Elevating Carbon Dioxide in a Commercial Greenhouse Reduced Overall Fuel Carbon Consumption and Production Cost When Used in Combination with Cool Temperatures for Lettuce Production

Abstract

Greenhouses that are well sealed can result in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) drawdown and suppressed plant growth. While growers can add supplemental CO 2 , it is unknown how supplemental CO 2 fits within the framework of sustainable crop production in greenhouses. In this study, supplemental CO 2 was used in combination with reduced temperatures to evaluate the productivity of 'Grand Rapids' lettuce (Latuca sativa) compared with a traditionally maintained, warmer, and wellinsulated greenhouse without supplemental CO 2 at a commercial facility. Simulations using Virtual Grower software based on identical greenhouses compared fuel use and carbon (C) consumed because of heating and CO 2 supplementation. Models were verified with measurements in a well-sealed commercial greenhouse; CO 2 quickly decreased to below 300 ppm in a nonsupplemented greenhouse containing plants. Supplemental CO 2 boosted total leaf number and mass of lettuce even though temperatures were maintained 3°F lower in elevated CO 2 than in the traditional management scenario. Maintaining a cooler greenhouse but adding CO 2 decreased total carbon (C) consumed (by combined fuel use and CO 2 supplementation) by 7% during the 3-month season that required a well-sealed greenhouse. Additionally, fuel savings because of lower temperature set points paid for the cost of adding CO 2 . The use of CO 2 enrichment should be considered as a tool in sustainable systems when its use can counteract the plant growth and development reductions brought on by lowered temperatures.

Gases in Food Production and Monitoring: Recent Advances in Target Chemiresistive Gas Sensors

“…It was found that the growth rate can be increased by increasing the level of CO 2 in the greenhouse. Thus, CO 2 with a level of 200 to 1500 ppm ensures an increase in the yield in terms of the weight and number of crops [33][34][35][36]. It also supports faster growth, earlier harvest, stronger stems, better flower color quality, and healthy growth with disease resistance.…”

“…The concentration levels of CO 2 are maintained at between 200 and 1500 ppm by CO 2 injection systems to optimize the growing conditions. If the level exceeds a concentration of 1500 ppm, it obstructs the productivity of the crops [33][34][35][36]. Thus, a sensing material should be sensitive of these CO 2 levels to be suitable for this application.…”

Greenhouse Carbon Dioxide Supplementation with Irrigation and Fertilization Management of Geranium and Fountain Grass

“…Therefore, air CO 2 concentration is reported to be an imperative climate variable in greenhouse production with its great effect on plant photosynthetic assimilation (S anchez-Guerrero et al, 2005). Although the CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere is reported to be increasing at a rapid rate of 2 ppm or more addition each year (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Administation, 2017), the scenario for CO 2 concentration in a greenhouse environment is the opposite due to reduced air exchange rates and uptake of plants (Frantz, 2011;Hughes and Bazzaz, 2001). In low-cost greenhouses, CO 2 supply is reported to be lower than that in ambient conditions due to poor ventilation systems (Slack and Hand, 1985).…”

Quantifying temperature effects in controlled environment agriculture leafy greens and culinary herbs

“…Achieving greater fresh mass and lower heating costs in the winter production months requires accurate temperature response models, considering that the savings realized from even a 1 °F reduction in temperature translates to ≈ 3% savings in heating (Frantz, 2011). Less overall heating and more efficient operation of heating infrastructure will result in lower consumption of fossil fuels.…”