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Sustainable Greenhouse Production Strategies to Mitigate Product Carbon Footprint
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Sustainable Greenhouse Production Strategies to Mitigate Product Carbon Footprint

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 17553

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Georgios Ntinas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-Dimitra, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: net-zero energy greenhouse; plant factories; controlled environment production; energy use efficiency; renewable energy technologies; microclimate; product carbon footprint
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Dennis Dannehl

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division Biosystems Engineering, Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Interests: ccontrolled environment horticulture; horticultural engineering; monitoring and evaluation of the vegetative and reproductive growth of crops; influence of pre- and post-harvest conditions on fruit quality; stress physiology; chemical analysis as a tool of fruit quality management; water and energy management in greenhouses depending on plant responses; material cycles in greenhouses; influence of different supplementary light systems on the phenotype of different plants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Food production and consumption has a significant environmental impact and the current consensus is that we must move towards more sustainable practices. In this context, greenhouse gas emissions associated with greenhouse production strategies is a central issue in many countries. It is also necessary to adopt strategies capable of achieving the objectives set by the UN Sustainable Development Goals such as affordable and clean energy, climate action or the extinction of hunger and poverty.

The increase of resource use efficiency (IRUE) in terms of energy, water, nutrients and growing media use provides strategies to maximize production while taking measures against climate change. IRUE can provide technological solutions in greenhouses that constitute an alternative for a world that is increasingly under stress through population growth, urbanization, energy and water shortages, land and soil degradation, environmental pollution, and climate change. Renewable Energy Sources (RES) fit in this context, proving to be a useful tool for sustainable greenhouses. In addition, there is consumer concern about the negative environmental impact and the production of high-quality products through greenhouse production, which can be countered by more environmentally friendly production strategies. The carbon footprint regarding the production of plant products is an effective tool to compare the environmentally friendly production of plant goods and to strengthen the environmentally conscious purchasing tendencies of the consumer.

Currently, the knowledge concerning utilization of sustainable greenhouse production strategies and product carbon footprint is increasing. Still, many key points must be studied in depth regarding the sustainable use and reuse of energy, water, nutrients and growing media under different greenhouse types and locations around the world. To date, limited reports exist on intensive, year-round operating greenhouses combined with energy and water recovery, nutrient conservation, the energy productivity and sustainability of different RES types and systems, and the use of environmentally friendly growing media in hydroponics. In this context, the production of the materials for the greenhouse infrastructure, the production of nutrients and growing media, as well as the energy demand of greenhouses in general and of artificial lighting and RES, can cause considerable emissions. Consequently, there is an urgent need to provide engineering solutions, tools, and technologies that support the strategic design, tactical planning, and operational control of greenhouses, as well as their sustainability.

Based on these challenges, this Special Issue is welcoming original research papers, short communications, and review articles that provide insight into all topics related to sustainable greenhouse production strategies and their environmental impact in terms of greenhouse cultivation with horticultural and medicinal plants systems. The focus is on the environmental, technological, agronomical, and nutritional issues involved in meeting the high demands of consumers for fresh food characterized by high yield, high quality, and low carbon footprint. Some perspectives on economic sustainability are also encouraged.

Dr. Georgios Ntinas
Dr. Dennis Dannehl
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • renewable energy
  • net-zero energy greenhouses
  • smart greenhouses
  • environmental impact
  • sustainable greenhouse production
  • life cycle assessment (LCA)
  • greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs)
  • resource use efficiency (RUE)
  • energy use efficiency (EUE)
  • water use efficiency (WUE)
  • nutrient use efficiency (NUE)
  • sustainable growing media
  • sustainable artificial lighting
  • CO2-footprint (CF)
  • PV solar panels
  • hybrid and organic PVs
  • semitransparent photovoltaic films
  • dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC)
  • geothermal energy
  • biomass energy
  • net metering (virtual)
  • indoor farming
  • plant factories
  • microgreens
  • edible flowers

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 13708 KiB  
Communication
Development of LCA-Multidimensional Map (LAMP): A Platform to Support Information Sharing and Formulate CO2-Level-Reduction Plans toward Zero Emissions
by Shoko Hikosaka, Eri Hayashi, Akimasa Nakano, Mieko Kasai, Toshitaka Yamaguchi and Toyoki Kozai
Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 16066; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152216066 - 17 Nov 2023
Viewed by 812
Abstract
We propose a platform called “LCA-Multidimensional Map (LAMP)” to support companies and individuals aiming for CO2 zero emissions (CZEs) by efficiently conducting life cycle assessments (LCAs) of their products and activities, collecting information necessary for CZEs, and developing CO2 reduction plans. [...] Read more.
We propose a platform called “LCA-Multidimensional Map (LAMP)” to support companies and individuals aiming for CO2 zero emissions (CZEs) by efficiently conducting life cycle assessments (LCAs) of their products and activities, collecting information necessary for CZEs, and developing CO2 reduction plans. LAMP is a multidimensional platform that supports the development of CZEs targets in cyberspace without temporal or spatial constraints. Using this software, LCAs can be conducted using existing database groups constructed in two and three dimensions in various sectors as well as data groups with temporal information, such as evolving and continuous records, and spatial information in a cross-sectional manner. Furthermore, based on the LCA results, CO2-emission-reduction plans can be formulated (extraction of alternatives), and their effectiveness can be confirmed through LCA again. As an example of how to use LAMP, we introduce the characteristics of LCA in horticulture, the second-largest source of CO2 emissions after livestock in the agricultural sector, along with examples of alternative plans for greenhouses, collaboration plans with other sectors, and basic methods for promoting CZEs in horticulture. Although this concept needs to be tested and validated in the future, it might encourage individuals or companies to cooperate in LAMP development or inspire them to advocate for more progressive ideas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Greenhouse Production Strategies to Mitigate Product Carbon Footprint)
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14 pages, 1700 KiB  
Article
Energy Use Efficiency and Carbon Footprint of Greenhouse Hydroponic Cultivation Using Public Grid and PVs as Energy Providers
by Georgios Liantas, Ioanna Chatzigeorgiou, Maria Ravani, Athanasios Koukounaras and Georgios K. Ntinas
Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1024; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021024 - 5 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2175
Abstract
As the greenhouse cultivation industry considers new ways to reduce energy demand and increase sustainable production, the global energy crisis constitutes a major issue. In this paper, two different energy sources for heating and cooling the root zone area of baby leafy vegetables [...] Read more.
As the greenhouse cultivation industry considers new ways to reduce energy demand and increase sustainable production, the global energy crisis constitutes a major issue. In this paper, two different energy sources for heating and cooling the root zone area of baby leafy vegetables grown in hydroponic tanks by resistors and chillers, respectively, were compared in order to fully cover power demand. The energy needs in the first case were met by the public electricity grid, while in the second case, the energy needs were covered by a photovoltaic system. The greenhouse was equipped with photovoltaic panels, an inverter, a charge controller and a storage system. The target-value of the root zone temperature was 22 °C. Data on solar radiation, root zone temperature, air temperature and humidity from the indoor and outdoor space of the greenhouse were recorded, and the energy production and carbon footprint for different seasons of the year were evaluated along with the crop yield. The results showed that the energy provided by solar panels was able to cover 58.0%, 83.3% and 9.6% of the energy for heating or cooling the root zone area during the spring, summer and winter periods, respectively. Regarding the carbon footprint of the energy used between the two systems, the system with the PV had a substantially lower value, which was calculated at 1.6 kg CO2-eq kg−1, compared to 49.9 kg CO2-eq kg−1 for the system with PPG for the whole year. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Greenhouse Production Strategies to Mitigate Product Carbon Footprint)
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14 pages, 690 KiB  
Article
Saving CO2 Emissions by Reusing Organic Growing Media from Hydroponic Tomato Production as a Source of Nutrients to Produce Ethiopian Kale (Brassica carinata)
by Adrian Vollmer, Christoph-Martin Geilfus, Annika Nerlich and Dennis Dannehl
Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11263; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811263 - 8 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1330
Abstract
Large quantities of growing media residues that are rich in nutrients are disposed of after their use in hydroponics. The objective of this study was to investigate the benefits of different organic growing media (wood fibers, hemp fibers, sphagnum moss) residues from hydroponic [...] Read more.
Large quantities of growing media residues that are rich in nutrients are disposed of after their use in hydroponics. The objective of this study was to investigate the benefits of different organic growing media (wood fibers, hemp fibers, sphagnum moss) residues from hydroponic tomato production as a nutrient source to produce Ethiopian kale. The amount of nutrients that can be reused as fertilizer and the associated CO2 savings have been calculated. Kale was cultivated in sand-residue mixtures, either with 25 or 50 vol% of the mentioned growing media residues. Control treatments with sand with or without nutrient addition were cultivated too. The incorporation of all growing media residues to sand increased the field capacity and growth. Plants that were supplemented with hemp fiber residues showed the strongest growth and highest yields. However, the hemp fiber residues that are used are not suitable for use in the open field due to its excessive content of certain nutrients, which restrict the output quantity. Regarding the fertilization effect of growing media residues, it was calculated that 11–300 kg nutrients ha−1 (N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S), with an average primary energy demand of 90–3435 MJ and 6–317 kg CO2 eq, could potentially be saved when different crops were considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Greenhouse Production Strategies to Mitigate Product Carbon Footprint)
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15 pages, 2524 KiB  
Article
Hydroponic Cultivation of Vine Leaves with Reduced Carbon Footprint in a Mediterranean Greenhouse
by Ioanna Chatzigeorgiou, Georgios Liantas, Petros Spanos, Vasiliki Gkriniari, Eleni Maloupa and Georgios K. Ntinas
Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 8011; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14138011 - 30 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2111
Abstract
Vine leaves are considered a delicacy food however they are only produced as a byproduct for a short harvest period due to grape cultivation practices and numerous chemical applications. In this work, vine plants were cultivated hydroponically in a greenhouse, to extend the [...] Read more.
Vine leaves are considered a delicacy food however they are only produced as a byproduct for a short harvest period due to grape cultivation practices and numerous chemical applications. In this work, vine plants were cultivated hydroponically in a greenhouse, to extend the cultivation period and along with high plant density, maximize fresh leaves yield. Four different substrates were tested—Perlite, Perlite-Attapulgite, Perlite-Zeolite, 1.7Perlite-higher density planting—with soil treatment as a control, and the experimental cultivation lasted a total of about seven months in the year 2021. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics such as leaves number and weight, color of leaves, nitrates, photosynthetic parameters, total phenols, and plant nutrient concentrations were assessed, while the product’s environmental impact was calculated. The 1.7Perlite treatment produced a 1.6–2.0 times higher number of leaves per hectare than the other hydroponic treatments and 8.7 times higher than the soil treatment, while no statistically significant differences were found regarding qualitative characteristics. Consequently, the 1.7P treatment resulted in a 1.4 to 7.6 times lower product carbon footprint compared to the other treatments. In future research, substrates water and nutrient retention will be further studied along with year-round production in a heated greenhouse with full climate control so that plants are kept evergreen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Greenhouse Production Strategies to Mitigate Product Carbon Footprint)
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11 pages, 1249 KiB  
Article
LED versus HPS Lighting: Effects on Water and Energy Consumption and Yield Quality in Lettuce Greenhouse Production
by Dennis Dannehl, Thomas Schwend, Daniel Veit and Uwe Schmidt
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8651; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158651 - 3 Aug 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3832
Abstract
High-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting is increasingly replaced by LED lighting in lettuce greenhouse cultivation. In contrast to HPS lighting, LEDs do not heat radiation. Therefore, the leaf temperature is significantly lower under LEDs. This raises the question of whether LED lighting has a [...] Read more.
High-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting is increasingly replaced by LED lighting in lettuce greenhouse cultivation. In contrast to HPS lighting, LEDs do not heat radiation. Therefore, the leaf temperature is significantly lower under LEDs. This raises the question of whether LED lighting has a positive impact on the reduction in water consumption during lettuce production. In this paper, we investigated this question and found that the water consumption of lettuce produced under LEDs was significantly lower (−15%) than under HPS without loss of yield. We also found that supplementary lighting increases the concentrations of caffeoylquinic acid, dicaffeoyltartaric acid, dicaffeoylquinic acid and that of the total phenolic compounds in lettuce leaves by 61%, 39%, 163% and 38%, respectively. Only the LED fixture was also efficient enough to increase the concentration of caffeoyltartaric acid (+24%). Most of the phenolic compounds showed a very strong positive correlation with the chlorophyll concentration in lettuce, which predominated in the leaves exposed to the LED lighting. Based on these facts, we conclude that by optimizing the light composition, more sustainable plant production, higher concentrations of chlorophyll and some phenolic compounds are possible. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Greenhouse Production Strategies to Mitigate Product Carbon Footprint)
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13 pages, 5056 KiB  
Article
Computational Fluid Dynamics Modelling of the Microclimate within the Boundary Layer of Leaves Leading to Improved Pest Control Management and Low-Input Greenhouse
by Hicham Fatnassi, Thierry Boulard, Christine Poncet, Nikolaos Katsoulas, Thomas Bartzanas, Murat Kacira, Habtamu Giday and In-Bok Lee
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8310; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158310 - 26 Jul 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2357
Abstract
This work aims at using the Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) approach to study the distributed microclimate in the leaf boundary layer of greenhouse crops. Understanding the interactions in this microclimate of this natural habitat of plant pests (i.e., boundary layer of leaves), is [...] Read more.
This work aims at using the Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) approach to study the distributed microclimate in the leaf boundary layer of greenhouse crops. Understanding the interactions in this microclimate of this natural habitat of plant pests (i.e., boundary layer of leaves), is a prerequisite for their control through targeted climate management for sustainable greenhouse production. The temperature and humidity simulations, inside the greenhouse, were performed using CFD code which has been adapted to simulate the plant activity within each mesh in the crop canopy. The air temperature and air humidity profiles within the boundary layer of leaves were deduced from the local surrounding climate parameters, based on an analytical approach, encapsulated in a Used Defined Function (UDF), and dynamically linked to the CFD solver, a work that forms an innovative and original task. Thus, this model represents a new approach to investigate the microclimate in the boundary layer of leaves under greenhouses, which resolves the issue of the inaccessibility of this area by the conventionnel measurement tools. The findings clearly showed that (i) contrarily to what might be expected, the microclimate parameters within the boundary layer of leaves are different from the surrounding climate in the greenhouse. This is particularly visible during photoperiods when the plant’s transpiration activity is at its maximum and that (ii) the climatic parameters in the leaf boundary layer are more coupled with leaf surfaces than with those of greenhouse air. These results can help developing localized intervention strategies on the microclimate within boundary layer of plant leaves, leading to improved and sustainable pest control management. The developed climatic strategies will make it possible to optimize resources use efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Greenhouse Production Strategies to Mitigate Product Carbon Footprint)
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22 pages, 23342 KiB  
Article
Contribution to the Sustainability of Agricultural Production in Greenhouses Built on Slope Soils: A Numerical Study of the Microclimatic Behavior of a Typical Colombian Structure
by Edwin Villagran, Carlos Bojacá and Mohammad Akrami
Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4748; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094748 - 23 Apr 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2619
Abstract
The use of covered structures is an alternative increasingly used by farmers to increase crop yields per unit area compared to open field production. In Latin American countries such as Colombia, productive areas are located in with predominantly hillside soil conditions. In the [...] Read more.
The use of covered structures is an alternative increasingly used by farmers to increase crop yields per unit area compared to open field production. In Latin American countries such as Colombia, productive areas are located in with predominantly hillside soil conditions. In the last two decades, farmers have introduced cover structures adapted to these soil conditions, structures for which the behavior of factors that directly affect plant growth and development, such as microclimate, are still unknown. Therefore, in this research work, a CFD-3D model successfully validated with experimental data of temperature and air velocity was implemented. The numerical model was used to determine the behavior of air flow patterns and temperature distribution inside a Colombian passive greenhouse during daytime hours. The results showed that the slope of the terrain affects the behavior of the air flow patterns, generating thermal gradients inside the greenhouse with values between 1.26 and 16.93 °C for the hours evaluated. It was also found that the highest indoor temperature values at the same time were located in the highest region of the terrain. Based on the results of this study, future researches on how to optimize the microclimatic conditions of this type of sustainable productive system can be carried out. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Greenhouse Production Strategies to Mitigate Product Carbon Footprint)
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