Effects of Aluminum-Metalized Film on Improving Growth and Heat Insulation in Single-span Greenhouse for Semi-forcing Culture of Cherry Tomato

Tomatoes are a seasonal crop that require insulation due to being cultivated from December to February, when the average daily temperature remains around -2C.The primary techniques employed for insulation in single-span greenhouses include tunnel cultivation, heating equipment, and multi-layer insulation curtains.Nevertheless, the rise in operational expenses, such as fuel and materials, has placed considerable pressure on farmers.Consequently, there is a necessity to choose cost-effective and readily installable insulation materials.The purpose of this study was to confirm the insulating properties of aluminum-metalized film when used as a covering material for tunnels and as a side material for cultivating low-temperature cherry tomatoes.The testing results demonstrated that the average nighttime temperature within the tunnel was 2.8C higher while employing aluminum-metalized film as the tunnel covering material compared to using polyethylene film.Furthermore, upon the tunnel's opening after sunrise, the polyethylene film tunnel exhibited 100% guttation, whereas the aluminum-metalized film tunnel showed just 21% guttation.When employing aluminum-metalized film as a side material for a heated single-span greenhouse, the daily temperature increase was 1.2C more compared to utilizing polyethylene film on the side.Additionally, the rate of flower bud formation was accelerated by up to 0.75 buds.It was confirmed that the use of aluminum-metalized film as an insulation material resulted in excellent insulation and crop growth.Additionally, the insulation improvement impact of employing aluminum-metalized film allowed for an earlier harvest time.