Energy efficiency of the tomato open filed and greenhouse production system

In this paper the influence of tomato production technology and greenhouse construction type on production energy efficiency was analyzed. Influence of greenhouse construction on energy consumption was estimated for four different double plastic covered greenhouses: a tunnel type, covered with 180 µm PE UV IR outside folia, a gutter connected plastic covered greenhouse with 50 µm inner folia and 180 µm outside folia, a multi-span greenhouse with four bays with 50 µm inner folia and 180 µm outside folia and a multi-span greenhouse with thirteen bays were used. Specific energy input, energy output-input ratio and energy productivity were estimated. Results show that there are differences in the open field and greenhouse tomato production. The lowest energy input was measured for the open filed tomato production (18.02 MJ/m2) while in greenhouses in average was 24.13 MJ/m2. Concerning the greenhouses alone, the highest energy input was calculated in the case of tunnel structure, 26.87 MJ/m2. The lowest yield was observed in the open filed tomato production (1.89 kg/m2). The highest yield was achieved in the multi-span greenhouse with thirteen bays (6.08 kg/m2). Analysis showed that tomato production technology influences the energy efficiency and that the type of greenhouse construction has a significant influence on the energy efficiency of the greenhouse tomato production.