Greenhouse Environment Monitoring Greenhouses are closed environments where conditions are optimized for plant growth. Optimal controls require information from both the indoor and outdoor environments. Typically, carbon dioxide (CO2), relative humidity, and temperature are measured inside greenhouses; outside measurement parameters include wind speed and direction, rain, and solar radiation. Plants need carbon dioxide in order to grow – carbohydrates are formed from CO2 and water. Plants use carbon dioxide in photosynthesis reactions. Productivity in greenhouses can be increased with proper CO2 fertilization, using bottled CO2 or CO2 produced with burners, during daylight hours or when there is artificial light available. The optimum CO2 conditions depend on the plant and the light conditions in the greenhouse. When the light intensity decreases in the greenhouse, photosynthesis slows down and CO2 consumption drops. Using too much CO2 increases costs unnecessarily and can be harmful for the crop.Ventilation plays a key role in indoor agricultural applications, so demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) offers significant energy-efficiency benefits as it ensures the ventilation system is only run for a set period during the day. Using DCV not only saves energy but also prevents over-ventilation. Sufficient, optimal ventilation is obtained using as little energy as possible. The same idea can be applied to greenhouses. During daylight hours when plants are exposed to more light and photosynthesis is active, CO2 levels can be optimized using DCV to maximize growth. At night plants hibernate and no photosynthesis occurs. If you know the best conditions for a specific plant, you can always optimize the ventilation and CO2 level accordingly. In comparison, a purely time-based control system without CO2 measurement simply feeds in the same amount of CO2 based on time of day regardless of whether or not the plants can make use of it. Vaisala offers instruments for measuring CO2, relative humidity, and temperature in greenhouses. Vaisala’s range of transmitters for outdoor use includes products for measuring wind, precipitation, various humidity parameters, and temperature. Outdoor transmitters come with wide operating temperature ranges suitable for most climates, flexible installation options, and solar and radiation shields for protection from the elements. Greenhouse Environment Monitoring related products CO₂ Probe GMP252 The Vaisala CARBOCAP® Carbon Dioxide Probe GMP252 is an intelligent, stand-alone, ppm-level probe. It's intended for measuring CO2 in agriculture, refrigeration, greenhouses, demanding HVAC applications, and for plant growth chamber manufacturers. Read more CO2, Humidity and Temperature Transmitter Series GMW80 Measuring CO2 is the most economical way to monitor both indoor air quality (IAQ) and human presence with one sensor. Read more Indigo200 Series Transmitters for Vaisala smart probes Vaisala Indigo200 series transmitters are host devices for displaying measurement values from Vaisala's Smart Humidity, Temperature, Dew Point, Moisture in Oil, CO 2 and H 2 O 2 Probes. Read more Indigo500 Series Transmitters The Vaisala Indigo500 series transmitters are host devices for Vaisala Indigo-compatible, stand-alone smart probes. The Indigo500 series include multi-functional Indigo520 transmitter and Indigo510 transmitter with basic features. Read more Further reading Application note Greenhouse CO2 Measurements for Higher Productivity and Higher Quality Download our document about optimizing CO2 measurements in greenhouses that are demanding environments for measurement devices. Learn more Blog Carbon dioxide monitoring – the essential secret ingredient in the food chain Let’s take a look at some of the places along the food chain where CO2 is monitored and see how keeping a close watch on it helps to ensure safety, sustainability – and delicious food and drinks. Learn more Blog Feeding the future with sustainable production Nowadays we’re all more aware of the environmental impact of the food we eat. From food miles – the sometimes huge distances our food travels before it reaches our plates – to the changing climate and the impact that has on agriculture, new solutions are needed to make farming more sustainable so we can continue to feed a growing global population. Learn more Blog Ensuring accurate humidity measurement in industrial processes Humidity measurement is a key part of many industrial processes. With potentially hundreds or even thousands of measurement points needed, ensuring stable, precise, and reliable measurement is extremely important. Learn more Customer case Elevated vertical farming using Vaisala humidity and CO2 measurements Every minute, data is collected using Vaisala sensor to measure and maintain the conditions most important for plant growth and using that information to build something special for each customer. Learn more Customer case Why Damatex chose Vaisala sensors In pursuit of higher profits and yields and lower operational costs, many modern greenhouses are turning to climate control companies with sophisticated networks of interconnected sensors and devices to provide real-time, autonomous environmental monitoring. Read more Customer case Employing Vaisala’s CO2 sensors in the scientific greenhouse Scientists at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands have employed Vaisala carbon dioxide sensors in their research greenhouses for over a decade. Learn more Blog Balancing the field: Controlled environment agriculture through measurement technology The advancements in technology and techniques available today allow growers to produce more, with greater consistency, while using less energy and resources. Learn more
Greenhouse Environment Monitoring related products CO₂ Probe GMP252 The Vaisala CARBOCAP® Carbon Dioxide Probe GMP252 is an intelligent, stand-alone, ppm-level probe. It's intended for measuring CO2 in agriculture, refrigeration, greenhouses, demanding HVAC applications, and for plant growth chamber manufacturers. Read more CO2, Humidity and Temperature Transmitter Series GMW80 Measuring CO2 is the most economical way to monitor both indoor air quality (IAQ) and human presence with one sensor. Read more Indigo200 Series Transmitters for Vaisala smart probes Vaisala Indigo200 series transmitters are host devices for displaying measurement values from Vaisala's Smart Humidity, Temperature, Dew Point, Moisture in Oil, CO 2 and H 2 O 2 Probes. Read more Indigo500 Series Transmitters The Vaisala Indigo500 series transmitters are host devices for Vaisala Indigo-compatible, stand-alone smart probes. The Indigo500 series include multi-functional Indigo520 transmitter and Indigo510 transmitter with basic features. Read more
CO₂ Probe GMP252 The Vaisala CARBOCAP® Carbon Dioxide Probe GMP252 is an intelligent, stand-alone, ppm-level probe. It's intended for measuring CO2 in agriculture, refrigeration, greenhouses, demanding HVAC applications, and for plant growth chamber manufacturers. Read more
CO2, Humidity and Temperature Transmitter Series GMW80 Measuring CO2 is the most economical way to monitor both indoor air quality (IAQ) and human presence with one sensor. Read more
Indigo200 Series Transmitters for Vaisala smart probes Vaisala Indigo200 series transmitters are host devices for displaying measurement values from Vaisala's Smart Humidity, Temperature, Dew Point, Moisture in Oil, CO 2 and H 2 O 2 Probes. Read more
Indigo500 Series Transmitters The Vaisala Indigo500 series transmitters are host devices for Vaisala Indigo-compatible, stand-alone smart probes. The Indigo500 series include multi-functional Indigo520 transmitter and Indigo510 transmitter with basic features. Read more