1. Why Build Smart Greenhouses?
In recent years, with the rapid development of the global economy and technology, traditional agriculture has been transitioning toward industrialized, large-scale production. As a result, the new generation of smart greenhouses has flourished.
During this period, smart greenhouses have gained widespread application, continuously appearing across the globe. The greenhouse cultivation model has evolved from growing a single type of plant to a more diverse range, and its applications have become increasingly widespread.
Construction site of a smart connected-span glass greenhouse.
So, why are smart greenhouses so popular? What are the reasons for building them?
Smart greenhouses are an advanced type of greenhouse in modern agriculture. They feature integrated environmental control systems that can directly regulate key factors such as temperature, light, water, nutrients, and air. This system enables year-round high yields and excellent economic returns.
According to the technical leader from Innogreenhouse, a Chinese company, smart greenhouses allow growers to adjust various environmental factors to ensure optimal conditions for plant growth. This results in higher yields, the ability to grow specialty vegetables and flowers, lower costs, and increased profits.
2. Advantages of Smart Greenhouses
Traditional agriculture is often perceived as a low-end industry. Although we all acknowledge the importance of agriculture, many people are unwilling to engage in farming due to its hard labor and low returns. The advancement of modern agricultural technology aims to transform traditional farming by applying scientific solutions.
Take smart greenhouses as an example. With the integration of intelligent control systems, traditional agriculture is experiencing the power of technology.
Smart greenhouses make farming easier, significantly boosting both efficiency and profits.
① Minimal Loss in Plant Cultivation
One of the most significant advantages of smart greenhouses over manual management is the ability to maintain constant environmental conditions. This is crucial for plants that require specific growing conditions, as it effectively reduces the risks of production loss caused by human error.
② Rapidly Increased Yields
The benefits of smart greenhouses for crop production are clear.
With intelligent control systems, factors such as water, nutrients, and the overall plant environment can be finely tuned. This leads to significant improvements in both the yield and quality of crops grown within the greenhouse.
③ Improve efficiency and reduce costs
For large-scale agricultural operations, improving economic efficiency requires not only higher crop yields and quality but also greater efficiency and reduced costs.
By integrating smart control systems, greenhouses can achieve these objectives.
Automated systems increase work efficiency and drastically reduce labor costs. The investment in equipment and operating costs can be offset by the savings on labor.
The long-term economic benefits of using smart systems only grow as time goes on, lowering labor costs over the years.
④ Spacious and Versatile
The expansive design of smart greenhouses offers endless possibilities for application.
Whether it’s for seedling cultivation, exhibitions, educational tours, or leisure dining, the space can be easily adapted to meet various needs.
⑤ Constant Temperature and Humidity
Smart greenhouses can create ideal conditions for plant growth by maintaining optimal temperature and humidity.
These systems overcome environmental limitations, allowing plants to grow and thrive even in seasons that would typically be unsuitable.
For example, in a smart greenhouse, the yield of small tomatoes can reach 50-80 kg per square meter—an incredible result that outdoor farming can’t match.
Smart greenhouses also offer a range of benefits for leisure and tourism.
For instance, while a storm rages outside, the interior of the greenhouse remains calm and controlled. Regardless of the extreme temperatures or harsh conditions outside, inside the greenhouse, it’s always spring-like and comfortable.
Bumper harvest of small tomatoes in the smart connected-span greenhouse.
3. Supporting Systems in Smart Greenhouses
• Shading System
Smart greenhouses are equipped with both internal and external shading systems. Shading nets, which vary in material, provide different levels of protection.
Combined, the internal and external systems work together to enhance shading, cooling, and energy-saving functions.
• Ventilation System
This system helps to ventilate and cool the greenhouse.
Hot air rises within the greenhouse, and the roof windows play a critical role in heat dissipation.
Side windows, in combination with fans and wet curtains, can further reduce temperature effectively.
It’s important to consider local wind patterns and climate conditions when setting up the ventilation system.
• Computerized Intelligent Control System
The intelligent control system is the heart of the smart greenhouse.
It continuously monitors environmental data such as temperature, humidity, light, soil conditions, and more. Based on this data, it automatically adjusts the environment by controlling windows, shading, fans, irrigation, and lighting systems to maintain optimal conditions for plant growth.
This system ensures the best possible environment for high crop yields.
Through these systems, smart greenhouses provide a stable, efficient, and sustainable approach to modern agriculture.
Environmental monitoring display screen in a smart greenhouse in Gansu Province, China.
4. With obvious advantages, it's the future trend.
The smart greenhouse features an advanced structure with a spacious design, comprehensive facilities, and easy management, saving both time and effort. It ensures high crop yield, excellent quality, and improved efficiency, all while reducing costs.
This is especially ideal for large-scale, industrialized production of vegetables and fruits, where large connected-span smart greenhouses are particularly suitable.
Compared to traditional outdoor cultivation, building and operating a smart greenhouse represents the future trend in agricultural production.
