Greenhouse Ecosystems (Ecosystems of the World) Book

This book - the first, integrated treatment of the greenhouse ecosystem - consists of sixteen chapters by an international list of expert authorities and is divided into four parts.The first section consists of four chapters describing greenhouses, their history and geographical distribution; their mechanical structures, light - transmitting cladding and environmental control mechanisms; the way in which these modify the greenhouse's aerial microclimate and root environments.The second section contains six chapters dealing with the biological contents of greenhouses; the most widely grown edible fruit and salad crops, ornamental flower and foliage crops; the diseases and the pests attacking these crops and the growers cultivating them.The third section has four chapters dealing with the flows of energy, carbon, water and nutrients within and across the boundaries of the greenhouse.The two chapters of the fourth section describe the dynamic simulation models which have been used to calculate the potential yields of greenhouse crops and to optimize their management.The volume's many-faceted approach makes it a unique information resource for those concerned with research and analysis of greenhouse management as well as the ecology of this most intensive and controlled of agroecosystems. Read More