Greenhouse Designs

1. GREEN HOUSE DESIGN
Dr. R. S. RANA
PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST
(AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING)
CSKHPKV, PALAMPUR

5. USES OF GREENHOUSES
• Growing high value vegetables
• Flowers
• Raising nursery of different vegetable crops
• Growing ornamental and medicinal plants

6. Benefits
Round the year production.
Export potential in floriculture
Suitable for adverse climatic conditions
More carbon dioxide available for plants
Higher produce inside the greenhouse

8. CLASSIFICATION OF GREENHOUSES
(COST)
Low cost
Medium cost
High cost

9. CLASSIFICATION OF GREENHOUSES
• Low tunnels
• Without cooling system
• Fan pad system
• Naturally ventilated

29. SHAPES OF GREENHOUSES

39. Greenhouse Principle
Short wave to long wave to entrap solar energy
1 4 8 10
Ultra violet Visible Infra red
Suppressed growth Normal growth Long and
weak plants
X-ray 6x10-13
- 6x10-9
m
UV 6x10-9
- 4x10-7
m
Visible 4x10-7
- 8x10-7
m
Infra red 8x10-7
- 8x10-4
m
TV, Radio 8x10-5
- 8x105
m

40. Photosynthetic & Visible Light
Far-red

46. Soil, seed, water and environment
Environment
o Temperature
o Relative humidity
o Evaporation
o Sunlight
CROP PRODUCTION FACTORS

47. SOIL, WATER AND SEED
• Good quality soil
• Permanent source of water
• Very good quality seed

48. Greenhouse Frameworks
• The greenhouse framework supports the greenhouse
covering material.

49. MATERIALS FOR FRAME
• Bamboo
• Wood
• MS Pipes
• GI Pipes (Round and Square)
• Aluminium

50. Greenhouse Frameworks
• The framework should be strong, yet allow the
maximum amount of light to reach the plants.
• It is best if the framework requires little maintenance.
• In high snowfall areas, it is important that the
framework be strong enough to withstand heavy snow
loads.
• It should be capable of withstanding wind loads.

51. Greenhouse glazing
• The covering of the greenhouse is referred to as the
glazing.
• Considerations in choosing a glazing material include
durability, light transmission, cost, and affects on
heating costs.

52. GLAZING MATERIALS
• Glass
• UV Stabilized Polyethylene film
–Plain
–Cross Laminated
–Multi-Layered
• Poly-carbonate (Multi-Layered)

53. UV STABILIZED POLYETHYLENE
•Plain and Multi-Layered
•Available in various thicknesses
• Generally used for GH 200 micron (200 X 10-6
m) thick.
• High transmittance
• Three and five layered also available (Anti dust, anti dip,
etc.)
• Cross-Laminated
•Available in gsm (g/sqm), 150 gsm is generally used.

56. • Greenhouse films are usually made from low
density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density
polyethylene (LLDPE), ethylene-vinyl acetate
copolymers (EVA) and similar polymers.
• The sun's ultra violet (UV) light transfers its
energy to the polyethylene molecules causing
them to become so energized that they are readily
subject to oxidation.
• The mixing of UV stabilization chemicals at the
time of production is to include components
which will prevent as far as possible the onset of
degradation process
UV STABILIZATION

57. • Several successful stabilizer like hindered
amine light stabilizers (HALS) are used.
• HALS stabilizers protect greenhouse films by
interfering with the propagation of free radicals.
• The HALS additive effectively restricts the
multiplication of these free radicals. So a plastic
film without proper UV stabilization (protection)
will most certainly break down rapidly and leave
the crop exposed.
• Hence all the greenhouse film manufacturers do
stabilize their film against degradation due to
solar radiation.
UV STABILIZATION

58. A cover of 200 microns
thickness can be guaranteed
for three years of service in
the field against
degradation due to UV.
UV STABILIZATION

59. • But a film which contains only a stabilization
package, when used to cover a structure earmarked
for growing crops, will not turn the structure into a
greenhouse.
• At best the structure will be a “shelter”. There are
many other parameters to be considered to call a UV
stabilized polyethylene cover, a greenhouse cover.
• A crucial difference between a simple shelter and a
greenhouse is that a greenhouse must be a heat trap.
In a true greenhouse the escape of heat during the
night is retarded in order to maintain optimal
temperature for as long as possible.
Greenhouse Film

60. • The incident light can reach the plant as “direct”
radiation or as “diffused” radiations which are at
various angles with respect to one another and to a
horizontal plane)
• A diffused film has an advantage over a clear film.
Diffused light does not allow the shadow
formation of the top layers of leaves to prevent
essential light from reaching the lower leaves.
• The end result is a facilitation of an effective
dispersion of total light to the darker areas inside
the plant volume enhancing photosynthesis and
hence the production of biomass.
Diffused film vs Clear film

61. Diffused film vs Clear film

62. • An UV blocker film does not allow the UV radiation (up to 381
nanometers where 400 nanometers marks the end of UV
radiation and the beginning of visible light) to enter the
greenhouse.
• Insects have compound eyes and they can see in the UV range as
well as in the visible domain up to the red section (600-700
nanometers wave length).
• Blocking out the UV blocks significant part of the visible range
of insects. Since the insects can not see many of the signals
which they normally would see outdoors.
• When insects are under UV blocker film, a considerable
decrease in white fly, thrips and other insect activity has been
observed.
• Insects are the carriers and transmitters of many viruses & this
film affects the insect activity it also is called Antivirus film.
UV Blocker (Antivirus film)

63. UV Blocker (Antivirus film)

64. Moisture inside the greenhouse condenses in the
form of large drops of water on the inner side of
the plastic cover, if the plastic is are untreated.
This is undesirable because:
•The drops reflect back to the outer space a large
portion of the incoming light.
•The drops fall on the plants and serve as focal
points for the spread of plant diseases.
•water drops on the film focusing sunlight and
scorching plant leaves
Anti Drip Film

65. Moisture inside the greenhouse condenses in the
form of large drops of water on the inner side of
the plastic cover, if the plastic is are untreated.
This is undesirable because:
•The drops reflect back to the outer space a large
portion of the incoming light.
•The drops fall on the plants and serve as focal
points for the spread of plant diseases.
•water drops on the film focusing sunlight and
scorching plant leaves
Anti Drip Film

66. • Slope of the greenhouse cover on the roof of
the structure (a minimum of 22 degrees to the
horizontal is desirable)
• Proper cladding of the film on the structure
(to avoid folds, waviness and the like)
• The regime of periodical aeration of the
greenhouse
• Height of the greenhouse
Requirement for Anti Drip Film

67. Anti Drip Film

68. An anti drip layer is always on
the inner side of the plastic. It
is very important to note that
when a customer buys an anti
drip film the anti drip side
must be fixed on the inside
facing the plants
Requirement for Anti Drip Film

69. Thermic Film
A thermic film is necessary for the places where the night
temperature drops below the optimum temperature
necessary for the plants.
During the night, infrared additive creates a barrier to far
infrared radiation (FIR: 5,000-20,000 nanometer) which
is being emitted by all objects in the greenhouse.
The net result is a decrease in the rate of temperature
reduction during the night hours in the greenhouse.
If the film cover is not thermic; the radiated energy will
escape to outer space while the enclosed space within the
greenhouse will eventually reach an equilibrium with the
temperature of the air outside the structure.

70. Thermic Film

71. Five Layer Greenhouse sheet

72. SITE SELECTION
• Location
– Good Drainage
– No obstructions (Shadow)
– Connected to road
• Orientation
– South facing
• Water
– Permanent source
• Electricity

73. Greenhouse Orientation

76. Long side in EW direction (Facing south)
Greenhouse Orientation

86. 86

88. X 2X
Greenhouse Orientation

92. • Locate the houses at a distance of 2 times
the height of any object that might cast a
shadow on the greenhouse
• Single ridge below 40 degrees north, run
ridge north and south
Placement of houses for
maximum light

94. Non return valve
Ventury injector
Ventury injector : This system of injection works on the principle of
ventury. Vacuum is created by diverting a percentage of water flow
from the main pipe line through a constriction or ventury which
increases the velocity of flow thus creating a drop in pressure. The
vacuum thus created can be used to initiate suction of
fertilizer/chemical solutions from a tank through a suction pipe.
30- 120 l/hrs
30% loss of head

95. Non return valve
Ventury injector
Ventury injector : This system of injection works on the principle of
ventury. Vacuum is created by diverting a percentage of water flow
from the main pipe line through a constriction or ventury which
increases the velocity of flow thus creating a drop in pressure. The
vacuum thus created can be used to initiate suction of
fertilizer/chemical solutions from a tank through a suction pipe.
30- 120 l/hrs
30% loss of head

96. Fertilizer tank
Filter
Water source
Over flow
outlet
Non return valve
Fertilizer tank (Flow by-
pass system):
120-160 l/hrs
15% loss of head

97. NUTRIGATION equipment for
a small scale crop unit

98. SIZE
• Area required for production
• Land available
• Finance available

99. FERTILIZER HYDRAULIC PUMPS (PISTON)
WATER DRIVEN DISPLACEMENT
PUMP FOR LIQUID FERTILIZERS

100. PROCEDURE FOR CONSTRUCTION
•Select the site
•Mark the boundary of greenhouse.
•Make excavation for foundation pipes
•Fix foundation pipes with cement concrete
•Fix all the hoops with foundation pipes
•Construct a ridge line by fastening/welding with hoops.
•Fix the glazing material with thin MS strip/screws
•Secure excess sheet in the channel around GH
•Construct a drainage channel around greenhouse.

101. Injection pump
Fertilizer tank
Filter
Water source
Over flow
outlet
Non return valve
Fertilizer Injector Pump (Fertigation Pump)
40-160 l/hrs
No loss of head

102. Layout of Greenhouse
Size 15 x 7 m=105 sq m
15 m
7 m
Make Diagonals Equal

119. Freshly cut bamboo culms of desired length
are immersed with their butt ends in a solution of
Boric acid: Borax (50:50) of about 10%
concentration. The immersion ends should be
done up to a length of about 30 cm of the but-end.
The treatment may last for 8 to 12 days. In this
process, stirring of the solution is demanded on
every day to avoid sedimentation and also add
small amount of the boric acid: Borax mixture to
make up the uptake loss. This treatment is suitable
for using as bamboo as greenhouse poles the end
comes in constant contact with the ground
• Bamboo 3-6 years Old
• Well treated
• Dried In shade

120. SELECTED BAMBOO JOINTS

121. SELECTED BAMBOO JOINTS

124. BAMBOO GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION

131.  More than 50 brands in India and many more
are in pipeline.
 More than 30 importers many more are coming.
 Except few companies no company is
involved in development activities
 Extensive development activity is required for
disseminating awareness.

133. •Made of high quality ingredients
•Consists of 100% plant nutrients
•Virtually free of chloride, sodium and other
detrimental elements of plants
•Provides balanced, complete plant nutrition
•Available in a wide range of formulae
Polyfeed 19:19:19

134. UREA PHOSPHATE
• Contains 17:44:0
• Highly water soluble
• Acidic pH which prevents Ca&Mg precipitation
• Can retard P precipitation in calcareous soils
also
• Very good N source
• 2-3 times cheaper for unit qty. of N and 3-5 times
for P over other speciality WSF presently
available in India
• Can act as an “auto System Cleaner” due to
presence of phosphoric acid

141. Greenhouse Frame Maintenance
• Check to make sure that any moving parts
such as greenhouse door hinges are not
accumulating corrosion and if it looks like it
may need oil for lubrication, don't put it off
until later.
• Check for any stress fractures in the
greenhouse frame and also check to make
sure none of the fasteners holding your
greenhouse together have come loose. If
they have come loose, tighten them securely.

142. Greenhouse Frame Maintenance
• If your greenhouse frame is painted wood,
check occasionally for any loose or blistering
paint. If you find the paint is cracking or
blistering, promptly scrape the paint off and
allow to dry completely before sealing and re-
painting the area.
• If your greenhouse frame is constructed of
painted metal and you find rust forming, use a
wire brush to remove any rust and then clean,
prime & paint the affected area.

143. Greenhouse Cover Maintenance
Your greenhouse glazing should also be
maintained regularly.
•Should the glazing become dirty, your plants'
ability to receive sunlight transmission is
reduced considerably. Make sure that cleaning
of your greenhouse glazing is a priority before
winter.
•If your greenhouse is covered with a
greenhouse poly film, make sure to wash it
thoroughly with a mild liquid soap and water

144. Greenhouse Cover Maintenance
Greenhouse sheet should NOT be expected to
perform longer than recommended by the
manufacturer. Your greenhouse plants will only
suffer if you put off replacing your greenhouse
plastic past the recommended replacement
interval due to decreased transmission of
sunlight.