IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-1

Research article
erd

Survey Analysis of the Characteristics of Greenhouses inKorea
MANKWON CHOI
Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea

SUNGWOOK YUN
Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea

YONGCHEOL YOON*
Dept. of Agricultural Engineering, Gyeongsang National University (Institute of Agricultureand Life Science), Jinju, Korea
Email: ychyoon@gnu.ac.kr
Received 12 October 2013

Accepted 1 March 2014(*Corresponding author)

Abstract The purpose of this study is to collect basic data (using a questionnaire survey)
to inform the establishment of structural safety guidelines and the standardization ofgreenhouse design in order to determine a standard model for the development ofgreenhouses on reclaimed land. To collect this data, 148 farms were visited across Korea,
and were administered a questionnaire survey. The survey included items on greenhousefacilities, foundations, covering material, and irrigation type. Results revealed thatgreenhouses were nearly evenly split between single- and multi-span structures. Most werearch or 1-2W types. Single-span greenhouses tended to use pipe foundations, while most
multi-span greenhouses used concrete foundations, and most foundations were buried
deeply (50-59 cm). Nearly all greenhouses (95.3%) used plastic film as a covering
material as opposed to glass; the same percentage used groundwater for irrigation. These
results could potentially be utilized as basic data to develop a standard model forgreenhouse design in Korea.
Keywords greenhouse structure, greenhouse covering material, greenhouse foundation,
survey data, greenhouse irrigation

INTRODUCTIONThe total area dedicated to greenhouse cultivation of vegetables in Korea occupied about 47,924 haat the end of 2012 (MAFRA, 2013). This area is expected to increase gradually in the future
following the Korean government’s announcement of a development plan to build a research centeron reclaimed land in Saemangeum, an estuarine tidal flat on the Yellow Sea coast. The constructionof a seawall in April 2006, after a long fight between the government and environmental activists,allowed the land to be reclaimed. Since the establishment of the seawall, Saemangeum has beenscheduled for conversion into either agricultural or industrial land (Choi et. al., 2013). As such, theplanned research center is slated to incorporate a high-tech greenhouse and large-scale agriculturalcomplex that covers a large percentage of the reclaimed land. Additionally, a greenhouse iscurrently under development at other reclaimed land at Hwang (MIFAFF, 2010).
When building a greenhouse on reclaimed land, land settlement, structures and potentially
dangerous exposure to strong wind should be considered, because reclaimed land (due to its
proximity to the coast) is softer than general farmland. In considering the characteristics ofreclaimed land, there are many greenhouse construction requirements with regard to maintenance,repair, reinforcement, structural design criteria, and deformation.
Many studies have investigated the actual conditions of various greenhouses. Suh and Yoon
conducted a survey analysis that collected data on heating method, gutter connection, capacity ofheating systems, type of crop cultivation, dimensions, etc. (Suh and Yoon, 1997). Studies have also
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been conducted on the actual state of the structures and environmental control facilities for tomato
greenhouses in the Chungnam region (Nam and Kim, 2009), as well as on the utilization ofirrigation systems for greenhouse farming (Lee et al., 1998). However, to date, no one has yet
conducted a nationwide study of greenhouses in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
This study’s aim is to provide basic data for the development of greenhouse maintenanceguidelines. This was accomplished by conducting a questionnaire survey on the structure, covering
materials, irrigation, and foundations of greenhouses in Korea.
METHODOLOGY
A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the actual state of greenhouses in Korea.
Regional investigations were conducted in eight of Korea’s nine provinces (Jeju was excluded).
Most greenhouses were selected and investigated via Agricultural Research Services, while large,
complex greenhouses were examined using satellite images. Greenhouses on a total of 148 farms
were investigated (Fig. 1): 63 for Gyeongsangnam-do (Gyeongnam); 15 for Jeollanam-do(Chonam); 11 for Kangwon-do (Kangwon); 10 for Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi), 10 for
Chugcheongbuk-do (Chungbuk), 10 for Chugcheongnam-do (Chungnam); 10 for Jeollabuk-do(Chonbuk); and 19 for Gyeongsangbuk-do (Gyeongbuk). The following aspects of each greenhousewere investigated: type, specifications, foundation type, irrigation type, and depth of foundation.
Additionally, questionnaire surveys were conducted during farm visits from July to September
2013. Survey data were analyzed using SPPS (IBM SPSS Statistics Version 20).

Fig. 1 Locations of surveyed greenhousesⒸ ISERD

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Of the 148 farms investigated, a total of 148 valid questionnaires were received. Data collectedfrom these questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS.
Greenhouse Types
Figure 2 shows the number and percentage of single- vs. multi-span greenhouses 72 (48.6%) forthe former, and 76 (51.4%) for the latter. Table 1 shows the types of greenhouses investigated.
According to the survey, 51 (34.5%) for arch greenhouses, 56 (37.8%) were 1-2W, 11 (7.4%) wereVenlo, 6 (4.1%) were Miryang, 3 (2.0%) were three-quarter, 1 (0.7%) were even-span, 2 (1.4%)
were peach-type, 6 (4.1%) were long-span, and 12 (8.1%) were other, respectively (“Other”includes greenhouses without columns, Mammoth-type greenhouses, and so on). The mostcommon type of greenhouse was the 1-2W, which, along with the arch type, accounted for 72.3%
of all surveyed greenhouses. The even-span type was the least common, accounting for less than
1.0% of all surveyed greenhouses. From this result, it is clear that most farms in Korea prefer thearch style for single-span greenhouses, and the 1-2W style for multi-span greenhouses.

Fig. 2 Percentage of single- vs. multi-span greenhouses
Table 1 Types of greenhouse by region
Classifications

Arch
type

1-2W
type

Venlo
type

Gyeongnam
ChonnamKangwonGyeonggi
Chungbuk
Chungnam
Chonbuk
Gyeongbuk
Total(%)

210
20
5
74
1251(34.5)

22
6
2852
6
556(37.8)

5
40
20000
11(7.4)Type
3/4
Miryang
roof
type
type
6300000000000000
63(4.1)(2.0)

EventypePeachtype

100000001(0.7)

002000002(1.4)

Longspan
type230000016(4.1)

OthersTotal

3632155110
1001011001011912148(8.1) (100.0)

Foundation Type
Table 2 shows the results for foundation type according to region. The survey found that 47 (31.8%)
greenhouses used pipes, 25 (16.9%) used strip foundation of pipe (surface), 8 (5.4%) used strip
foundation of pipe (inner), 16 (10.8%) used concrete (trapezium), 24 (16.2%) used concreteⒸ ISERD97

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-1(columns), 18 (12.2%) used concrete (THP), and 10 (6.8%) used other foundation types. Further, it
is apparent that foundation type is related to greenhouse type: single-span greenhouses tended tofeature any of the three types of pipe foundation (pipes burial, strip foundation of pipe (surface),and strip foundation of pipes (inner)), while multi-span greenhouses tended to feature any of thethree types of concrete foundation (trapezium, columns, and THP). Of the 148 greenhouses
investigated, nearly half used one of the three types of pipe foundation (commonly associated withsingle-span greenhouses); this is likely because single-span greenhouses are easier and cheaper toinstall than multi-span greenhouses. After pipes burial (31.8%), the most popular type of non-pipe
foundation was concrete (columns) at 16.2%. Regional characteristics that could account for these
preferences were not observed.
Depth of foundation results by region shows in Table 3. The survey found that 6 (4.1%)
foundations were buried < 30 cm, 17 (11.5%) were 30-39 cm, 27 (18.2%) were 40-49 cm, 53(35.8%) were 50–59 cm, 33 (22.3%) were >= 60 cm and 12 (8.1%) for other, respectively. Of thegreenhouses surveyed, most (53, or 35.8%) had foundations buried 50-59 cm deep. For mostgreenhouses in general, which factor a wind speed of up to 30m/s into their design, 30 cm is asufficient foundation depth. However, regions with wind speeds of at least 40 m/s have beenreported to require a foundation embedment depth of at least 50 cm (Kim and Nam, 1995). Thus,
greenhouse designs must take regional wind speeds into account. In all cases, the embedment depth
was determined to be appropriate to regional wind speed, except those foundations buried 30 cm
deep or less in Gyeongnam and Chonnam provinces.
Table 2 Types of foundation by region
Types of foundation
Classifications

Pipes
burialGyeongnam
ChonnamKangwonGyeonggi
Chungbuk
Chungnam
Chonbuk
Gyeongbuk
Total(%)

27
161120947(31.8)

Strip ofpipe(surface)
6014451425(16.9)

Strip ofpipes
(inner)
020120308(5.4)

Concrete(trapezium)

Concrete(columns)

Concrete(THP)

Others7210002416(10.8)

9613202124(16.2)

8221112118(12.2)

6200020010(6.8)

Total
63
15
111010101019148(100.0)

Table 3 Depth of foundation embedment by region
Classifications
Gyeongnam
ChonnamKangwonGyeonggi
Chungbuk
Chungnam
Chonbuk
Gyeongbuk
Total(%)<30cm
510000006(4.1)

30~39cm
4221110617(11.5)

Embedment depth40~49cm 50~59cm
17181323140425450112753(18.2)(35.8)>=60cm12644221233(22.3)

Others
7200300012(8.1)

Total
63
15111010101019148(100.0)

Covering Material
Table 4 shows the greenhouse covering material by region. The survey found that 141 (95.3%)Ⓒ ISERD

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greenhouses used plastic film, while 7 (4.7%) used glass. Regardless of region, most installed
plastic film, likely because it is far less expensive.
Results regarding greenhouse irrigation type are given in Table 5. The survey found that 141(95.3%) used groundwater, 5 (3.4%) used stratum water, 1 (0.7%) used a combination of groundand stratum water, 1 (0.7%) used other types of irrigation, and 0 (0.0%) used rainwater. It isinteresting to note that the overwhelming majority of greenhouses used groundwater, while none
used rainwater.
Table 4 Greenhouse covering material by region
Classifications

Covering materal
Plastic film
Glass59
413211091100100100190141
7(95.3)(4.7)

Gyeongnam
ChonnamKangwonGyeonggi
Chungbuk
Chungnam
Chonbuk
Gyeongbuk
Total(%)

Total
63
15111010101019148(100.0)

Table 5 Greenhouse irrigation type by region
Classifications
Gyeongnam
ChonnamKangwonGyeonggi
Chungbuk
Chungnam
Chonbuk
Gyeongbuk
Total(%)

Groundwater
61158910101018141(95.3)

Rian
water
000000000(0.0)

Irrigation water
Stratum Ground+Stratum
water
water
200030000000000151
(3.4)
(0.7)

Othres000100001(0.7)

Total6315111010101019148(100.0)

CONCLUSION
This study presented the results of a detailed questionnaire survey on the types of form, foundation
embedment depth, covering material, and irrigation water of greenhouses in Korea. The results
obtained can be summarized as follows:
1) Of the 148 farms surveyed, 48.6% used single-span greenhouses, and 51.45% used multi-span.
2) Most greenhouses were the arch or 1-2W type.
3) Most greenhouse foundation types were pipe foundations for single-span greenhouses andconcrete foundations for multi-span greenhouses.
4) Embedment depth indicated that 88.4% of surveyed foundations were buried deeper than40cm.
5) Most of the greenhouses examined (95.3%) used plastic film (PE) as a covering material.
6) Most of the greenhouses (95.3%) irrigated using groundwater.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was carried out with the support of “Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture
Science & Technology Development (Project No. PJ00949204)” Rural Development
Administration, Republic of Korea.
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Kim, M.K. and Nam, S.W. 1995. Experimental studies on the structural safety of pipe-houses, J. Bio. Fac.
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Lee, N.H., Hwang, H.C., Nam, S.W., Hong, S.G. and Jeon, W.J. 1998. A study on the utilization of irrigation
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Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA). 2013. Greenhouse status for the vegetables
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ly/1paUztE Accessed 6 Jul. 2010.)
Nam, S.W. and Kim, Y.S. 2009. Actual state of structures and environmental control facilities for tomato
greenhouses in Chungnam region. Jour. Agri. Sci., 36(1), 73-85.
Suh, W.M. and Yoon, Y.C. 1997. Status of heating equipment for greenhouses. J. Inst. Agr. Res. Util., 31,136-146.

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