Growing in sccured quarters enables out of season production. Such production of vegetables has several advantages to growing outdoors. In secured quarters we have the possibility to control environmental parameters and adapt them. We can change lighting, temperature, humidity and CO2 levels. In my thesis I have shown what is the quality of produce and how environmental factors impact it. I the last years we can see a growing interest of consumers regarding the quality of vegetable products. Artificially generated conditions in secured quarters are the ones that give the produce a different taste in comparison to produce, grown outside The lack of light causes a reduced quality or produce, which can present itself as deformity of parts, lower yields, smaller fruits, unequal coloring of fruits, accumulation of nitrates in plant tissues etc. With added light the photosynthesis, growth and development improve. High air temperatures lead to improved growth of plants. Lower temperatures impact growth, development and fruit quality. They impact the shape, smell and juiciness of fruits. Apart from lighting and temperature, quality of air is also impacted by humidity and CO2 levels. Air humidity mostly impacts the quality of tomatoes, while it does not have significant impact on other vegetables. One of the goals of production in enclosed spaces is increasing production and the window of production of each specific vegetable, leading to improved competitiveness in the market. To increase production it is possible to enrich enclosed spaces with CO2. It has been shown that CO2 has a positive impact on the quality of vegetables: it increases the amount of produce produced, number of leaves and the height of the plant.
|