Description
Allows users to configure light reduction percentages for specific weeks, representing the effect of coatings or chalk applied to the greenhouse. These inputs are stored as a target and are used to adjust incoming solar radiation values in the simulation engine. This helps improve the accuracy of predictions related to fruit development and harvest timing.
Users can enter a percentage for each week where light is reduced. To represent removal or degradation of coating, they can either leave the value empty or enter 0%.
Rationale for Use
By enabling you to explicitly define light reduction strategies, we can:
More accurately model fruit development times.
Reflect the true radiation exposure experienced by the crop.
Support seasonal shading strategies in both short- and long-term forecasts.
Align simulations more closely with actual greenhouse conditions.
This feature is especially relevant for high-light periods where coating plays a significant role in climate management.
Formula
The reduction is applied as:
Total Radiation = Solar Radiation × (1 - Light Reduction %)
Where:
Light Reduction % is defined by the user for a given week (e.g., 30% → 0.30).
If no value is entered or the value is 0%, solar radiation remains unadjusted.
This adjustment directly impacts the Total Radiation metric used in crop and harvest simulations.