J. Gale, R. Kopel and A. Mosly
The Blaustein Institute for Desert Research
The Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
84990, Israel

Keywords: Controlled radiation; carbon dioxide; humidity; disease control

Abstract. Separation of photosynthetic from near-infra-red wavelengths of the incident solar spectrum has many advantages for advanced well controlled greenhouses. These include closure and CO₂ fertilization during most hours of the day, even in warm sunny climates, prevention of disease-inducing leaf humidity at night, reduction of insect infiltration and savings in fossil fuel heating. LRFGs may make particularly efficient use of low quality heat (“junk heat” > 105^oF) for winter heating and cold (< 65^oF) water for summer cooling, if available. Experience to date with pilot LRFGs, consistently resulted in very high yields of high quality crops (mainly ornamentals, but some vegetables) with low incidence of leaf disease and insects.

Practical problems which must be overcome are: to produce a robust system with low leakage; automated control of operation; selection of crops which can take the greatest advantage of the LRFG conditions and cultivation systems which will economically justify the extra costs involved.

These latter practical problems have now been solved. Solutions will be described. Economic analysis suggests that the return on the investment should be much higher than for conventional greenhouses.

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