The amount of carbon dioxide made available to plants in greenhouses is controlled using CO2 sensors and controllers to optimum growth. They are crucial equipment utilized in contemporary indoor agriculture.
The easiest way to explain indoor agriculture is as a process of growing crops or plants totally indoors while utilizing growing techniques like hydroponics, extra light, and CO2 to maximize crop or plant growth.
A Synopsis of Greenhouse History
The manufacture of clear glass by the Romans in the year 100 AD was the biggest advancement in greenhouse design. However, glass couldn’t be produced at a reasonable cost for use in building construction until the 1800s. Early plate glass was used not just in homes but also in little greenhouses where exotic plants and flowers were grown.
At the University of California, William Frederick Gerke made the subsequent discovery in the 1930s. In his tests, Berkeley—who developed the practice and gave it the name “hydroponics”—was able to start growing 25-foot-tall tomato vines using nothing more than water and nutrients.
When General Electric created the first indoor hydroponic farm with funding from the US Department of Defense in 1973 for the investigation of growing fresh produce under artificial light for nuclear submarines, greenhouse research proceeded. General Mills soon constructed a larger commercial farm for leafy greens. Vertical farming in the 1970s led to further advancements in indoor greenhouses after that.
By giving local communities access to fresh produce and crops, greenhouses now boost the global food supply. Farmers may now cultivate crops all year long without being dependent on the weather. Additionally, with the least amount of resources, the biggest crops can be produced by carefully managing light, heat, water, and nutrients.
Controls for CO2 in greenhouses
The ideal CO2 level needed to increase plant output relies on a number of variables, including the intensity of the light and the size of the greenhouse. The average CO2 content in a room with proper ventilation is 400 ppm, which is equivalent to the average ambient outside air. This typical concentration will result in growth rates comparable to what you can anticipate from outdoor vegetable cultivation. The CO2 level can be lower in a closed greenhouse with a lot of plants, though.
The best results for growers have been at CO2 levels between 1,200 ppm and 1,500 ppm. However, unless your plants can use it, you can’t just raise the level of CO2.
Light and Carbon Dioxide in Greenhouses
Additional CO2 won’t boost photosynthesis in plants cultivated in low light environments (about 12,000 Lux). You must turn up your grow lights’ intensity if you want more development. You may raise the CO2 levels to 600 ppm by increasing the light level to about 49,000 Lux. Growth won’t get any faster with more CO2. Plants can use CO2 levels between 1,200 ppm and 1300 ppm if you can raise the light intensity to 59,000 lux.
With the right water and nutrients, you can obtain up to a 100% increase in the plant’s growth rate if you raise the CO2 level to 1,500 ppm and the light level to 80,000 Lux.
greenhouse CO2 controllers and monitors
A carbon dioxide monitor and controller accomplishes what its name suggests: it keeps the CO2 level in the grow area constant.
Two components make up a CO2 monitor and controller: a CO2 sensor that measures the level of CO2 in the air right now, and a relay that switches power on and off to activate a regulator that controls the flow of CO2 from a tank or cylinder.
Why are CO2 Monitors & Controllers so well-liked?
Utilizing a controller is simple and takes only a few minutes. Simply connect a CO2 tank to an electronic regulator, plug the controller into a wall outlet, and then connect the controller to the CO2 tank.
Savings – Because the user controls the CO2 level, a CO2 controller can double the life of a CO2 tank.
Convenience: Only during the daytime do plants use CO2. During the day (light cycle), a CO2 controller with a light sensor will automatically add CO2, but not at night.
The 1600P CO2 Monitor & Controller for Greenhouses and Grow Rooms is an illustration of a CO2 monitor and controller for greenhouses. Using this controller, you can:
Automatically turn off during times of darkness
Low and high set points allow for fine-tuning of the controller to extend the intervals between CO2 enrichment cycles. CO2 is typically “on” at 800 ppm and “off” at 1,500 ppm by default.
CO2 level is automatically adjusted by the controller based on altitude.
CO2 sensor using NDIR technology for precision, repeatability, and dependability.
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