Simulation of canopy air temperature control in closed greenhouses modeled using coupled elliptic models

The microclimate that exists within the canopy and on the surface of plants can significantly impact both epidemiology of pathogens and the physiological functions of plants. Using the heat transfer theory and taking into account the canopy as a porous media, a coupled elliptic model in one-dimensional was carried out for a control objective to depict crop temperature and the air canopy. Existence and uniqueness of canopy air temperature optimal control were investigated. The finite difference scheme was used to derive the numerical model. Simulations were performed to assess the ability of the control to maintain canopy air temperature close to prescribed values with acceptable mean error for the apportionments of the two plants species in the considered greenhouse.