RESEARCH
Advanced Greenhouse Horticulture: New Technologies and Cultivation Practices
Summary
This special issue of Horticulture focuses on the latest advancements in greenhouse horticulture, a highly efficient farming method. It brings together twelve research papers that explore both new technologies and improved cultivation practices. The research covers topics ranging from using dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) on greenhouse glass to reduce energy costs, to automation for detecting water stress in tomato plants, to using LED lighting and gibberellic acid to improve ornamental plant growth. It also looks at integrating brewery wastewater treatment with soilless agriculture and using diatomaceous earth as a silica supplement. These new technologies aim to make greenhouse farming more productive and sustainable.
In terms of cultivation practices, the special issue includes reviews on irrigation management, the use of biochar in growing substrates, and the impact of light quality on plant-microbe interactions. It also presents research comparing organic and conventional growing systems, different soilless culture techniques (aeroponics vs. hydroponics), ways to assess the quality of grafted seedlings, and the potential of wild plant species as alternative crops. The research emphasizes the need for innovation to improve efficiency, sustainability, and product quality in greenhouse horticulture, as well as the importance of further research in these areas.