Why Automate Your Greenhouse?
There can be many benefits to automating a Commercial Greenhouse used for growing vegetable or horticultural crops. In most cases, greenhouses are used in commercial production of flowers or vegetables. Greenhouses more recently have moved into the new industrial space of medical marijuana.
Greenhouses work to provide the crops with the most suitable and stable conditions for plant growth and development. The unique buildings maximize space to ensure a high yield per unit area. These high yields are achievable if proper grower management is applied with climate control automation in the operation.
One way of improving the efficiency of a greenhouse is by installing leading automation systems. Greenhouse automation, also referred to as IoT smart greenhouses, utilizes various technologies to control various greenhouse operations with sensors and in real time.
The smart greenhouse uses advanced computer technology to control conditions for the plants with various sensors to optimize every growth stage. Here are some different systems to consider for your day to day business operations.
Climate Control Systems
These systems include sensors that modify various indoor conditions of the greenhouse automatically to create the best conditions for the plant. The climatic aspects controlled by these systems include; Heat control systems to monitor and adjust the greenhouse temperatures to the required settings. The heat control will modify the in-house conditions based on the indoor climate.
Humidity and venting adjustment happens through the use of computer monitoring. Water vapor percentage in the air is measured and the computer automation can make any of the necessary adjustments.
Co2 or Carbon dioxide monitors are also closely watched to keep the right levels in the atmosphere. All of these conditions can be set by the grower, and alarms or triggers can be automatically sent with the computer automation software. What you are left with is more peace of mind when dealing with your crop.
Auto-pest Control Systems:
These systems are programmed to dispense pesticides in calculated amounts automatically.
Equipment Control Systems:
Commercial greenhouses require systems in place to handle the movement of greenhouse tables along specific greenhouse sections. The equipment control system also makes it possible to move and control installed lights, shade canopies, or harvesting and planting equipment.
The systems may eliminate the need for physical labor in handling intensive mechanical operations within the greenhouse.
Fertigation Manager:
Greenhouse fertigation management refers to using water infused with fertilizers. The pipes are laid in the soil and work in hand with the soil sensors. When the treated water level in the soil drops below the required amount, the fertigation manager automatically dispenses the water through the water systems.
Greenhouse fertigation management allows commercial greenhouses to focus on the quality of yields.
Drip Irrigation Systems:
Water control systems work to schedule the irrigation period where the plants are watered at regular intervals. The systems also monitor the soil moisture levels and commence or hold the irrigation process through the soil sensors.
The water systems also run to ensure that the plants receive an adequate amount of water and prevent flooding in the greenhouse.
Conversely, these systems can’t work without the integration of various equipment. The various greenhouse automation equipment includes:
Monitoring equipment, including sensors to monitor moisture, temperatures, and other conditions. Surveillance is also necessary, and thus cameras need to be installed to monitor greenhouse security.
- Misting & Spraying
- Automated Packing lines
- Drip Irrigation systems
- Computerized Environmental Control System
- Fertilization Machines
- Advantages of Greenhouse Automation
- Reduced labor costs
Smart IoT greenhouses provide solutions to each plant’s requirements and growth. Most of the growers activities include:
- Planting
- Harvesting
- Spraying
- Watering and Fertilization
With everything monitored automatically, there is a reduced need for hiring manual labor. This way, commercial greenhouses can cut down on the cost of outsourcing labor.
Increased Plant Yields
Automation and smart optimization of the greenhouse provide the plant with every favorable condition as per requirements. Greenhouse automation equipment make it possible to monitor the plants and adjust fertigation rates, lighting, water, temperature, and air to the optimum.
When the plants receive all the right conditions and treated right, then high yields are guaranteed.
Improved Plant Health and Quality
Smart greenhouses provide optimum thriving conditions for the plant. Plants are supplied with appropriate nutrient amounts when needed. Most crops that are grown in automated greenhouses achieve top fruit or flower quality.
The seed also improves and consequently produce crops with increased quality.
Remote Real-Time Monitoring
Automating a commercial greenhouse will enable you to do remote monitoring through a standard Wi-Fi connection. Sensors detect any changes and send alerts to the computer control system and o your phone. Here is a video explaining the process.
These alerts can account for actions that would otherwise affect the plant growth or greenhouse operations.
Serious Growing Data Analytics
Automated greenhouse operations make it easy to collect valuable data such as plant cycles, climate control reports, soil data, and nutrient intake.
This data undergoes analysis to invoke critical decisions on making necessary greenhouse adjustments. Learning the plant cycles will impact planting and crop care measures and processes.
Call One of Our Greenhouse Engineers Today
Are you looking to automating a commercial greenhouse to increase your yields and improve your crops’ quality? Automated greenhouses can help you manage your crop operations and learn more about how to care for your plants for a better harvest. You can reach out to us from our contact page here.