Roses are unselfish: a greenhouse growth model to predict harvest rates.

Abstract

We consider the question of how rose production in a greenhouse can be optimised. Based on realistic assumptions, a rose growth model is derived that can be used to predict the rose harvest. The model is made up of two constituent parts: (i) a local model that calculates the photosynthetic rate per area of leaf and (ii) a global model of the greenhouse that transforms the photosynthesis of the leaves into an increase in mass of the rose crop. The growth rate of the rose stems depends not only on the time-dependent ambient conditions within the greenhouse, which include temperature, relative humidity, CO concentration and light intensity, but also on the location and age distribution of the leaves and the form of the underlying rose bush supporting the crop.