Looking at the features of advanced greenhouses

In "What Is A Greenhouse Control System?" Argus Controls covered the foundational aspects of greenhouse control systems, with a focus on how they automate key environmental factors—temperature, lighting, irrigation, humidity, and CO2. But there are also highly advanced greenhouse control system features and functions that enable more sophisticated, precise control over your growing environments.

This article will explore these advanced features, outlining how they work, their key use cases, and what to consider when choosing a greenhouse control system for your facility.

Advanced greenhouse control systems offer software and hardware that provide a powerful, integrated solution for managing your greenhouse and entire horticultural facility. As above, the scope includes nutrient management systems, boilers, chillers, and importantly for some operations plant growth chambers and rooms – all from your central command center, networked PC, or mobile devices. Legend: Solid dots indicate areas of supply, monitoring, and control. Blank dots indicate areas of monitoring and control only.

Advanced Greenhouse Control System Features
When it comes to advanced greenhouse controls, there are a few key features that enable the level of precision large commercial growers and demanding plant science researchers require. These include:

Shade Curtains.
Shade curtains regulate light and temperature within a greenhouse and manage the amount of solar radiation entering a greenhouse, which directly affects plant health and energy efficiency. Different types of shade curtains serve different purposes, including light transmission control, heat retention curtains, and blackout curtains.

Basic control systems might only allow for fully opening or closing shade curtains based on triggers, like light sensors or timers. Advanced systems offer more nuanced control, such as "cracking" the curtains open slightly to mix cold outside air with the warmer internal air, which can prevent sudden temperature shocks and create a more stable growing environment.

Airflow and air exchange
Airflow is the movement of air within the greenhouse, ensuring that conditions are uniform throughout the climate zone. It helps mix the internal atmosphere, prevent moisture pockets, and reduce the likelihood of diseases caused by stagnant air. Air exchange involves bringing fresh air into a greenhouse to replace stale air, which is critical to replenish CO2 levels and manage humidity.

Both processes are especially important during photosynthesis, as plants consume CO2, leading to lower levels within the greenhouse. Maintaining proper airflow and air exchange is also vital for preventing microclimates, or areas within the greenhouse where conditions differ significantly from the rest of the environment. Microclimates can lead to uneven plant growth and increase the risk of disease.

Simpler systems can control airflow and air exchange like a step control system—which can turn equipment on or off but cannot coordinate with other systems. Advanced greenhouse control systems integrate all of the equipment available to them—such as exhaust fans, vents, and circulation fans—into a cohesive network that's orchestrated based on real-time data, enabling smarter control.

Advanced Temperature Control and Deadband Management
One of the most challenging aspects of greenhouse management is maintaining temperature within a narrow, optimal range—a practice known as deadband management. Greenhouse control systems use algorithmic logic to plan ahead for when they need to turn something on or off, attempting to keep temperature and humidity within the desired deadband range.

Overshooting or undershooting means that equipment either runs too long or not long enough, leading to temperature fluctuations that stress plants and lead to reduced growth and productivity. This is a common challenge for simpler greenhouse control systems. Advanced systems, however, use predictive algorithms - feedback-based control loops for managing the integrated controls, anticipating changes, and making precise adjustments. This ensures greenhouse temperature and other processes remain stable and consistent.

Data Logging
More advanced and integrated greenhouse control systems also automate data logging, continuously tracking sensor inputs that measure environmental conditions and equipment performance. This enables growers to fine-tune greenhouse operations with precision, creating optimal growing environments.

Why Choose an Advanced Greenhouse Control System?
Selecting an advanced greenhouse control system offers substantial benefits, particularly in managing complex and evolving horticultural environments:

Remote System Control
Advanced control systems come equipped with remote access features, enabling you to monitor and adjust your greenhouse conditions from virtually anywhere. This is particularly useful in large or multi-site operations where being physically present isn't always feasible. With remote access, you can respond to emergencies, adjust settings in real time, and ensure that your greenhouse operates smoothly, even when you're offsite.

Alarm Systems that Manage By Exception
Advanced greenhouse control systems have integrated alarm systems that allow you to manage by exception. In other words: You don't have to be on constant alert—alarms will only be triggered when specific thresholds are breached, such as a sudden spike in temperature or a critical equipment malfunction. The system sends an immediate notification so that you can address issues before they escalate, minimizing equipment downtime and reducing the risk of crop loss.

Data Analytics for Decision-Making
As mentioned above, advanced greenhouse control systems also excel in data logging, automatically capturing and storing detailed records of your environmental conditions and equipment performance. However, you can also use these systems to go a step further, using built-in data visualization graphs and insights to make smarter, more informed decisions.

By analyzing historical data, you can spot trends, fine-tune operations, and replicate successful strategies while avoiding previous mistakes. This data-driven approach both enhances efficiency and contributes to a better ROI on your facility investments, as you can continually optimize based on concrete evidence.

Scalability and Customization
As your operation grows or changes, so too should your control system. Advanced systems are designed with scalability in mind, meaning they can expand and adapt as your needs evolve. Whether you're adding new crops, expanding your greenhouse, or integrating additional technologies, the most advanced greenhouse control systems can be customized and upgraded without the need for new hardware or an expensive upgrade.

This flexibility offers a significant strategic advantage, allowing your greenhouse control system to grow with your operation, making it a long-term investment that supports your changing needs.

In Conclusion
Choosing the right greenhouse control system can have a profound impact on the efficiency and success of your growing operation. While basic control systems manage foundational functions, advanced control systems offer the precision, insights, scalability, and remote access needed to manage complex greenhouse environments effectively. Importantly, the most advanced systems enable your operation to evolve easily over time, maximizing your ROI and making them an excellent long-term investment.