Abstract

The cost of maintaining the suitable climatic conditions for cultivation in a greenhouse depends of the climate zone where it is located. For profitability reasons, in the State of Nuevo Leon the structures commonly used is lightweight such as galvanized steel pipe or wood and as a cover material, the plastic is the most common, resulting in a low insulation from the outside atmosphere. Thus, the expense that has to be done in maintenance, equipment and modifications to the elements on the greenhouse to ensure a climate suitable for the crop, will directly depend of the existing difference between environmental conditions of the outside and those that the crop requires for its correct development inside of the greenhouse. Due to the importance of climate for cultivation, it is necessary to determine the thermal dynamic characteristics for each zone where the greenhouse is located in order to define its climatic attributes. In this work we discuss the climatic characterization of the external environment year-round, as well as in the internal environment for a sampled period, for a greenhouse located in Aramberri, Nuevo Leon, México, under the completely open and completely closed window conditions. As well as the calculation of the energy needed for heat in the winter nights and the calculation of the solar energy that could be used for heating. In addition, the definition of the climate problem in-situ for the critical period of winter is presented. We also include the conclusions and recommendations from the information analysis, marking the importance of determining these kinds of studies.

Key words: Greenhouse, characterization, solar energy, climate zone, Nuevo León, México.