BOOK REVIEW
Bakker, J.C., Bot, G.P.A., Challa, H., Van de Braak, N.J. (ed.): Greenhouse Climate Control. An Integrated Approach. - Wageningen Pers, Wageningen 1995. 279 pp. This book is a result of many years effort of researchers from various disciplines: control engineering, crop ecophysiology, horticulture, and greenhouse physics. It describes and analyses crop production in greenhouses in relation to climate control. In chapter one the history of greenhouse cultivation, position and economy of Dutch horticulture are reviewed. The complex relations between growth conditions and the processes contributing to plant production are treated in chapter two. The shortterm and long-term effects of environmental factors on CO 2 uptake, water relations, growth, development, and product quality are elaborated very thoroughly and the possibilities of plant growth and development manipulation are discussed. Chapter three deals with the mass and energy transport as the physical processes which govern the creation of the greenhouse climate in interaction with the plants and the greenhouse equipment. The good theoretical bases for discussion about possibilities of greenhouse climate manipulation and control are given. Various greenhouse constructions, the inside equipment, and their influence on climate are dealt in chapter four. Generally applicable principles are discussed against the background of the Dutch greenhouse technology. Chapter five describes and evaluates current climate control systems. Sensor and measurements, control principles and current implementation of hardware and software are dealt here. In chapter six knowledge from the previous chapters are integrated and are used to introduce the concept of "the intelligent climate control systems of the future" based on scientific principles and an integration of physiological, physical models and control engineering. The advantages and possibilities but also the limitation of this concept are discussed. This book represents unusually thorough treatise of the problems of greenhouse climate control. It will be very useful in research, education and extension work concerning greenhouse climate, its effect on crop growth and the underlying processes. It is of value to specialists and students in each of the disciplines.
F. ~RAMEK
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