30 Jan Creating the right climate in vertical farm
Vertical farming is the practice of producing food on vertically inclined surfaces instead of farming vegetables and other foods on a single level.
Although vertical farming promises a high yield, there are certain issues that need to be considered in order to achieve this yield. In previous blogs we focused on irrigation and lighting, in this blog we will talk about the importance of creating the correct climate and how it should be done.
In vertical farms providing the right climatic conditions is a necessity for the plants to live, develop and not be damaged. If we assume 50% of the electrical input power is converted into light, the remaining 50% is converted directly into heat. This means farmers should control heat in their vertical farms.
There are three things to consider for creating the true climate;
Temperature& Humidity; The first climate management challenge that vertical farmers must overcome is figuring out how much cooling, dehumidification and heating is required to manage the temperature and humidity of the grow space.
Air Circulation; The second biggest challenge is figuring out how to deliver the conditioned air everywhere within the vertical farm to create a uniform growing environment. When racks are spaced tightly together — both vertically and horizontally — it is difficult to create uniform conditions everywhere. Many farmers employ the use of small circulating fans, installing them at incremental positions within the racking system and above the plants to help boost airflow from one end to the other. The type of air diffusers can also help distribute and push air into desired locations, as well as help mix cold air near the floor with warmer air near the ceiling to prevent the stack effect.
HVAC Equipment Location; Space considerations aren’t limited to moving conditioned air through the racking system; they also include where to put HVAC equipment. Depending on the design, HVAC equipment can include air conditioners, dehumidifiers, circulation fans, ductwork, chillers, boilers, pumps and pipes. Cooling and dehumidification equipment are best located outside the building, where heat and moisture can be rejected to the outdoor air.
No matter what crop is grown, managing humidity control and air movement in a vertical farm is essential to plant productivity, harvesting schedules, quality control and, ultimately, profitability. It is possible to reach a very high yield when the conditions that must be met in vertical farm are met.
If you need an assistant to assist you in meeting these requirements our product ‘Farmio’ can help you about maximizing your profitability.
To learn more about Farmio visit our website; https://app.forfarming.co
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