The climate changes that have occurred in recent years require new and technologically updated tools also in the protected crops sector. Lirsa spa (an Arrigoni group company) launched a research project in 2021 for the development of an innovative covering film capable of balancing both daytime temperatures (heat reduction) and night-time temperatures (slowing down heat loss) with an automatic mechanism derived from the use of functional nano technologies.
"Thanks to Lirsa's R&D, it is finally possible to fight rising temperatures with a greenhouse cover that can reduce thermal energy (NIR) entering the greenhouse without reducing the total light transmittance, which is useful and necessary for PAR (photosynthetic activity radiation)", shares Luigi Pezzon with Arrigoni.
"With V-Agro Air Cool by Lirsa spa it is now possible to reduce the heat inside the greenhouse without shading systems, but only and exclusively with plastic film covering."
The daytime temperature is determined by the input of the NIR (780 -2500 nm) while the medium/long IR radiation (over 2500 nm) which accumulates in the soil during the day (which therefore heats up) is released during the night time.
Reducing daytime temperatures, especially during the summer months, prevents:
- Water waste.
- Reduction and blocking of germination caused by high temperatures
- The collapse of crop productivity
At the same time, slowing down heat loss during the night, in addition to reducing energy costs, avoids crops thermal stress .
V-Agro Air Cool film was conceived as an alternative both to the use of surface paints on greenhouse roofs to reduce daytime temperatures and to interference pigments, mineral fillers and spheres of various kinds which, when added during the extrusion of the film, have the side effect of lowering all the spectrum solar radiation, including the PAR.
Simulated tests of solar power reduction passing through the V-AGRO AIR COOL film were verified using a Lux Meter (W/m2). These measurements confirmed the validity of the idea formthe beginning, because they showed solar power r values reduced almost four times (in %) than a 200 micron thick LDPE film without additives (average solar power detected: 890 W/m2 - natural LDPE film absorption 8.10% - V-Agro Air Cool film absorption 30.80% )
On the basis of the above, V-Agro Air Cool film was installed in different geographical areas of the Mediterranean area and the greenhouses were monitored in different climatic conditions between day and night, in the various seasons during the various stages of cultivation.
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"The data obtained confirm that the thermal balance of the V-Agro Air Cool film has reduced (compared to normal and traditional greenhouses condition) daytime temperatures by up to 5°C / 7°C in the summer periods with an average water saving of over 16% and up to peaks of over 10°C more in some hours of the night in the winter periods, with consequent evident improvements in qualitative/quantitative agronomic yields."
Meet Arrigoni at GreenTech Amsterdam in stand 01.245
For more information:
LIRSA s.p.a.
Via Genio Militare, 40
80044 Ottaviano (NA)
+39 081 8278966
[email protected]
www.lirsa.it
For more information:
Arrigoni SpA
Via Monte Prato 3
22029 Uggiate Trevano (CO)
Phone: +39 (0)31803200
Fax: +39 (0)31803206
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.arrigoni.it