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NE164: Decision Support for Design and Control of Plant Growth Systems

Duration:
October 01, 1998 to September 30, 2003
Administrative Advisor(s):
Thomas Fretz (Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors)
NIFA Reps:
Daniel Jones

Statement of Issue(s) and Justification:

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is an extremely high-value system of crop agricultural production. It is also very dependent on advanced technologies. Detailed understanding of the interaction between physical and biological components of this system is essential for its success. Decision-support models that link plant performance with environmental variables must be developed and then coupled with efficient and economic controls within an environmentally sustainable system. Because of the broad range of greenhouse crops and differences in prevailing environmental conditions associated with different climatic zones decision support systems are needed that are broadly applicable. The interdisciplinary cooperation of horticultural physiologists and agricultural engineers of this project is needed to address this complex technology.

Related, Current, and Previous Work:

The NE-164 collaboration features a strong interaction of horticulture and engineering with an emphasis on CEA plant growth systems. Since 1972, NE-164 and the previous numbered projects have been the only greenhouse design/crop production systems-related regional research project in the U.S. A regional communication committee, the NCR-101 has a similar interdisciplinary mix of participants but the members do not formally collaborate on common research objectives and the focus of the committee is not directed at supporting the commercial CEA industry. A search of CRIS files shows that most of the greenhouse engineering, greenhouse systems design, and decision-support model development involving greenhouse crops during the past 15-20 years was from NE-164 members. Research results were disseminated in over 375 research reports, extension articles, and invited national and international presentations by members of this project during the last five years.

CRIS reports only three greenhouse environmental control research projects in progress, all at the University of Guelph, Ontario. One project focuses on insect and disease control (B. Grodzinski, #7002351), another involves the fate of trace hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds (from office building furniture and materials) in sealed indoor environments with various plant communities (M. Dixon, #7002350), and the third project tracks long term consequences of root exudates on hydroponic nutrient solutions on productivity (%/l. Dixon, #7002349). Both pest and hydroponic solution management are important to CEA but neither project duplicates NE-164 proposed research.

CRIS reported no ongoing projects involving decision-support of plant growth systems, or greenhouse vilation. Nine projects involve lighting and some aspect of a 'culture. DeCoteau at Clemson ventilation agriculture(#0161758) is investigating light quality effects from colored plastic mulch on field grown vegetable crop development. J.B. Hunter at Cornell (#0173232) is exploring the use of high intensity lighting for gardening on lunar and planetary colonies.

CRIS identified 28 projects that involved some aspect of phytoremediation. R.D. Baronage (Penn. St. Univ., #0168273) contributes to NE-164 and is involved in phytoremediation as a tool in greenhouse waste water management. Of the remaining projects, 14 involved phytoremediation as a tool for the clean up of sites contaminated with non-agricultural wastes such as radionuclides, heavy metals, PCBs, or aqueous toxins such as cyanide wastes. Two projects identified phytoremediation as a means to manage municipal runoff wastes on sensitive watershed sites.

Current research on environment-plant interactions for decision support has been an interdependent process. For example, replicated studies in MI and NH on floriculture crops have produced models for predicting the growth response of the ornamental crops lily and poinsettia (Fisher and Heins, 1996; Fisher et.al., 1996a; Fisher et.al., 1996b; Fisher et.al., 1996c; Lieth et.al., 1996; and Fisher et.al., 1997a & b). Still, many other important floriculture crops remain to be investigated. Similar replication and cooperative research in NY, NJ, and CT on greenhouse vegetables and herbs has contributed to the development of an empirical plant growth model for tomato based on light (Chiu et.al., 1996), a decision-support system for lettuce, and environmental optimization of important dietary phytochemicals in purslane and watercress. The decision-support system for lettuce has advanced to the point of commercial technology transfer (Albright, 1996; Controlled Environment Agriculture Program, 1996) but modules for additional leafy-vegetable crops must still be developed.

The overall objective to build an interactive internet database and decision-support tool that includes all of the crop/environmental decision-support modules derived from either replicated or complimentary initiatives by the individual NE-164 members is still under development (NJ, NY, MI, PA, CT, NE and NH). An essential tool for the information integration is a common communication platform to facilitate the flows of information from various sources and to appropriate users. The internet's distributed and multi-platform environment is perfect for this project. The world wide web utilizes a convenient information transfer protocol, called the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, that facilitates finding, retrieving, and displaying documents. As this project develops further, both NE-164 collaborators and industry users will use the networked information system as a common and interactive communication channel for the plant growth systems decision-support research and information retrieval.

Research at MI has provided insight into the effect of the Ratio of Radiant energy to Thermal energy (RRT) on plant quality, and NY has contributed innovative research in the use of PseudoDerivative-Feedback (PDF) for temperature control logic; a program that enables growers to avoid the use of ventilation and achieve temperature control during winter conditions, which means they can supplement C02 economically and maintain accurate levels.

OH has provided leadership in the automation of fertilizer delivery based on crop and environmental condition. NJ is also supporting research on automation and robotics for plant production and is using machine vision as a monitoring/diagnostic tool to estimate nutritional stress on lettuce; a project that is linked to the lettuce production work of NY and the fertilizer delivery system of OH.

OH is using a fluid dynamics program, Fluid Dynamic Modeling of Natural Ventilation (FLUENT) to evaluate and illustrate the natural ventilation patterns and air-flow rates of low cost, double-poly, gutter-connected greenhouse designs. Greenhouse cooling is essential for controlling the physiological response of a crop (MI, NY, NJ, CT) and the process is more complex when insect screening (NJ) or C02 conservation are dominant considerations (NY).

Dynamic optimization of supplemental lighting is important for both economic and cropping efficiency (Heuvelink & Challa, 1989). Dynamic optimization combines crop modeling with greenhouse environmental dynamics and energy considerations to determine an optimum level of greenhouse lighting. Such an objective is different from achieving a consistent daily PAR integral. However, even when dynamic optimization leads to a PAR integral optimized for the day, a means to control that integral is still required. Albright (1995) presented an algorithm to control supplemental lights to provide a consistent (or prescribed) daily PAR target integral. As part of the computer simulation program that implemented the algorithm, the yearly cost of lighting is calculated (and minimized) based on input from the user regarding the local electric utility rate schedule and time-of-day options. Subsequent work added control of movable shade systems to the control algorithm to achieve year round control. The algorithm is currently in the patent process and will be available for licensing by Cornell University to greenhouse control system companies. Thus, the means to control lights and movable shade systems to achieve a consistent light environment has been developed through NE-164 efforts. However, more complete knowledge of how a consistent light flux can be optimized for other important greenhouse crops does not yet exist. The various stations that participate in the NE-164 project will address this need on a variety of crops.

NE-164 member institutions have taken the lead in initially quantifying the potential risks of environmental degradation from CEA production practices and the resulting wastewater (Mankin & Fynn, 1994; McAvoy, 1994; Wheeler et.al., 1994) and identifying environmentally responsible fertilizer delivery practices (Biernbaum et.al, 1995; Yelanich & Biernbaum, 1995). OH developed the basic decision model for selecting individual nutrients for fertigating greenhouse crops (Fynn, 1994); and a unique decision and risk model (HYTODMOD) for growing hydroponic tomatoes (El-Attal, 1995; Short, 1997). HYTODMOD was uniquely verified by four industry experts. OH has done significant research to characterize irrigation requirements by measuring and modeling transpiration of greenhouse and nursery crops (Fynn et.a., 1993; Hansen et.al., 1997; Mankin and Fynn, 1996; Mankin et.al., 1997; Yildirim, 1997). OH has also developed and tested a computer controlled fertigator designed to supply nutrients to multiple zones based on predicted crop needs (Anderson, 1997).

Most recently research efforts in PA and NJ have begun to move toward developing remedial systems for the biofiltration of green-industry wastes (Berghage, 1996; Mac Neal & Berghage, 1996; Wood, 1996; Wood et.al., 1996). Greenhouse and nursery production is high intensity, high input agriculture. Insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators and other chemicals are freely used to aid production. Fertilizer inputs, for example, can reach thousands of pounds per acre per year (Nelson, 1991). Fertility programs utilizing 200 ppm N or more in every irrigation are common. Peak water use, based on irrigation system design recommendations (Aldrich and Bartok, 1994), can exceed 20,000 gallons per acre per day, with 10 to 500'o of the applied water discharged as waste in traditional overhead hand or sprinkler irrigation. Although this seems wasteful, on a cost of production basis these inputs represent only a tiny fraction of the total costs, and so they have historically been used in excess. This has however, been changing over the last two decades as environmental rather than economic considerations have driven a re-evaluation of many common production practices.

Treatment and/or recycling of wastewater is mandatory for point source municipal and industrial water discharges in the United States (U.S. Congress, Public Laws 84-660, 1956; 92-500, 1972). In a number of states this includes greenhouse and nursery growers (California Statute 482:1052, 1969). Growers have developed elaborate, and effective, recirculating irrigation and wastewater treatment systems to meet these demands (Skimna, 1986). Other states' regulations are not yet as stringent. However greenhouses and nurseries have come under increased pressure to reduce wastewater discharge. Because conventional wastewater treatment techniques such as air stripping, chemical oxidation and carbon adsorption (Symons, 1981) are costly, and may produce additional environmental problems like sludge disposal, the industry has increasingly relied on water recycling and recirculating irrigation systems (Hamrick, 1987).

Constructed wetlands are thought to function as attached growth bioreactors which can effectively treat liquid wastes for Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) reduction. There are hundreds of outdoor treatment wetlands operating throughout the world (Reed and Brown, 199?; Conley et al., 1991). They are used to treat municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastewater, landfill leachate and acid mine drainage (Anderson, 1993; Hammer, 1993; Conley et al., 1991). The quality of effluent from conventional outdoor constructed wetlands is known to vary throughout the year primarily due to seasonal temperature effects.

Constructing treatment wetlands within a greenhouse environment can provide more optimal yearround environmental conditions for plants and microbes to produce a consistent, high-quality effluent from the wetland. Other advantages of housing a wastewater treatment wetland in a greenhouse environment include wetland process control, possible automation of wetland maintenance systems, and the production of a greenhouse crop. Disadvantages of enclosing a constructed wetland in a greenhouse include the capital costs of the greenhouse structure, maintenance and energy to heat the greenhouse.

In summary, NE-164 collaborative projects have made significant scientific contributions relative to the goals and objectives over the past five years (see Critical Review for additional details). However, in recent years the composition of the committee has shifted from a predominantly engineering group to a more balanced mix of horticulturists and agricultural engineers. Now as the focus begins to shift away from production systems design and toward decision-support for crop systems management and technology transfer, there will be an added emphasis on interdependent research, mufti-site replication, and cooperative database development to achieve future goals.

Objectives

  1. To integrate environmentally acceptable and economically profitable management models (i.e., decision-support systems) into controlled environment systems for plant production.
  2. To enhance commercial greenhouse design, water management, and environmental systems for cool and cloudy climates.

Methods:


Objective l: This objective will have two components; (a) To develop decision-support tools based on plant growth and development models to enhance crop growth control and profitability (CT, MI, NH, PA, NY, NJ), and (b) To develop an integrated information database on CEA plant growth systems to facilitate analysis and to produce a decision-support tool. (NJ, NY, MI, PA, CT, NE, NH).

Oho. la: Systems and decision-support tools will be developed, to control the greenhouse environment based on models that link- plant performance with environmental variables. Examples of systems include an automated misting system, a plant nutrition-based fertigation system (Fynn et. al., 1994), and C02 optimization linked with an environmental computer (Ehler and Karlsen, 1993). Decisionsupport tools include graphical-tracking curves (used to manage plant height) for crops such as Easter Illy (Reins et. al, 1987), poinsettia (Fisher and Reins, 1995), chrysanthemum (Karlsson and Reins, 1994), and Oriental and Asi-florum lilies (Fisher et.al., 1998).

Knowledge-based systems can be used to ensure that recommendations based on the output from models are feasible. Knowledge-based systems of this type, also called expert systems, are computer programs that attempt to capture human problem-solving ability (Stock, 1987). Such knowledgebased systems include the "The Greenhouse CARE System" (Ehler et.al., 1997; Fisher and Reins, 1997; Fisher, et.al, 1997a & b), a program for height-control decision support of poinsettia and Easter Illy. Using plant/environment models for greenhouse control potentially optimizes resource use, minimizes agrichemical applications, and increases crop quality.

Researchers at several states (Mil, NH, NY, NJ) are modeling plant responses to the greenhouse environment. This involves quantifying temperature effects on stem elongation and development rates of potted and cut flowering plants. Work in control and decision support is very integrated with specific Objective 2 goals. For example, researchers (NE, CT, NTH) are working on pH management of specific bedding plants grown in soilless media which can be part of the total plant-environment control package.

Development of decision-support systems based on plant models go beyond traditional environmental control of temperature, light, and relative humidity. UNH FloraTrack (NH), a new software program for greenhouse process control, allows users to graphically track the height of potted plants. Graphical tracking allows growers to compare the actual height of their crop against a target height-curve during development of the crop. Graphical tracking curves have been developed for pinched and single-stem poinsettia, chrysanthemum, Easter Illy, Oriental Illy, Asi-florum lily and geranium. The graphical tracking technique has been so useful to growers that it is now being used in the production of most poinsettias and Easter lilies in the United States. These efforts have been shared among NE-164 members which has enhanced the distribution of knowledge throughout the industry.

Additional decision-support tools will be added to the UNH FIoraTrack program based on input from researchers at other stations. These will include additional height-control curves for flowering potplant and bedding-plant species, monitoring pest levels, predicting flowering variability in crops such as Easter lily, and nutrient test result tracking.

Obj. 1h: The integrated information database on CEA plant growth systems will include information on automation, plant culture, and environmental factors and the database and decision-support tool will be implemented as an interactive WebSite on the Internet. The WebSite will be maintained by NJ but specific informational modules will be developed through collaboration with CT, OH, NY, NK PA.

The plant growth systems database will be developed based on the "Automation-Culture-Environment oriented Systems analysis" (ACE-SYS) concept developed by Ting and Giacomelli (Ting and Giacomelli, 1991; Ting, and Giacomelli, 1992; Ting, 1994). The ACE SYS concept was developed to facilitate structured analyses for plant based engineering systems where a system is defined as "a set of interrelated objects organized to achieve certain goals".

To implement the ACE SYS methodology for analyzing plant growth systems, a communication platform will be constructed on the internet using the World Wide Web technology. The first step of developing ACE_SYS analysis tools is systems abstraction. Object-oriented analysis will be applied for extracting the classes and objects found in the information gathering process which includes face to face discussion sessions with plant growth systems researchers and a real-time information gathering mechanism running on the ACE SYS web site.

All users will access this cyber environment to enter information, view information, execute related programs (i.e. applets), utilize resources, participate in discussion, and conduct systems analysis. The underlying concept of ACE SYS methodology is currently being applied to the New Jersey NASA Specialized Center Of Research and Training (N1 NSCORT) project (http://njnscort.rutgers.edu/acesys) and the details of the techniques are evolving satisfactorily (Chao et al, 1997; Rodriguez et al, 1997; Ting et al, 1997).

Object-oriented programming will be the programming paradigm used to code these software packages. Java (Sun Microsystems, Inc.) is an object-oriented programming language that delivers the most robust and architecture neutral software components in the distributed networked environment. Java applets will be developed for the ACE SYS for its seamless connectivity to the WWW.

Objective 2: This objective will have three components; (1) to develop design and control recommendations for naturally ventilated greenhouses (OH, NY, PA, NJ), (2) to enhance technology transfer and research in artificial lighting (VII, NJ, NY, PA), and (3) to improve greenhouse wastewater treatment through the use of constructed wetlands, or phytoremediation (NE, NJ, NY, PA).

Ohj. 2a: Progressive growers, both lame and small, have a high interest in the relatively new naturally ventilated, double-poly, ,utter connected greenhouses. The greenhouses are very popular since they tend to have uniform temperatures; they allow open doors in summer; they use no fans; and they are extremely pleasant (including quiet) for workers. These greenhouses can greatly improve labor efficiency, especially when compared to growing in numerous quonset style houses.

Cost cutting designs have resulted in numerous grower questions and choices that can have long term negative influences on the effectiveness of naturally ventilated greenhouses. Each vent, for instance, is a significant cost to the total structure (Short & Van Duyne, 1990; Short, 1994; Short and Kacira, 1996; Short et.al., 1997) such that growers and sales people often reduce costs by eliminating an important portion of the ventilation system. While such choices usually violate engineering design recommendations (ASAE, 1997), the consequences are seldom known in terms of air exchange rates and crop production and quality.

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program has been used in OH for studying natural ventilation rates of double-poly, gutter-connected greenhouses (Kacira, 1996; Kacira et al., 1997; Woodruff, 1997). Air exchanges were predicted with the CFD model and compared to an energy balance model. Very good agreement was achieved on sunny days with significant wind. There was generally poor agreement, however, on low wind, cloudy days as the CFD model was mainly influenced by wind speed and the energy balance model was mainly influenced by solar radiation.

A contrasting computer model for natural ventilation in greenhouses has been developed in NY, a model based on the concept of the neutral pressure level and resulting ventilation rates arising from thermal buoyancy and wind effects. The model has a limited background of testing, but appears to be fairly successful in predicting ventilation rates. However, the most severe restriction to using the model for design is to know how winds will generate pressures around the shell of a greenhouse, especially at vent openings.

The CFD work at OH provides a means to develop rules for estimating wind pressure coefficients, and that will be a central focus of this objective. The CFD program will be used to generate wind pressure coefficient predictions for a variety of greenhouse shapes, vent placements, and wind directions. Those results will then be used in the neutral pressure level model to calculate expected ventilation rates.

Finally, the predictions generated by these two approaches to greenhouse natural ventilation (OH and NY) will be compared and contrasted with the goal of identifying where they differ, why they differ, and what can be done to bring the predictions closer. Moreover, designs and resulting natural vilation rates will be evaluated in commercial and research areenhouses in cooperating states, entiprimarily OH and NY. Portable data loggers with temperature, humidity, solar radiation, wind and vent opening sensors will be installed and monitored via modems.

Ultimately, when the subtleties of natural ventilation are better understood, computer-based control programs can be developed to provide more consistent temperature control in naturally ventilated greenhouses, as well as more consistent temperature uniformity through optimized air distribution.

Ohj. 2h: One aspect of the lighting work will be to evaluate effects of local electric utility rate structure variations, for each of the participating states. Hourly weather data from each station will be obtained (for one or more years of weather) and used, along with the local electric utility rate structures, to determine optimum lighting design and control strategies for each participating state, strategies to provide a consistent daily PAR target integral. States will develop a combined data base of electric rates structures and hourly weather data for our respective stations. This will be especially helpful in light of deregulation of the electric industry and will allow growers to compare cost structures among electrical service providers. A thorough study of the interactions of power rates and weather on different lighting control strategies will help in the understanding of real lighting costs. Heating needs, and timing and interactions of heating, ventilation and lighting are other algorithms of importance and will be part of the evaluation.

A second and very important contribution of the group effort on this project will be to select different crops and work toward Developing recommendations (or at least data) for daily light integrals for best growth. For example, NY is accumulating a database on lettuce and spinach response to supplemental lighting, CT is collecting similar data on purslane and watercress, and NJ continues to study tomato. MI will study how the ratio of thermal energy (temperature) and radiant energy (light) (RRT) influences floral crop growth, development, and quality. This information will be developed into a decision-support tool for grower control of the greenhouse temperature and light environment. The emphasis will be on vegetable crops where consistent timing of production and quality is important for marketing advantage.

Ohj. 2c: MI, NE, CT, and OH will continue to determine crop specific nutrient requirements under CEA conditions. MI, OH, NY, and NJ will implement and test nutrient delivery methods to further limit greenhouse wastewater effluent. These activities with all contribute to decision-support for nutrient management as per Obj. 1b. Facility constraints will limit research on phytoremediation using indoor treatment wetlands to PA and NJ.

Data obtained to date (PA) suggest that biological filtration using constructed wetlands is an alternative for treating greenhouse and nursery waste and irrigation water. Both planted and unplanted wetlands can effectively remove organic contaminants, reducing the potential for environmental contamination, chemical carry over from one crop to the next, or development of resistant pathogens from continuous exposure to low-level pesticide residuals (,MacNeal, 1997; Berghage et al., 1998). Although planted systems appear to be more robust, in many cases removing contaminants more quickly, unplanted systems have the advantage of not taking up potentially productive greenhouse space. Provided that differences in effectiveness between planted and unplanted systems can be accommodated in either increased retention time or increased system size, unplanted biofilters may be a better choice. PA research will address this issue along with management options for environmental control for most effective wetland operation. Ideally, treatment wetlands for commercial greenhouse or nursery use should be simple, low cost, and easy to build and maintain.

Waste products from other agricultural enterprises, such as liquid manure from swine operations, can be processed in a greenhouse-based constructed wetland. Thus, the controlled environment housing the wetlands can be optimized to yield more predictable performance than outdoor-based wetlands that have fluctuating performance with the change of seasons. Wastewater nitrate-N, odorous compounds, and organic pesticide removal research is ongoing at three universities while other researchers are

pading quantification of wetland use for heavy metal removal. Processes are similar despite the providing I "D differences in wetland plants and wastewater composition so that more collaborative effort is desirable.

EXPECTED OUTCOME Obj.la: The outcome of this objective will be decision-support tools usable by commercial greenhouse ;rowers that will increase their ability to produce high-quality crops to market specification. These tools will assist growers with height-control, temperature/timing, pest control, and nutrient-control decisions. These tools will improve crop quality, increase grower profitability, and help eliminate overapplication of pesticides and fertilizers.

ON. Ib: The deliverables-of ACE-SYS are a set of plant growth systems analysis tools running on an open information superhighway. Another major result of this study, will be the quantification of the effects of key factors affecting the performance of plant growth systems. This information will be valuable in helping plant growth system managers make decisions on whether and how to take advantage of available technologies; especially when the proper integration of automation, culture, and environment factors may become beneficial.

The data used in this project will be mainly contributed by NE-164 collaborators. The result will be carefully reviewed by the NE-164 collaborators and other experts in the particular fields. While it is extremely important to have up-to-date, accurate databases (informational modules), the emphasis is in the structure of databases in a technical sense. Efforts will be devoted to determining the key systems parameters and the compatibility among them. Therefore, a significant product of this research will be a methodology of interpreting information on automation, culture, and environment to facilitate the integration of plant growth systems. The successful completion of this proposed work will demonstrate an innovative and effective method for information integration, as well as deliver a powerful systems analysis tool and useful guidelines for plant production industry.

Obj. 2a: Outcomes will include;

 Design and control algorithms for natural ventilation.

 A natural ventilation module for the ACE_SYS database.

 Results of this work will also be disseminated at grower meetings, through newsletter publication, and in technical journal articles.

Obj. 2b: Outcomes will include-

 Electrical cost analysis for lighting control strategies under various climatic (weather) conditions.

 Crop recommendations for light levels and daily integrals for desirable growth.

Efficient use of lighting is critical. Each species of plant has different light requirements (photoperiod, intensity and daily integral) which must be quantified for successful production. Greenhouses use `free' natural light and can be supplemented with artificial light when needed. The cost of electric power varies during the day providing motivation to use the cheapest power. Computer programs may be used to measure and apply the correct amount of light at the correct time to supplement natural light which varies from day to day. A new light standard is proposed using the daily integral not intensity. This is a new concept for CEA and offers a more meaningful value of light usefulness for plant growth. Crops at different research stations can be described by the integral method and results brought together through this project.

Obj. 2c: Outcomes will include;

 Crop specific nutrient requirements and effective delivery methods.

 Greenhouse wastewater cleaning recommendations: design and operation.

 Criteria for enhanced use of CEA for constructed wetlands in mitigating other agricultural and light industrial wastes, including swine waste for odor and nutrient reduction, organic pesticides, and heavy metals

Wastewater from greenhouse runoff or from other agricultural sources can be remediated by a wetland plant and microbiological system. The construction of a bioremediation system in the greenhouse allows the system to be environmentally controlled and, therefore, used year round.

More research is needed on constructed wetland biological filters to verify their effectiveness with a variety of greenhouse chemicals and other agricultural and industrial wastes. Removal rates for target chemicals in planted and unplanted treatment wetlands are needed to determine design criteria to achieve desired treatment results. This will allow potential users to better compare costs and benefits associated with using planted or unplanted constructed wetland biofilters to clean irrigation and waste water.

Measurement of Progress and Results:

Outputs:
Outcomes or projected Impacts:
Milestones:

(1999): Plant growth models assembled Energy/power cost analyses completed

(2000): Additional plant growth models completed by project Graphical plant growth tracking curves completed Experts information gathered (face-to-face interviews) and summarized Air exchange models completed and verified in commercial and research greenhouses

(2001): Components of decision support systems completed Automated misting system Fertigation system for nutrients Nutrient test result tracking Computer-based ventilation control systems perfected Pest monitoring systems Flowering variability predictors CO2 optimization linked to computer-mediated environmental monitors Component of integrated information database on CEA plant growth assembled Communications platform constructed Web site initiated Decision support system for greenhouse temperature and light environment.

(2002): Decision support tools integrated and tested Integrated database on CEA plant growth systems completed

(2003): Models of crop growth and profitability verified Biofilter options evaluated and reported Collaboration with extension specialists completed for technology transfer

Projected Participation:

Include a completed Appendix E form

Outreach Plan:

Organization and Governance:

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Literature Cited:

Attachments:

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Internal Linkages:

External Linkages:

Signatures:


s:/Thomas Fretz

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