IMPACT OF CROP HEIGHT ON THE THERMAL GRADIENT IN A HEATED GREENHOUSE: A NUMERICAL ANALYSIS.

The article focuses on a numerical analysis of how crop height affects the thermal gradient inside a heated greenhouse using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The study compares two heating systems—electric heaters and pipe heating—under varying tomato crop heights (0 m, 1 m, and 2 m) in a greenhouse located in the State of Mexico. Results indicate that electric heating improves thermal homogenization at 1.5 m height but experiences a temperature decrease as crop height increases, while pipe heating shows increased temperature and better thermal uniformity with taller crops. The findings suggest that pipe heating is preferable for maintaining uniform canopy temperatures to support crop growth, whereas electric heaters are more effective for localized temperature increases if properly distributed.