The main goal of this subproject is to investigate the physical and technical basis of an integrated management system for the sustainable production of vegetables in greenhouses. In an interdisciplinary central experiment, the dependency of plant yield and quality on construction and greenhouse climate, plant nutrition and plant protection as well as the mutual influence of the factors from the different disciplines are investigated. A main task of the central experiment is the optimisation of greenhouse climate control and air conditioning with regards to the cultivation of plants, plant protection, fertilisation and irrigation. A greenhouse construction is designed by using regionally available materials. The construction has to withstand high wind loads and to protect the cultures by improving air conditioning and enabling biological plant protection.
Nets have to be attached in front of the ventilation openings for biological plant protection.
These nets reduce the ventilation effect and react with the interior climate. The influence of such nets on inside air temperature and humidity is not well-known and must be investigated in connection with the effect on plant yield, plant quality and plant protection. Air exchange rates, depending on the mesh of the nets are calculated using climate models. If necessary additional fans have to be used. In tropical greenhouses, subsoil irrigation and fertilisation should be used and their ability investigated.