Horticultural Crop Cultivation in Greenhouse Ecosystems: Environmental Regulation and Sustainable Production

Dear Colleagues,

Greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops has increased in recent decades. The growth and productivity of plants depend on their genetic potential (i.e., their species and variety or hybrid) as well as the environment in which they develop. The environmental factors that critically affect the growth and productivity of plants in a greenhouse can be divided into two groups:

1. Factors that affect the functions performed in the above-ground parts of plants, which are primarily radiation (light), heat (temperature), humidity, and carbon dioxide.
2. Factors that affect the functions performed in the roots of plants, which are mainly heat (temperature), water, oxygen, inorganic nutrients, and pH.

The canopy environment is influenced by the greenhouse conditions, while the root environment is influenced by the soil, growing substrate, or hydroponic cultivation system used in the greenhouse.

To maximize production, it is not sufficient to adjust each environmental factor to a specific optimal point; rather, all factors must be regulated in in relation to each other. In addition, in recent years, horticultural cultivation has expanded to indoor farming, where precise control of environmental conditions is a key factor.

The objectives for future greenhouses can be summarized as follows: the creation of a suitable microclimate for the production of fresh plant products, the production of the highest-quality products, economically beneficial operation, minimal use of pesticides, the sustainable use of production inputs with a focus on environmental protection, operation independent of conventional fuels, and the utilization of excess solar energy during the day for other activities.

This Special Issue, “Horticultural Crop Cultivation in Greenhouse Ecosystems: Environmental Regulation and Sustainable Production”, aims to present research papers, short communications and review articles that demonstrate recent findings in this field.

Dr. Filippos Bantis
Dr. Ioannis Lycoskoufis
Guest Editors

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