Optimization of greenhouse space for off-season vegetable nurseries

Maximum utilization of greenhouse space volume for raising off-season vegetable plants was achieved using an optimally designed multi-rack tray system. Vertical distance between the consecutive trays and the width of the tray has been optimised for different months of the year using the solar geometry. Calculations show that during the winter months from November to February, the ratio of height between the two consecutive trays (H) and the width of the tray (W) varies from 0.75 to 1.06. It was calculated that by using the designed multirack tray system with optimum H/W ratio of about 0.78 for December and January, three stacks of trays can be placed for 2m high greenhouse. Tomato was selected for raising off-season nursery in a glasshouse and in open field conditions (for comparison) using the designed multirack tray system. Thus, by using the upper space three times more number of nursery plants were successfully grown using the optimal space volume of the greenhouse.