15AGRITECHCAT4: Third Generation Polyethylene Greenhouse Cladding Materials

该项目将开发用于温室的第三代聚乙烯覆层材料。该项目利用了我们对植物与光之间相互作用的基本理解。在这里，我们将光学修改入射到作物上的光，以推动温室生产者的商业和环境效益。我们将散射紫外线（UV），以提高作物质量和减少虫害发生率，开发具有定向光合有效辐射（PAR）散射的材料，以提高产量，并反射近红外线（NIR）辐射，以控制太阳能增益。这些材料成本低，可以为全球温室气体生产者提供显着的优势。（英国聚乙烯工业有限公司、Haygrove有限公司、Finlays有限公司、Berry Garden有限公司和A Schulman有限公司）和学术合作伙伴（阅读大学（UoR），化学和农业，林肯大学（UoL），NCFM，工程和建筑以及研究组织东马岭研究，（EMR））。该项目分为5个业务工作包（WP），外加一个额外的管理工作包。WP 1将专注于材料科学和发展。UoR Chem将领导研究开发散射紫外线的新型材料，定义PAR角散射模式并反射NIR。原型材料将使用小型挤出机按比例放大。Schulmans和BPI plc的全部生产设施。开发近红外反射材料需要高度创新的研究，尽管材料科学的最新发展表明，通过使用定义的纳米颗粒可能会有新的方法。UoL将进行WP 2。这里将开发模型（物理/生理或功能/结构，3D CAD）来描述材料散射模式和作物光截获之间的相互作用。这些模型将在温室的比例模型和商业条件下进行验证。该模型将为WP 1提供信息，并用于确定与特定材料相关的最佳温室形状。WP 3将在UoR Agri和EMR进行，并将是高度集中的实验，以确定紫外线，散射PAR和NIR对整个草莓作物的影响。这些试验将在关键的草莓作物上完全复制和进行。UoR将侧重于作物反应，EMR将进行昆虫行为研究，并将包括控制昆虫释放的高重复实验。在WP 4和WP 5 Berry Gardens，Haygrove和Finlays将在真实的商业条件下测试最有前途的材料。这将包括在英国的4个BG软果地点进行试验，在澳大利亚进行试验，在Haygrove协助下进行RSA试验（在高日照条件下测试近红外材料），在肯尼亚对切花玫瑰进行试验（Finlays）。项目内开发的材料将在项目结束后一年内开发。我们预计有机会进行进一步的研究，特别是对作物光相互作用的更详细的研究，以及了解材料对更广泛的作物和地理区域的影响的应用工作。

This project will develop a third generation of polyethylene cladding materials for use in greenhouses. The project exploits our fundamental understanding of the interactions between plants and light. Here we will optically modify the light incident upon a crop to drive commercial and environmental benefits to greenhouse producers. We will scatter ultra violet (UV) light to improve crop quality and minimise pest incidence, develop materials with directional photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) scattering to drive yield and reflect near infra red (NIR) radiation to control solar gain. These materials are low cost and could provide significant advantages to global greenhouse producers This is a multi disciplinary project engaging industry (British Polythene Industries plc, Haygrove Ltd, Finlays Ltd, Berry Garden Ltd and A Schulman Ltd) and academic partners (University of Reading (UoR), Chemistry and Agriculture, University of Lincoln (UoL), NCFM, Engineering and Architecture and the research organisation East Malling Research, (EMR)). The project has been divided into 5 operational work packages (WP), plus an additional management WP. WP1 will focus on material science and development. The UoR Chem will lead research to develop novel materials that scatter UV, have defined PAR angular scattering patterns and reflect NIR. Prototype materials will be scaled up using mini extruders at A. Schulmans and the full manufacturing facilities of BPI plc. Highly innovative research will be required to develop NIR reflecting materials, though recent developments in material science suggests there may be novel approaches via the use of defined nano particulates. The UoL will conduct WP2. Here models will be developed (either physical / physiological or functional / structural, 3D CAD) to describe the interaction between material scattering pattern and crop light interception. These models will be validated in scale models of greenhouses and under commercial conditions. The model will inform WP1 and also be used to determine optimal greenhouse shapes in relation to specific materials. WP3 will be conducted at UoR Agri and EMR and will be highly focussed experiments to determine the impact of UV, diffuse PAR and NIR on whole crops of strawberry. The trials will be fully replicated and conducted on the key strawberry crop. UoR will focus on crop responses and EMR will conduct studies on insect behaviour and will include high replication experiments with controlled insect release. In WP4 and WP5 Berry Gardens, Haygrove and Finlays will test the most promising materials under real commercial conditions. This will include experiments on 4 BG soft fruit sites through the UK, trials in Australia and RSA facilitated by Haygrove (high solar conditions to test the NIR materials and in Kenya on cut roses (Finlays). The materials developed within the project will be exploitable within one year of the end of the project. We anticipate opportunities for further research, in particular more detailed studies on crop light interactions and applied work to understand the impact of the materials on a wider range of crops and geographic regions.