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Horticulturae
Special Issues
Cultivation and Production of Greenhouse Horticulture
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Cultivation and Production of Greenhouse Horticulture

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Protected Culture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2025 | Viewed by 3931

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yiming Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Engineering, Shenyang Agricultural University, No. 120 Dongling Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110866, China
Interests: solar greenhouse
Prof. Dr. Xiaoming Wei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Equipment for Agriculture, Beijing 100097, China
Interests: intelligent greenhouse environmental control systems with emphasis on energy efficiency optimisation and sustainable agricultural production engineering; bridging the gap between traditional greenhouse management and smart agricultural technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Min Wei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Interests: greenhouse vegetable
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Greenhouse horticulture has become an essential component of modern agriculture, providing controlled environments for optimizing plant growth, enhancing yield, and ensuring year-round production. This field incorporates advanced technologies, including precision irrigation, automated climate regulation, and energy-efficient designs, all aimed at maximizing productivity while minimizing resource consumption. By utilizing these innovative techniques, growers can produce high-quality crops with reduced environmental impact, meeting the growing demand for sustainable food production.

The purpose of this Special Issue, “Cultivation and Production of Greenhouse Horticulture”, is to present the latest developments and innovations in greenhouse cultivation practices. We welcome submissions that explore new technologies, production methods, and sustainability practices in greenhouse horticulture, with applications to fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, and other horticultural crops.

Dr. Yiming Li
Prof. Dr. Xiaoming Wei
Prof. Dr. Min Wei
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • greenhouse horticulture
  • sustainable cultivation
  • precision agriculture
  • intelligent greenhouse
  • sustainable agriculture
  • facility horticulture
  • ornamental horticulture
  • greenhouse production
  • greenhouse cultivation
  • greenhouse management

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 5270 KiB  
Article
When Tomatoes Hit the Winter: A Counterattack to Overwinter Production in Soft-Shell Solar Greenhouses in North China
by Hongrun Liu, He Zhao, Song Liu, Yanan Tian, Wei Li, Binghua Wang, Xiaoyi Hu, Dan Sun, Tianqun Wang, Shangjun Wu, Fudong Wang, Ning Zhu, Yuan Tao and Xihong Lei
Horticulturae 2025, 11(4), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11040436 - 19 Apr 2025
Viewed by 248
Abstract
In North China, the overwintering production of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) encounters difficulties posed by extreme weather conditions and the high costs of traditional greenhouses. Soft-shell solar greenhouses present a viable alternative because of their low cost and excellent heat-retaining properties. [...] Read more.
In North China, the overwintering production of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) encounters difficulties posed by extreme weather conditions and the high costs of traditional greenhouses. Soft-shell solar greenhouses present a viable alternative because of their low cost and excellent heat-retaining properties. This study establishes a technical framework for high-yield and high-quality winter tomato production in soft-shell greenhouses through analyzing dynamic light, temperature, and humidity parameters, cultivar responses, and optimized production–marketing models. Field experiments monitored microclimate data in soft-shell solar greenhouses during different growth stages of six cherry tomato and three large tomato varieties, combined with yield, quality, and economic return analysis. The results showed that (1) soft-shell greenhouses increased average daily temperatures by 10–15 °C, reduced low-temperature stress duration by 25%, achieved 82% light saturation compliance, and decreased humidity fluctuations by 23%; (2) the yield per cluster of cherry tomatoes increased first and then decreased for early maturing varieties, and decreased for middle and late maturing varieties, while the yield of large tomatoes decreased first and then increased; (3) light intensity was positively correlated with Brix accumulation, and humidity was negatively correlated with yield; (4) cherry tomato yields were more temperature-sensitive, whereas large-fruited tomatoes were more influenced by light intensity; (5) a “variety optimization + scenario-based sales” model integrating multi-cultivar layouts and gift-box marketing strategies improved economic returns. This research provides an integrated environmental regulation and market adaptation solution for North China’s protected agriculture, offering a reference value for greenhouse agriculture development in global cold regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivation and Production of Greenhouse Horticulture)
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22 pages, 8680 KiB  
Article
Spatial and Temporal Variability of Environmental Variables in Chinese Solar Greenhouses in the Summer Season
by Md Nafiul Islam, Md Nasim Reza, Md Zafar Iqbal, Kyu-Ho Lee, Moon-Ki Jang and Sun-Ok Chung
Horticulturae 2025, 11(4), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11040421 - 15 Apr 2025
Viewed by 315
Abstract
To ensure a high crop profit in Chinese solar greenhouses (CSGs), it is crucial to effectively manage major environmental variables such as temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentrations, among others, to mitigate harmful effects on crop growth. The objectives of this study were [...] Read more.
To ensure a high crop profit in Chinese solar greenhouses (CSGs), it is crucial to effectively manage major environmental variables such as temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentrations, among others, to mitigate harmful effects on crop growth. The objectives of this study were to assess the spatial, vertical, and temporal variability of major environmental variables in CSGs during summer, and to provide fundamental information that could facilitate the monitoring and control of environmental factors in CSGs. The experiments were conducted in two CSGs: one with crops and another without crops. The measured environmental variables included air temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration, light intensity, and wind conditions. Significant variations in the spatial, vertical, and temporal distribution of environmental factors were observed in both greenhouses. The results revealed significant diurnal patterns in temperature and humidity, with higher daytime temperatures and lower humidity levels. The greenhouse with crops exhibited warmer bottom layers due to restricted air mobility. CO2 concentrations peaked at night, aligning with plants’ respiration and photosynthesis cycles, whereas light intensity showed substantial daytime peaks, slightly affected by the presence of crops. The study emphasized the necessity of stratified control of the environment and dynamic management of CO2. The deployment of a wireless sensor network (WSN) and placement of an error-based sensor ensured precise monitoring, highlighting the importance of continuous data collection and adaptive management for optimal greenhouse conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivation and Production of Greenhouse Horticulture)
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17 pages, 12434 KiB  
Article
Computational Fluid Dynamics-Based Simulation of Ventilation in a Zigzag Plastic Greenhouse
by Yu Zhang, Weizhen Sun, Longpeng Jin, Hongbing Yang, Jian Wang and Sheng Shu
Horticulturae 2025, 11(2), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11020175 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 786
Abstract
Zigzag plastic greenhouses are a type of greenhouse with a high natural ventilation capacity, and the number and quantities of their roof vents affect their ventilation and cooling effect. In this study, a CFD model of a greenhouse was constructed based on computational [...] Read more.
Zigzag plastic greenhouses are a type of greenhouse with a high natural ventilation capacity, and the number and quantities of their roof vents affect their ventilation and cooling effect. In this study, a CFD model of a greenhouse was constructed based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) theory to simulate the temperature and airflow distribution of a zigzag plastic greenhouse and to investigate the effects that the number of zigzags and the construction orientation have on the cooling effect of this type of greenhouse. The results show that the average air temperature in a double zigzag plastic greenhouse (DZPG) was 0.58 °C lower than that in a single zigzag plastic greenhouse (SZPG) of the same size during the experiment. When the outdoor temperature is higher than 35 °C, the maximum temperature of the DZPG is significantly lower than that of the SZPG in a 1.5 m horizontal section; when the top vent is on the windward side, there is an obvious advantage of DZPG ventilation and the utilization efficiency of its top vent is higher, and when the top vent is on the leeward side, the distribution of the airflow in the DZPG is more intensive and more uniform. The maximum difference in the average temperature between the eight orientations of the DZPG was 0.17 °C. Therefore, the cooling effect in summer is not influenced by the construction orientation, but the airflow in the greenhouse is slightly worse when the direction of the roof vents is parallel to the prevailing wind direction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivation and Production of Greenhouse Horticulture)
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12 pages, 6219 KiB  
Article
Design and Ventilation Optimization of a Mechanized Corridor in a Solar Greenhouse Cluster
by Ming He, Xinxia Jiang, Xiuchao Wan, Yiming Li, Qinglu Fan and Xingan Liu
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121240 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 781
Abstract
Corridors play an important role in the mechanized production of fruits and vegetables in solar greenhouse clusters. A corridor structure that is suitable for the automated production of solar greenhouse clusters is designed in this paper. To increase the corridor’s ventilation efficiency and [...] Read more.
Corridors play an important role in the mechanized production of fruits and vegetables in solar greenhouse clusters. A corridor structure that is suitable for the automated production of solar greenhouse clusters is designed in this paper. To increase the corridor’s ventilation efficiency and enhance the temperature environment, the computational fluid dynamics method is applied to analyze the effects of corridor structure, ventilation mode, wind speed, and direction on internal temperature and humidity. Studies have indicated that an erroneous layout of the corridor structure may result in the formation of accumulated temperature and heat concentration inside, and ventilation within the corridor is essential. The corridor’s ideal dimensions are 3.2 m high by 5 m wide, and it has an internal wind speed and cooling rate that are superior to other structural factors. The ventilation method adopts a combination of top and bottom ventilation, and when the bottom window opening is 70%, there is a good ventilation effect inside the corridor. The corridor has an excellent ventilation effect when the wind speed is 2 m/s and the wind direction is east or west. This study supports the intensive and sustainable growth of greenhouse vegetable production by providing guidance for the planning and corridor design of solar greenhouse clusters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivation and Production of Greenhouse Horticulture)
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23 pages, 17355 KiB  
Article
Development of a Machine Learning Natural Ventilation Rate Model by Studying the Wind Field Inside and Around Multiple-Row Chinese Solar Greenhouses
by Ran Liu, Yunyan Shi, Pierre-Emmanuel Bournet and Kaige Liu
Horticulturae 2024, 10(11), 1226; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111226 - 20 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 999
Abstract
This paper experimented with a methodology of machine learning modelling using virtual samples generated by fast CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations in order to predict the greenhouse natural ventilation. However, the output natural ventilation rates using fast two-dimensional (2D) CFD models are not [...] Read more.
This paper experimented with a methodology of machine learning modelling using virtual samples generated by fast CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations in order to predict the greenhouse natural ventilation. However, the output natural ventilation rates using fast two-dimensional (2D) CFD models are not always consistent with the three-dimensional (3D) one for all the scenarios. The first contribution of this paper is a proposed comparative modelling methodology between two-dimensional and three-dimensional CFD studies, regarding its validity, especially when buildings are in rows. The results show that the error of the ventilation rate prediction could exceed 50%, if 2D models are not properly used. Subsequently, in those scenarios where the 2D and the 3D models had equal accuracy, nearly one thousand samples were generated using fast 2D CFD simulations to train a natural ventilation rate regression tree model. This model is efficient to deal with the combined effect of wind pressure and thermal gradients under various vent configurations, with only four necessary inputs. In addition, by analyzing the wind speed distribution contour of the outdoor wind field around the greenhouse rows, the optimal wind speed-measuring locations were determined to eliminate interference for predicting the natural ventilation rate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivation and Production of Greenhouse Horticulture)
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