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Hohenstein develops heating textiles for plant cultivation
12 Aug '14
4 min read
and Agriculture put the heating textiles into use in various experimental greenhouses. Alongside the functional analysis of germination behavior and plant growth, the main focus of these practical tests was on possible negative influences, e.g. from plant fertilisers used in so-called ebb-and-flow hydroponics systems. In this kind of modern irrigation system in the greenhouse, the nutrient solution floods the containers on the benches and is then released again when the plants have absorbed sufficient fluid. During the first trials, the researchers had problems with salt deposits and corrosion of the heating textiles.
The following winter, more experiments were carried out in real-life conditions. To alleviate the problems, the textiles had been specially modified: the researchers tested the suitability of coating films based on wax, latex, silicon and polyurethane. The polyurethane film proved to be the best at preventing the deposits of salts that caused the material to corrode.
Plants with the benefit of "underfloor heating" grew significantly better than the comparison specimens, in all test conditions (laboratory, all-weather greenhouse, ebb-and-flow system).
The energy consumption was also measured. Depending on the temperature difference which needed to be overcome, ranging from 10 to 20 kelvin, this was from 30-80 kWh/m2 per week.
For small to medium-sized areas in the greenhouse, this innovative heating textile is considerably more energy-efficient than ambient heating by conventional heating systems and therefore particularly advantageous for use during sowing or deliberate crop forcing. However, the scientists believe there is still room for improvement on the durability of the heating elements. All the different types of material suffered faults during their 14-week use in the greenhouse, as a result of damage caused by fertilisers. It is hoped that special protective encasings will help.
The following winter, more experiments were carried out in real-life conditions. To alleviate the problems, the textiles had been specially modified: the researchers tested the suitability of coating films based on wax, latex, silicon and polyurethane. The polyurethane film proved to be the best at preventing the deposits of salts that caused the material to corrode.
Plants with the benefit of "underfloor heating" grew significantly better than the comparison specimens, in all test conditions (laboratory, all-weather greenhouse, ebb-and-flow system).
The energy consumption was also measured. Depending on the temperature difference which needed to be overcome, ranging from 10 to 20 kelvin, this was from 30-80 kWh/m2 per week.
For small to medium-sized areas in the greenhouse, this innovative heating textile is considerably more energy-efficient than ambient heating by conventional heating systems and therefore particularly advantageous for use during sowing or deliberate crop forcing. However, the scientists believe there is still room for improvement on the durability of the heating elements. All the different types of material suffered faults during their 14-week use in the greenhouse, as a result of damage caused by fertilisers. It is hoped that special protective encasings will help.
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