ArticlesArticle Image

Featured Article Type
Controlling Moisture Levels in Soils and Planting Media
An overview and comparison of methods used to measure and control moisture levels.
Irrigation Techniques and Automation
An overview of computerized irrigation techniques and benefits.
Many of the articles available here are in Adobe portable document format. You will need the Acrobat Reader (version 5.0 or above) in order to view these PDF files. If you do not have the FREE reader, click the link below to go to the Adobe site where you can download the program files.

Greenhouse Design

General Greenhouse Design Considerations
In order to engineer a system for you, we need to know your specific performance specifications. Here are some questions to consider when designing your performance specification.

Greenhouse Cooling Design Considerations
Greenhouse cooling requirements vary greatly depending upon the crop grown and the climate at the greenhouse location. Here are some general design guidelines that will work in most situations.

Greenhouse Cooling
This article discusses some of the principles, equipment, and cooling strategies required for the active management of greenhouse air temperature and humidity when the incoming solar radiation levels exceed the heating needs of your crop.

System Selection

Choosing an Integrated Control System
Tips on choosing the best integrated computer control systems for your needs. (PDF: 111 KB / 1 page)

Integrated Control Part 1 and Part 2
Understand the benefits of a computerized, integrated control system and advice on getting the most from your control system.

Designing a Greenhouse Controls Specification
Understanding your greenhouse operation and providing detailed information to your controls supplier will ensure that you get the most from your control system. Learn how to prepare a controls specification so that you can compare the system capabilities with your expectations. (PDF: 59 KB / 8 pages)

Control Tips

Tips on Energy Conservation
Greenhouses need a lot of light transmission, and they accomplish this at the cost of thermal efficiency. Develop an energy conservation plan to conserve energy in the winter. (PDF: 220 KB / 4 pages)

Beyond Temperature Control
Learn how to get the most from an integrated control system.

Practicing Safe CO2
At low concentrations, carbon dioxide has been used to safely enrich the greenhouse atmosphere to accelerate the growth of crops. If you currently supplement your greenhouse environment with carbon dioxide or are considering supplementation, you should be aware of the safety concerns. (PDF: 46 KB / 2 pages)

Controlling Moisture Levels in Soils and Planting Media
An overview and comparison of methods used to measure and control moisture levels.

Dehumidification Strategies
Understanding air/moisture relationships for heating and venting strategies.

Applications

Crop Modeling and Automated Control Systems

Sensor Troubleshooting

Irrigation Techniques and Automation
An overview of computerized irrigation techniques and benefits.

Newsletters

NCERA 101 Supervisory Control Presentation (PDF: 1.57 MB) - A presentation by Argus' Alec Mackenzie on supervisory control, as it applies to greenhouse control systems.

Winter 2008 (PDF: 300 KB) - Featuring articles on excessive equipment cycling and sensor calibration

Fall 2007 (PDF: 211 KB) - Featuring an article on lighting control

Summer 2007 (PDF: 372 KB) - Featuring an article on Argus energy management features

Spring 2007 (PDF: 186 KB) - Featuring an article on data recording

Fall 2006 (PDF: 900 KB) - Featuring an article on remote system access

Summer 2006 (PDF: 606 KB) - Featuring the new Titan control equipment

Winter 2005 (PDF: 132 KB) - Featuring an article on heat distribution

Fall 2005 (PDF: 309 KB) - Heat sources and heat control strategies

Summer 2005 (PDF: 495 KB) - Irrigation strategies, relay panel options

Spring 2005 (PDF: 307 KB) - Equipment control tuning

Winter 2004 (PDF: 127 KB) - Managing Critical Failures

Fall 2004 (PDF: 1.06 MB) - Introducing Argus Multi-Feed

Summer 2004 (PDF: 497KB) - Operator Program Features