blue screen (T4) treatment also presented the highest relative humidity difference between inside and outside conditions.<br>O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de malhas de sombreamento de diferentes cores nos elementos microclimáticos em ambiente protegido coberto com polietileno de baixa densidade transparente (LDPE). O experimento contou com cinco tratamentos: malha termorrefletora (T1); testemunha - sem malha (T2); tela vermelha (T3); tela azul (T4) e tela preta (T5), todas com 70% de sombreamento. Um sistema automático de aquisição de dados micrometeorológicos foi instalado em cada tratamento, obtendo-se dados contínuos de temperatura do ar (T), umidade relativa do ar (UR), radiação solar global (Qg), radiação fotossinteticamente ativa (RFA) e saldo de radiação (Rn). O tratamento testemunha (T2) e a malha vermelha (T3) proporcionaram os maiores valores de transmitância de radiação solar global, respectivamente 56,3 e 27%; já a malha preta (T5) teve a menor transmitância de radiação solar, da ordem de 10,4%; para a RFA e o Rn, a mesma tendência foi observada. A maior temperatura do ar foi constatada sob a malha azul (T4), em média 1,3 °C superior à do ambiente externo. O mesmo tratamento também sinalizou a maior diferença de umidade relativa entre o ambiente coberto e a condição externa