There are many greenhouses and there are different classifications based on very diverse parameters to be able to catalog them. Thus, it is possible to find classifications that group them according to factors such as the thermal regime, the external profile of the structures, the size or type of material used in the construction, and so on. In this article, we are going to discover what types of greenhouses are and, also, we will tell you what this structure is meant for agriculture and that, increasingly, is also part of our food reality.
What are
greenhouses?
Within the structures used in
horticulture to protect crops, the most used are greenhouses. Generally a
greenhouse was understood as a place to store plants during the winter and, thus,
protect them from the low temperatures that occur in cold weather.
At present, this greenhouse concept has been overtaken by
circumstances, since greenhouses are now being built and used in quite
different environments for which they were conceived, such as the tropics with
quite warm environments.
The design of a greenhouse depends on
many factors. Therefore, in the current context, a greenhouse is defined as an
agricultural construction with a translucent cover in which it is possible to reproduce
or simulate the most suitable climatic conditions for the growth and
development of the crops established in its interior with relative independence
of the outside medium.
The main purpose of a greenhouse is
to protect plants from factors adverse to their development, such as: high and
low temperatures, heavy rains, hail, winds, etc. The technological development
of greenhouses has contributed greatly to achieve higher yields per unit area,
promoting intensive agriculture and precision. To this end, a large number of
mechanisms and equipment necessary for the optimal control of the environment
have been implemented, but we will talk about this later.
In this other article we tell you how to choose a good
greenhouse.
How is the
structure of a greenhouse?
The structure or framework is one of the
main elements of a greenhouse, since it is where most parts of the structure of
a greenhouse are supported. The structures are classified into two large
groups: rigid structures and aerodynamic structures. The rigid structures are
designed based on straight lines which makes the greenhouse more resistant to
air currents. Instead, the aerodynamic structures have curved roofs and walls
that allow them to more effectively dislodge the winds that hit them. The
structure is usually built with support posts that are called struts, columns
or pillars and these are the pieces that receive most of the load represented
by the roof and the greenhouse mechanization or automation devices. In
addition, we must take into account the overload that environmental factors on
the structure will create, such as winds and precipitation, so that we are sure
that the columns will hold and the greenhouse will not collapse.
Other elements of importance to part of
the props are the pieces that support the roof which, in general, are
arc-shaped in greenhouses of curved lines or triangles in those of straight
lines, although this is not always the case. These pieces are joined at the top
with others known as stringers or belts, which can be the same material as the
struts or one lighter or thinner. You have to be very careful that the
stringers do not have edges because they could cut the plastic and you would
have to replace it with a new one.
Types of
greenhouses
Knowing the types of greenhouses allows
us to characterize and describe the elements of a set, with the purpose of
grouping its components into different categories or groups to facilitate its
study or analysis with different objectives. A classification also serves as a
point of reference to know what models exist in the market and what their
characteristics are, so that it is relatively simple to choose the one that
suits our needs; in this case, the most appropriate greenhouse to produce.
Generally, all greenhouse design can be classified in some category. Next we
will mention which are the most common greenhouse classifications:
· By
size For the layout or location of structures
· By
the external shape or profile For the construction material
· By night thermal regime Per lifetime
· By
characteristics of environmental control
· By
social orientation
· By
technological levels
