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P. Samaranayake et al.
(ii) determine relationships between energy consumption, crop yield and climate
conditions, as the basis for improving current sustainable practices in protected
cropping of the selected produce in Australian context.
23.2 Research Methodology
The methodology adopted for this research is a mixed method of analytical approach
and a case study. Analytical approach involves modelling of energy consumption of
protected crop production. The energy consumption is evaluated as part of optimising
the overall crop production using a case study of selected facility. In this case, analysis
is aimed at optimising the energy consumption, subject to environment conditions
over the selected crop and cycle time. This is evaluated using data from the facility
over one cycle of capsicum production. The analytical approach forms the basis for
simulating the crop production cycle as a baseline model, which can be later extended
to incorporate what-if scenarios within the broader research project. Thus, key steps
include:
1. calculate daily energy consumption during the crop cycle, identifying various key
statistics (e.g. peak energy consumption period/s, average energy consumption,
etc.), and
2. analyse (both quantitative and qualitative) energy consumption and yield data
using key variables, in particular specific temperature ranges.
23.3 Data Collection, Results and Analysis
The analytical approach adopted in this research is illustrated using a complete cycle
of protected crop production of the facility selected for this research. Data collection,
including data collection methods and analysis of data associated with each step are
presented under each of the following steps.
Step 1: Identification of protected crop category and key parameters of the crop
production
Capsicum plants were grown in the high-tech greenhouse facility at Western Sydney
University. The experimental trial was conducted from 23 August 2017 to 4 May
2018, with 3 Capsicum varieties from Syngenta—Waltz (red, 4 rows), Giallo (yellow,
3 rows) and 6412 (orange, 1 row). Plants were grown in Grotop Expert rockwool
slabs (100 cm L × 20 cm W × 7.5 cm H), with 4 plants/slab, 3 stems/plant. The
greenhouse facility used for capsicum crop comprises of 8 rows/gutters, where each
gutter has 32 slabs (except for the last gutter with 31 slabs), making a total of 255
slabs. Pest and disease management was executed by Integrated Pest Management,
mainly using biological control agents. Fruit was harvested weekly and the total
weight from each row and number of fruit were recorded. Data were calculated and
the yield was expressed in kg/day or kg/m
2 per year.
P. Samaranayake et al.
(ii) determine relationships between energy consumption, crop yield and climate
conditions, as the basis for improving current sustainable practices in protected
cropping of the selected produce in Australian context.
23.2 Research Methodology
The methodology adopted for this research is a mixed method of analytical approach
and a case study. Analytical approach involves modelling of energy consumption of
protected crop production. The energy consumption is evaluated as part of optimising
the overall crop production using a case study of selected facility. In this case, analysis
is aimed at optimising the energy consumption, subject to environment conditions
over the selected crop and cycle time. This is evaluated using data from the facility
over one cycle of capsicum production. The analytical approach forms the basis for
simulating the crop production cycle as a baseline model, which can be later extended
to incorporate what-if scenarios within the broader research project. Thus, key steps
include:
1. calculate daily energy consumption during the crop cycle, identifying various key
statistics (e.g. peak energy consumption period/s, average energy consumption,
etc.), and
2. analyse (both quantitative and qualitative) energy consumption and yield data
using key variables, in particular specific temperature ranges.
23.3 Data Collection, Results and Analysis
The analytical approach adopted in this research is illustrated using a complete cycle
of protected crop production of the facility selected for this research. Data collection,
including data collection methods and analysis of data associated with each step are
presented under each of the following steps.
Step 1: Identification of protected crop category and key parameters of the crop
production
Capsicum plants were grown in the high-tech greenhouse facility at Western Sydney
University. The experimental trial was conducted from 23 August 2017 to 4 May
2018, with 3 Capsicum varieties from Syngenta—Waltz (red, 4 rows), Giallo (yellow,
3 rows) and 6412 (orange, 1 row). Plants were grown in Grotop Expert rockwool
slabs (100 cm L × 20 cm W × 7.5 cm H), with 4 plants/slab, 3 stems/plant. The
greenhouse facility used for capsicum crop comprises of 8 rows/gutters, where each
gutter has 32 slabs (except for the last gutter with 31 slabs), making a total of 255
slabs. Pest and disease management was executed by Integrated Pest Management,
mainly using biological control agents. Fruit was harvested weekly and the total
weight from each row and number of fruit were recorded. Data were calculated and
the yield was expressed in kg/day or kg/m
2 per year.