The arable land percentage of most countries is below ten percent of their total land bank. They are either covered with mountains, impregnable forests, hot or cold deserts, and marshes that make it impossible to grow any vegetation. Where some oil-producing countries are this through hydroponics and commercial greenhouse farming, there is a long way to go, especially for the cold countries that primarily depend only on fishing. Cold regions like Nordic countries can utilize greenhouse energy curtains to trap heat loss and maintain the climate inside the unit.
In a greenhouse, plants are protected from extreme weather conditions. The cold temperature will recede the metabolic process of a plant and the growth is stunted. Without nutrient breakdown and proper photosynthesis, plants appear droopy and slowly wither before dying. Salvaging the plants becomes difficult unless there is a mechanism in place to control the climate in a contained space where the plants can be grown. It has been noted that the crop yield per acre in a greenhouse is multifold, usually ten times more than the regular yield per acreage. Having said that, it is essential to harness the power of a greenhouse by tweaking with a few inputs that will help in increasing the productivity of the space:
- Smart Lights
Harnessing the natural light to max potential and using grow lights in blind spots and areas that receive less light like the north side will extend the growing period of plants. The longevity of seasons will potentially increase crop yields, especially during winters and foggy days with low-light periods. The grow lights can be tuned to the appropriate intensity and adjusted as per the specs for a crop.
- Sensors For Climate Control
Sensors that control and manage the greenhouse internal atmosphere will take the burden off the people who otherwise will be stressed by the haphazard changes in the external climate. Humidifiers, heating systems, fans, ventilation, and automated thermal screens can be operated with a remote, making it easy and stress-free for everyone. Air circulation using fans prevents moisture build-up and ensures that plants don’t develop diseases like sod or fungal attack.
- Soil-less Farming
Hydroponics and aquaponics are two approaches for soil-less farming that use nutrient-filled water from a tank to grow crops in vertical towers where using pipes the nutrients are pumped up. In aquaponics fish farming is mixed with agriculture so that the fish waste can be synthesized for nutrients that are beneficial for the plants and oxygen released from plants is used by fish to thrive.
- Increase Landscape
By setting up vertical farms regular food crops like vegetables and fruits can be grown in towers. The number of plants per acre in a greenhouse with a vertical tower is approximately twenty times more than in a regular farm because of the maximization of space utility.
Conclusion:
Commercial farming is experiencing new entrants based on the game changer strategies that have yielded fabulous results in countries where vegetation was non-existent, a primary among them is the use of greenhouses where one can grow food like any tropical climate.
