What is Humidity?
Humidity is water vapor found in the air. In a closed growing facility, humidity is created by the plants’ evapotranspiration and through soil evaporation, in addition to the moisture contained in the air from outdoors. Humidity is a critical factor in greenhouse climate control, as it plays a major role in plant metabolism and respiration as well as the outbreak of common greenhouse diseases and molds.
Humidity Control is a Necessity
Humidity and temperature are interconnected and affect one another, making humidity a major part of climate control. When the air becomes saturated with water vapor, meaning it reaches the dew point, liquid water begins to appear. Condensation may occur either by an increase in the amount of water vapor, or a decrease in temperature. Dangerous levels of humidity may be detected by the appearance of water on leaves or greenhouse structural elements. When this occurs, plant growth is halted, and mold and disease development is initiated. Humidity control systems allow professional growers to take control of the greenhouse climate.
Traditional Dehumidification Methods are Inefficient
Traditional methods, such as heating and venting, are inefficient in maintaining optimal greenhouse climate conditions. Relying on outdoor air for humidity reduction requires specific weather conditions and may not always be performed effectively. Additionally, constantly exchanging air requires excessive heating, increasing unnecessary energy consumption and expenses. Combining humidity and temperature regulation provides better consistency and control over climate conditions and energy use, directly affecting an operation’s bottom line.
Ignoring Humidity is Dangerous
Humidity related diseases and molds, such as botrytis and downy mildew are commonly found in greenhouses and closed growing facilities, causing high percentages of yield loss. Symptoms of dangerous humidity levels are often ignored and only reacted to once diseases begin to affect production. It is extremely difficult to eradicate diseases in such situations, and much simpler and cheaper to avoid their appearance entirely, by denying them the humidity they require.
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Humidity Control
Humidity control is a necessity for commercial greenhouses, and the best way to control it, is with the use of professional dehumidification equipment.
Controlling Greenhouse Humidity may be Tricky
Humidity, in any growing facility, changes constantly, making it difficult to control effectively at all times. Understanding the different factors affecting it, provides growers with an additional tool to manage their climate.Temperature drops cause humidity to spike, making dusk and dawn critical periods, as well as overnight. Differing weather conditions also have a great impact on the greenhouse climate. Geography, climate and season all play a role in deciding the amount of dehumidification required. An additional factor is plant density, which changes through the growing period, requiring more powerful dehumidification as the greenhouse grows lusher.
Commercial Greenhouse Dehumidification Requires a Professional Agricultural Dehumidifier
Greenhouse dehumidification systems for commercial cultivation should be optimized for common growing conditions, often maintained around 18Co (64Fo) and 80% relative humidity. Large scale dehumidification, designed for agriculture, ensures comfortable and even humidity levels, avoiding dew point condensation throughout the space, as well as during extreme periods of temperature drops and humidity spikes, drastically minimizing disease outbreak and increasing crop quality.
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