Investigation and comparison of greenhouse automation systems in greenhouse enterprises producing in soilless environment

Production techniques in greenhouses in our country have to develop in line with the market demands and conditions. For this purpose, automatic control and computer systems are used to assist manpower and to facilitate and accelerate the works. Greenhouses are controlled environments in which plant production is carried out in improved environmental conditions, in other words, where the negative effects of the external environment on plants are limited. In the greenhouse agriculture, the production area is utilized in the most efficient way; therefore, production is made intensively. Accordingly, higher yields are obtained per unit area. In greenhouses, plant needs (such as water, fertilizer, other plant nutrients, light, temperature, humidity, etc.) can be provided in a controlled manner, diseases can be detected in a shorter period of time, and plant production can be carried up by high wire systems. All these allow mass production. Today's modern greenhouse cultivation attracts attention with its intensive crop production capacity and industrially developed structure using soilless agricultural technology. Since the economic return of the greenhouse industry depends on the balance between crop production and cost, it is necessary to rationally operate the greenhouse climate and resources to keep production at the desired level and improve product quality. Computer and microprocessor controlled information processing and automation systems are required for efficient management and operation of greenhouses. In order to meet the requirements according to the plant species planned to be produced in soilless modern greenhouses; signal-detection system, heating system, ventilation system, shading system, irrigation system, fertilization system, fogging-cooling system, carbon dioxide fertilization system and greenhouse general climate control system are needed. The use of suitable air conditioners for the growth and development of plants in greenhouses takes control of variables such as greenhouse temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation. However, the climatic data required in the greenhouse are constantly changing due to the effects of sun, temperature and rain outside the greenhouse. Some of the energy coming into the greenhouse is stored; some part is transferred outside. For example, if the leaf temperature is high, this is due to the excess energy stored in the plant. Excessive energy accumulation can be solved by the strategic commissioning of ventilation or cooling systems. If the temperature drops in the greenhouse, it is important to operate the heating system within the required limits. The management and direction of the equipment in the greenhouse according to the signals coming from the sensors is strategically shaped according to the instant, daily and monthly production data during the plant growth period. Modern greenhouse control systems not only command short-term actions in response to external influences, but also contribute to the establishment of the long-term strategy described by the grower. Today's computerized greenhouse automation systems are digitilized versions of analogue control units. The outstanding advantages are the ability to record instant, daily, monthly climatological and production data and to make them available to the manufacturer. In the classical automation application, automation can only be achieved by monitoring and controlling the greenhouse air conditioner. The computer should be used strategically at every stage of crop production - instant, daily, weekly, monthly and during production. Bioclimate sub-assemblies, such as roof windows, heating, irrigation, cooling, shading and fan ventilation, should operate according to the signals from the sensors. Greenhouse climate adjustments should be made according to daily plant growth. Planning for daily plant growth should be based on the economic data such as monthly plant growth, harvesting and market conditions. In this study, the commercial automation systems of some hydroponic modern greenhouses in Antalya, Afyon and Uşak regions are examined and compared based on the information given above. At the end of the study, automation data and screenshots of four different automation brands from five different modern greenhouses were obtained. The data were compared with each other and evaluated in terms of what and how they control the parameters. Since this research will serve to understand greenhouse automation and to develop national and domestic automation systems, it will provide a crucial value to the economy of our country in the following stages of this type of researches. It will also help greenhouse potential investers to make the right choices when selecting a greenhouse automation system.