A New Device for Continuous Recording of The Heat Balance at The Soil Surface in Greenhouses

Abstract

A new device for continuous computing and recording of the energy balance terms at the bare soil surface in greenhouses is described with some of its principle advantages and characteristics. Bare soil condition in greenhouses was simulated in this study to understand well the effect of the greenhouses on the distribution of the heat balance terms at the ground surface. The downward net radiation flux was directly measured; sensible heat, latent heat and soil heat fluxes were calculated from the data of the air temperature, air relative humidity, the surface temperature and the air velocity. The results of a field trial over a bare soil surface demonstrate the new device's reliability and operational effectiveness for experimental periods of many days.