Comprehensive Guide to Agricultural Greenhouse Design 1

13-10-2025

Agricultural greenhouses have become a cornerstone of modern agriculture, enabling year - round cultivation of crops regardless of external climate conditions. The success of an agricultural greenhouse largely depends on thoughtful greenhouse design, which integrates agricultural needs, environmental adaptation, and cost - effectiveness. This article provides a detailed overview of the key steps and considerations in greenhouse design, ensuring that the resulting agricultural greenhouse meets the specific requirements of different crops and regions.

1. Pre - Design Preparation: Clarifying Core Needs and Basic Conditions

Before embarking on greenhouse design, it is essential to define clear objectives and assess the local conditions. This phase lays the foundation for a functional and efficient agricultural greenhouse.

1.1 Defining Crop - Specific Requirements

Different crops have distinct demands for temperature, light, water, and air, which directly shape the direction of greenhouse design. For example, heat - loving vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers require a minimum winter temperature of 10°C, abundant sunlight, and good ventilation. In contrast, leafy vegetables such as lettuce and spinach thrive in temperatures between 15 - 20°C with moderate humidity to prevent excessive growth. Flower crops like Phalaenopsis and roses need stable temperatures (with a fluctuation of ±2°C) and high humidity (60% - 80%). Seedlings, including vegetable and nursery seedlings, require small day - night temperature differences, uniform light, and disease prevention measures. Understanding these crop - specific needs is the first step in tailoring an effective agricultural greenhouse.

1.2 Site Selection for Agricultural Greenhouses

The site of an agricultural greenhouse significantly impacts its stability, operational costs, and crop yield. Several factors must be considered during site selection. Firstly, the terrain and soil should be flat (with a slope of ≤5° to avoid waterlogging) and fertile (with an organic matter content of ≥2%) with good drainage (the groundwater level should be ≤1.5 meters to prevent root rot). Low - lying, saline - alkaline, or heavy metal - contaminated areas should be avoided. Secondly, the site should have unobstructed access to sunlight. The eastern, western, and southern directions within 50 meters of the site should be free from tall buildings or trees to ensure at least 6 hours of effective sunlight per day in winter, the season with the weakest sunlight. If there are minor obstructions, the long axis of the agricultural greenhouse should be parallel to the obstructions to minimize shadow coverage. Thirdly, a clean and sufficient water source is crucial. The site should be close to a water source such as a well or river (avoiding industrial wastewater), and the water volume should be adequate to meet irrigation and cooling needs (each mu of the agricultural greenhouse requires 2 - 3 tons of water per day on average). Water quality should also be tested, with a pH value of 6.5 - 7.5 and an EC value of ≤1.5ms/cm to prevent salt damage. Finally, the site should be easily accessible by road for the transportation of agricultural materials and products, and have convenient access to electricity to power heating, ventilation, and irrigation equipment. A 380V power supply is necessary, along with a backup generator to handle power outages.

2. Core Greenhouse Design: Structural Types and Key Parameters

The structure of an agricultural greenhouse determines its ability to resist wind, snow, and retain heat. The choice of structure depends on the local climate, such as severe cold in northern regions and heavy rainfall in southern regions. Common structural types include three main categories.

2.1 Selection of Structural Types Based on Climate Adaptation

Solar - oriented Greenhouses (Single - slope) : Suitable for cold northern regions such as North China and Northeast China. Their advantage lies in excellent heat retention (the north wall absorbs heat), reducing heating costs in winter. However, they have a smaller light - receiving area and lower land utilization rate (approximately 60%). They are ideal for heat - loving vegetables and seedling cultivation.

Plastic Greenhouses (Arch - shaped) : Commonly used in warm southern regions like East China and South China. They offer uniform light, high land utilization (about 80%), and low costs. But their heat retention is poor, making them unsuitable for growing heat - loving crops in winter. They are suitable for leafy vegetables, flowers, and the transition of open - field seedlings.

Multi - span Greenhouses : Applicable for large - scale cultivation nationwide, especially in facility agriculture. They have an extremely high land utilization rate (around 90%) and facilitate mechanized operations. However, they have high costs (approximately 100 - 300 yuan/m²) and high energy consumption. They are suitable for high - value crops such as strawberries and flowers.

2.2 Design of Key Structural Parameters (Taking Plastic Greenhouses as an Example)

Span : The span of a single - span plastic greenhouse is recommended to be 6 - 8 meters. A too - small span wastes land, while a too - large one is prone to deformation under wind loads. For multi - span greenhouses, the span is 10 - 12 meters, and reinforced steel frames are required.

Height : The shoulder height (the height from the bottom edge of the greenhouse film to the ground) should be 1.5 - 1.8 meters for easy manual operation. The ridge height (the highest point of the greenhouse roof) should be 2.5 - 3 meters to increase space and reduce the dripping of condensation onto crops.

Length : The length of a single - span greenhouse is 50 - 80 meters. A too - long greenhouse leads to uneven ventilation, and a too - short one has a high proportion of walls. The length of multi - span greenhouses can be adjusted according to the plot, and a ventilation opening should be set every 30 meters.

Frame Materials :

Economic Option : Hot - dip galvanized steel pipes (Φ25mm, wall thickness 1.2mm) have a service life of 5 - 8 years and a cost of approximately 15 - 20 yuan/m².

Durable Option : Galvanized square steel (40×20mm) has a service life of 10 - 15 years and a cost of about 30 - 40 yuan/m².

In northern regions, concrete foundations (depth ≥50cm, width 30cm) should be installed under the frames to prevent frame tilting due to frost heave in winter.

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