Micrometeorological Principles of Protected Cultivation

Abstract

Protected cultivation is a broad term commonly used among producers of specialty crops. Techniques can range from complex fixed structures to field site selection, to straightforward cultural practices in the field. This introduction to the ASHS workshop "Protected cultivation for fruit crops" considers techniques of protected cultivation in the broad sense. The text presents the physical principles associated with protected cultivation, namely heat transfer to and from the crop as expressed by the surface energy balance concept. Common terminology is introduced with respect to spatial and temporal scales. The four modes of heat transfer are discussed via the energy balance equation: radiation, convection, conduction, and latent heat fluxes. Illustrative examples of current practices in protected cultivation are provided in the context of the aforementioned physical principles.