Son, J. E., Oh, M. M., Lu, Y. J., Kim, K. S., & Giacomelli, G. A. (2006). Nutrient-flow wick culture system for potted plant production: System characteristics and plant growth. Scientia Horticulturae, 107(4), 392-398.
Abstract:
To compliment the current subirrigation systems used for production of potted plants, a nutrient-flow wick culture (NFW) system was developed and compared with other subirrigation systems, such as an ebb and flow culture (EBB) system and a nutrient-stagnant wick culture (NSW) system in relation to their system characteristics and plant growth. Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cv. New Alter) was cultivated in a 6 cm pot for 10 weeks in each subirrigation system. The water-absorption pattern of the medium, water content of the medium, water loss, algal growth, salt-buildup and plant growth under various culture systems were observed. The water contents of medium under the NFW and EBB systems showed fluctuations from 30 to 40% and from 50 to 60% (by volume), respectively, whereas the water content under the NSW system gradually increased to over 40% without fluctuation. Relative to other systems, the water loss in the NFW system was 50-70% due to the reduction in the evaporation from the surfaces of the trough and medium. Algae appeared in the NSW system because the nutrient solution was always stagnant in the trough, while it was not observed under the NFW system. The dissolved oxygen in the nutrient solution was the highest during the irrigation period and the salinity in the medium was the lowest in the NFW system. With regard to system characteristics, the NFW system was simple, water-saving and efficient. In addition, the growth of kalanchoes in the NFW system was similar to those in the NSW and EBB systems at an irrigation frequency of five times a day. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Kabala, W. P., & Giacomelli, G. A. (1992). Transportation and elevation system for greenhouse crops. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 8(2), 133-139.
Abstract:
A closed loop transportation and elevation system for greenhouse crop production benches was designed and tested. Its purpose was to improve access to tomato plants in production. The system met two major design criteria: (1) benches could be elevated, and (2) benches could be interchanged between any two rows within a greenhouse bay. The system consisted of aluminum transportable benches, a pipe track system, transfer-elevation device (TED), and two rear transfer mechanisms (RTM). The centralized work station within the bench transport system, provided the possibility of performing labor studies to evaluate the system/labor interactive performance of the overall production process. The relative comparison of the operation times required for each operation for an elevated versus a non-elevated bench was evaluated and a measure of the relative bench transport time was determined.
Giacomelli, G. A. (2011). Comparison of three evapotranspiration models for a greenhouse cooling strategy with natural ventilation and variable high pressure fogging.. Scientia Horticulturae.
Comparison of three evapotranspiration models for a greenhouse cooling strategy with natural ventilation and variable high pressure fogging. Villarreal-Guerrerero, F., M. Kacira, E. Fitz-Rodriguez, R. Linker, Ch. Kubota, G. A. Giacomelli, R. Linker, A. Arbel. 2011. Comparison of three evapotranspiration models for a greenhouse cooling strategy with natural ventilation and variable high pressure fogging.
Boscheri, G., Kacira, M., Patterson, L., Giacomelli, G., Sadler, P., Furfaro, R., Lobascio, C., Lamantea, M., & Grizzaffi, L. (2012). Modified energy cascade model adapted for a multicrop lunar greenhouse Prototype. Advances in Space Research.
Morden, R. E., Ling, P. P., & Giacomelli, G. A. (1997). Automated plant growth monitoring system using machine vision. Paper - American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 3.
Abstract:
A noncontact plant-monitoring system for measuring the top projected canopy area (TPCA) of lettuce plants (cv. `Ostinata') was developed using machine vision. It makes automatic hourly measurements of the plants and is capable of detecting the effect of nutrient stress only 17 hours after application, based on the average 24-hour change in TPC. The combined growth and motion of the plants is detectable directly from the hourly measurements. The natural cycles of both growth and motion of the plant are synchronized to the light/dark cycles; thus a sliding 24-hour early in TPCA was selected as the test for detecting stress. Furthermore the plant grows very slowly during the early light period and grows at its peak rate during the early night period. A measurement interval shorter than 24 hours would require a more detailed analysis due to the variable growth rates. This noncontact sensing system is capable of detecting nutrient stress in 17 hours while tracking the hourly performance of the lettuce plants, thus providing further understanding of plant growth and motion.
