ARS | Publication request: Response to Temperature and Light

Submitted to: Greenhouse Grower Magazine
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 28, 2007
Publication Date: January 1, 2008
Repository URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10113/36340
Citation: Blanchard, M., Runkle, E., Frantz, J. 2008. Response to Temperature and Light. Greenhouse Grower Magazine.

Technical Abstract: Temperature and light are the two environmental factors that primarily influence production time and quality of both young and finish plants. Knowledge of how crops respond to changes in temperature and light can help growers predict crop timing in a variety of greenhouse environments. One of the questions we’ve been addressing is whether less energy is consumed for heating when growing crops cool but for a longer period of time, compared to growing crops relatively warm but in a shorter period of time. To answer this question, we first need to quantify how plants develop in response to temperature and light. We can then estimate the growing conditions in which the least amount of energy is consumed on a per-crop basis. This information will be integrated into Virtual Grower, computer software developed by USDA-ARS. The identification of energy-efficient production temperatures and optimal lighting conditions for each species will make it possible to group species with similar environmental responses and heating requirements. This information will help the greenhouse industry by enabling greenhouse crop production to be more energy efficient.