Effect of greenhouse heights on the production of aromatic herbs in Colombia. Part 1: Chives (Allium schoenoprasum L.) Efecto de la altura del invernadero en la producción de hierbas aromáticas en Colombia. Parte 1: Cebollín (Allium schoenoprasum L.)

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of greenhouse heights on a crop of chives. Tests were conducted in three greenhouses that had the same dimensions, but with different channel heights of 2; 2.5 and 3 m, located in Carmen de Viboral, Antioquia (6o05’09”N and 75o20’19”W, 2.150 m a.s.l.). Temperature and relative humidity measurements were taken every 30 min for 3 years, and the crop production was assessed. A multiple linear regression, colinearity analysis, and analysis of heteroscedasticity were carried out to determine the climatic variations caused by the differences in height of the greenhouses and to determine differences in the production levels. For the statistical analysis, SPSS was used. The results indicated that, under the studied conditions, the greenhouse height directly affected the internal weather condition; specifically, a 1 m reduction in the minimum height of the channel (from 3 to 2 m) resulted in an increase of the minimum, average and maximum temperatures of 0.37, 1.4 and 3.56°C, respectively, and, consequently, the chives crop yields had a 4.78% higher fresh weight, with a confidence level of 95%.