Dynamic assessment of whitewash shading and evaporative cooling on the greenhouse microclimate and cucumber growth in a mediterranean climate

Abstract

An experiment with a soilless cucumber crop (cv. Phenomeno) was conducted in order to evaluate the influence of two different cooling systems (i.e., whitewash as opposed to fan-wetted pad evaporative) on the greenhouse microclimate and on plant growth under high 0.32 mm and low 0.24 mm irrigation dose treatments. The results revealed that the transpiration rate was higher in the whitewash compartment, which resulted in less outflow of nutrient solution into the environment. In regards to the total greenhouse water use efficiency, no differences were obtained between the two different cooling systems, taking into account the amount of water used by the evaporative system per se. Irrigation doses tested did not significantly affect crop production. According to the results obtained, whitewash shading proved to maintain greenhouse cucumber growth and production throughout the spring cropping period in comparison with the use of an evaporative cooling system. © 2018, Patron Editore S.r.l.. All rights reserved.