NPLK14018U Climate Management in Plant Production and Research

The aim of the course is to give an understanding of how plant physiology on crop level can be applied in plant production and ecophysiological studies, with the technical solutions available for adjusting the climate in greenhouses and in the field. The course is advanced plant ecophysiology in practice.

The course follows two interlinking lines: 1) climate physics and how to manage the climate by the techniques available in field and greenhouse production and ecosystem studies, and 2) the plant physiological responses we want to regulate by the climate management. This includes crop physiology of the wide variety of species used as horticultural crops. Since they include both vegetables, fruits and ornamental plants originating from all corners of the world, a wide variety of ecophysiological adaptations of plants will be covered, including plants having C₃, C₄ as well as CAM type of photosynthesis.

Greenhouse production includes the technique of using elevated CO₂ concentration to promote growth. Therefore the course will also give insights into the future climate scenario with elevated CO₂, which is an important part of the global climate change and Danish in situ investigations of the effect of climate change on ecosystems are included.

Knowledge:

- Present an overview of how the major climate factors are controlled in field and greenhouse production and how they are measured

- Describe the physical properties of the most important climate factors and how they interact

- Describe and quantify how photosynthesis responds to the major climate factors

- Describe how climate is managed in the horticultural industry

- Describe how the climate can be manipulated in research on ecosystem level.

Skills:
- Discuss the effect of the major climate factors on plant production and quality
- Explain the interaction between the major climate factors on the physiological level when affecting photosynthesis
- Analyse the effect of the balance between climate optimization and stress on plant quality
- Analyse the possibilities for improving current climate management
- Discuss, analyse and evaluate the production of horticultural crops from both a technical and climatic point of view

Competences:
- Analyse and reflect on the relative importance of the choices made by the grower and the horticultural industry with regard to management to obtain an optimal productivity and minimal environmental load.