Root Zone Heating Optimization in Ornamental Plant Production

Cultivation of horticultural crops in protected environments can greatly increase the productivity of agricultural soil by accelerating and thus shortening the life cycle of many species. A technique commonly used in greenhouse management is the root zone heating of seeds, cuttings, transplanted seedlings and plants. One of the major problems with this technique is the significant reduction of water temperature along the pipeline, especially in the terminal portion, where it arrives after yielding heat to the ground, and the tube fails to warm the cultivation substrate homogeneously. A research was conducted in order to test the ability of an innovative root zone heating system, characterized by the presence of coaxial pipes, to heat homogeneously potted plants placed on benches, in comparison with the traditional system. The trials, carried out during winter 2008-2009, showed that the new heating system resulted in a much higher uniformity of temperature than the traditional one. The goal achieved is even more interesting considering that the innovative system also showed a lower energy consumption compared to the traditional system. Future developments of this research include the verification of the innovation system in the cooling function during summer.