A numerical simulation of the greenhouse microclimate

A numerical one-dimensional model was designed to simulate the diurnal changes of the greenhouse environment. The model takes into consideration a soil layer, a vegetation layer, an air layer and a cover. The thermal radiative, sensible, latent and conductive heat fluxes were modeled in each layer in terms of its unknown temperature and vapor pressure. The model was applied to the coastal region of Israel during the winter and summer seasons in order to assess the heating/cooling requirements of glass and polyethylene covered greenhouses.