When greenhouses turn into 'furnaces'

During periods of intense heat, farmers working in greenhouses face more difficulties due to the enclosed and stuffy space.

Growing crops indoors in greenhouses during the hot season is very difficult due to the large temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor environments.

Hard work in production

Ms. Nguyen Thi Qua's family in Nam Cau village, Truong Tan commune, owns over 7,000 square meters ^of greenhouses for growing cantaloupe. Despite having over 10 years of experience in greenhouse farming, Ms. Qua still worries whenever the weather is hot. According to her, greenhouses help plants grow and develop favorably, limiting pest and disease damage and the impact of external factors, but prolonged intense heat turns the greenhouses into heat traps.

During the hot season, the temperature inside the greenhouse can be 7-10 degrees Celsius higher than outside. Therefore, plants grow more slowly and are more difficult to care for. Furthermore, the sweltering heat also affects the health of those working in the greenhouse. "The hot weather makes working in the greenhouse very difficult and exhausting. I only go inside for a few minutes to check on the plants and my back is drenched in sweat. Despite this, we still have to try our best to overcome it," Ms. Qua said.

Farmers make appropriate adjustments, especially regarding plant moisture levels, to cope with rising temperatures inside the greenhouse.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tien's household in Thanh Mien commune has 3 greenhouses with a total area of ​​10,000 ^m2 , growing cantaloupe and Korean honeydew melons. To meet production demands, Mr. Tien has to hire 4-5 laborers. However, finding workers is very difficult during the hot season.

Mr. Tien said: "People who work in greenhouses are usually older laborers, taking advantage of their free time during the agricultural off-season to earn extra income. The weather is hot and stuffy, so people are reluctant to work in greenhouses because it can easily affect their health."

Adjust accordingly.

According to the city's meteorological and hydrological station, this year the Hai Phong area will be affected by 7-9 heatwaves with maximum temperatures ranging from 38-40 degrees Celsius. The forecast indicates that the average summer temperature this year will be 1-1.5 degrees Celsius higher than in previous years.

Hai Phong City is a leading locality in Northern Vietnam in greenhouse production, with an area of ​​approximately 130 hectares. Experts advise that, given the advantages of tropical agriculture , greenhouse production also reveals limitations during hot weather. Therefore, farmers need to proactively implement solutions to ensure favorable plant growth and protect the health of the producers.

Thanks to the right adjustments to cultivation techniques, plants grown in greenhouses are still thriving.

Greenhouse farming requires significant investment and high costs, so despite the difficulties, farmers in Hai Phong do not miss the planting season, even during the hot season. Instead, they adjust their production plans accordingly to ensure crop yield and quality.

Mr. Hoang Anh Thu, Deputy Director of Tan Minh Duc Cooperative in Truong Tan commune, said that to protect crops in greenhouses during the hot season, farmers need to increase moisture retention through automatic drip irrigation systems. They should only care for the plants in the early morning or late afternoon. At the same time, they should adjust the planting schedule, avoiding pollination during the hottest periods. "Tan Minh Duc Cooperative also regularly updates and introduces heat-tolerant crop varieties to share with farmers," Mr. Thu informed.

Although growing crops in greenhouses during hot weather is more challenging, it is still possible to maintain crop yield and quality if appropriate technical measures are proactively applied. This is also a necessary adaptation solution in the context of increasingly complex climate change.

When constructing a greenhouse, special attention must be paid to the design phase. A layered roofing system should be used to facilitate air circulation and minimize the greenhouse effect. The frame, netting, and covering film must be carefully selected in terms of materials, structure, and durability to ensure they withstand adverse weather conditions and last for a long time.

In addition, it is necessary to equip the plants with semi-automatic or fully automatic light, temperature, and humidity control systems, tailored to the requirements of each crop and its growth stage. For example, the simplest solution is for growers to use a natural heat-shading system with black netting covering the roof to reduce heat by 30-70%.

More modernly, farmers can invest in metal heat dissipation systems and exhaust fans. Especially for some high-end plants like orchids and lilies, air conditioning and temperature control systems are necessary, resulting in higher operating costs.

Regarding care procedures, it is necessary to water the plants regularly in the early morning and late afternoon; use a drip irrigation system to maintain moisture, and limit watering from 10 am to 3 pm daily to avoid affecting the plant's root system…

NGUYEN MO

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/khi-nha-mang-bien-thanh-lo-bat-quai-544080.html