Agriculture remains one of the most important industries for ensuring food security and economic development. In the context of a constantly changing natural environment and climate anomalies, creating optimal conditions for plant growth and development is becoming a more complex task. That is why it is important to understand modern methods of improving crop productivity. In this article, we will consider one of these methods and answer the question: “Why do they put dry ice in greenhouses?”

The purpose of our article is to provide a clear and detailed overview of the use of dry ice in agriculture, especially in the context of greenhouse farming. We plan to cover various aspects of dry ice use, from its properties and benefits to practical examples of its effective application.

In addition, we would like to emphasize that our company “Nova Teplitsa” is a leading supplier of modern greenhouses and agricultural equipment throughout Ukraine. We strive not only to provide customers with high quality greenhouses, but also provide information support and advice on optimizing agricultural processes.

Dry ice as a means in greenhouses

Dry ice, also known as solid carbon dioxide, is a solid state of carbon dioxide (CO2) at very low temperatures, about -78.5 degrees Celsius. It is important to note that CO2 does not melt, but sublimates, passing directly from a solid state to a gaseous state without forming a liquid phase. This property makes it a unique and useful tool in agriculture and greenhouse farming.

Basic properties of dry ice:

• Low Temperature: It has extremely low temperature, making it effective for cooling and temperature regulation in greenhouses.
• No Residuals: When CO2 carbon dioxide sublimes, there are no residual chemicals left behind, making it safe for plants and the environment.
• High Concentration of Carbon Dioxide: Contains high concentration of carbon dioxide, which is an important element for plant growth.

Advantages of using dry ice in agriculture and greenhouse farming:

1. Carbon Dioxide Level Management: Allows precise control and maintenance of CO2 levels in greenhouses. This is especially important during winter when CO2 levels may be insufficient for optimal plant growth. Adding CO2 to greenhouses increases the CO2 concentration, which improves photosynthesis and therefore increases crop yields.
2. Cooling and temperature control: Used to cool greenhouses, especially on hot summer days. By adding dry ice to water, the cold is released as CO2 gas, which helps to reduce the temperature inside the greenhouse.
3. Pest and disease control: Can also be used to disinfect greenhouse equipment and soil. This reduces the risk of spreading pests and pathogens, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
4. Environmental safety: The use of CO2 carbon dioxide in greenhouse agriculture leaves no chemical residues and does not harm the environment, which is consistent with the requirements of environmental sustainability and organic farming.

Dry ice is proving to be a powerful and versatile tool in agriculture and greenhouse farming, helping to increase crop yields and production efficiency by regulating the climate and providing plants with the elements they need to grow and thrive.

How does dry ice help in greenhouses?

Dry ice can be an effective tool for regulating temperature and humidity levels inside greenhouses. Using dry ice to cool greenhouses is especially important during the hot summer months, when high temperatures can negatively affect plant growth and yield.

How does this work:

• Dry ice is added to a container of water.
• When in contact with water, it begins to sublimate, changing from a solid to a gaseous state. This process absorbs heat from the environment and reduces the temperature in the greenhouse.
• The carbon dioxide gas released when dry ice sublimes can also increase the humidity level inside the greenhouse. This is especially useful in dry areas or during periods of low humidity.

Climate stabilization and improved plant growth:

Dry ice helps stabilize the climate in greenhouses, which has a direct impact on plant growth and development. It is important to maintain optimal conditions inside the greenhouse to ensure maximum productivity. How carbon dioxide CO2 can help with this:

1. Temperature Regulation: Allows you to maintain optimal temperature for different crops, which promotes their healthy growth.
2. Increased CO2 levels: When CO2 sublimes, carbon dioxide is released into the air, increasing its concentration. This improves conditions for photosynthesis, which in turn promotes more vigorous growth and increased yields.
3. Maintaining Stable Humidity: Can help maintain the required humidity, which is especially important for plants that are sensitive to changes in soil and air humidity.

Protection from pests and diseases:

Dry ice can also be used as a disinfectant for greenhouse equipment and soil. This helps prevent the spread of pests and pathogens, which can seriously affect crop yields and product quality. The use of carbon dioxide CO2 reduces the need for chemical treatments, making agriculture more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

All these aspects make dry ice a powerful tool for improving greenhouse conditions, increasing crop productivity and making agriculture more resilient to various climate challenges and diseases.

Examples of dry ice applications in agriculture

Dry ice has proven its effectiveness in various aspects of agriculture and at different stages of plant growth. Let's look at some specific cases of using CO2 in different types of greenhouses and descriptions of successful results:

Cooling greenhouses on hot days:

One of the most critical issues faced by agricultural producers in hot climates or during summer heat waves is overheating of greenhouses. High temperatures can have a negative impact on plant growth and development, which in turn leads to a decrease in yield and product quality. In such cases, dry ice becomes an invaluable tool for maintaining optimal climate conditions inside the greenhouse.

How Dry Ice Cooling Works:

• Dry Ice Preparation: At the beginning of the process, dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) must be available in the form of blocks or pellets.
• Dry ice placement: Placed in containers or special chambers located inside the greenhouse.
• Interaction with water: Water is added to containers with dry ice. When in contact with water, carbon dioxide CO2 begins to sublimate, changing from a solid to a gaseous state. This process absorbs heat from the surrounding environment, resulting in a decrease in temperature.
• Cooling: Carbon dioxide gas, released during the sublimation of carbon dioxide CO2, acts as a cooling medium and reduces the air temperature inside the greenhouse.

Advantages of dry ice cooling:

1. Maintaining Optimal Conditions: Dry ice cooling helps maintain the temperature inside the greenhouse at the level necessary for healthy plant growth. This is especially important for crops that are sensitive to high temperatures.
2. Reduced Plant Stress: Dry ice cooling helps plants avoid stressful conditions that can cause them to overheat in hot weather. This promotes better growth and yield.
3. Energy Savings: It is an efficient and cost effective method of cooling greenhouses, reducing energy costs compared to traditional air conditioning systems.
4. Environmentally friendly: Dry ice cooling is environmentally friendly as it does not involve chemicals that could negatively impact the environment or product quality.

By using CO2 to cool greenhouses, it is possible to improve the conditions for plant growth and development, which leads to higher yields and product quality. This method is an important part of modern agricultural technologies that help to cope with climate challenges and improve production efficiency.

Maintaining CO2 levels:

The level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air is an important factor for the photosynthesis process in plants. In some greenhouse systems, especially during the winter or when ventilation is insufficient, the CO2 concentration may not be sufficient for optimal plant growth and development. In such cases, the use of dry ice becomes an effective method of maintaining the required CO2 level in the greenhouse.

How does dry ice CO2 maintenance work?

• Identifying CO2 deficiency: The greenhouse or crops may show signs of CO2 deficiency, such as slow growth, pale leaves or low yields. CO2 levels are measured and if they are not high enough, steps are taken to increase them.
• Dry Ice Preparation: Carbon dioxide, which is in the form of blocks or pellets, is prepared for use.
• Dry Ice Placement: Dry ice blocks are placed inside the greenhouse near the plants. They can be placed on the floor, on suspended structures or in special containers.
• Dry Ice Sublimation: When carbon dioxide comes into contact with air, a sublimation process begins, converting dry ice into CO2 gas. This process slowly and evenly increases the CO2 concentration in the greenhouse.
• Monitoring and regulation: CO2 levels in the greenhouse are monitored using sensors and adjusted as necessary by adding or removing dry ice.

Benefits of maintaining CO2 levels with dry ice:

1. Improved photosynthesis: High CO2 levels encourage plants to perform photosynthesis more efficiently. This means that plants can use light and carbohydrates more efficiently to grow and develop.
2. Increased Yields: Maintaining optimal CO2 levels in a greenhouse can result in increased yields and product quality. This is especially important for commercially grown crops such as vegetables and herbs.
3. Reducing the negative effects of CO2 deficiency: Maintaining CO2 levels with dry ice avoids stressful conditions for plants associated with CO2 deficiency, leading to reduced losses and increased crop resilience.
4. Environmentally Friendly: Using dry ice to increase CO2 levels is an environmentally friendly method that leaves no negative traces and does not affect the environment.

Maintaining CO2 levels with dry ice is an important component of modern greenhouse climate control methods and allows optimizing conditions for the growth and production of agricultural crops in greenhouse conditions.

Pest and Pathogen Control:

Protecting plants from pests and diseases is one of the most important tasks in agriculture. Dry ice, or solid carbon dioxide, is a powerful and environmentally friendly means of combating microorganisms, pests and pathogens in greenhouse conditions.

How does dry ice disinfection work?

• Problem Definition: Identifying the presence of pests or pathogens that may negatively impact plants and crop yields. This may include the presence of fungal infections, insect pests, or other microorganisms.
• Dry ice preparation: Prepared for use, for example by crushing it into pellets or blocks that can be evenly distributed.
• Dry Ice Application: Placed in the area where a pest or pathogen problem has been identified, upon contact with microorganisms or surfaces, the carbon dioxide begins to sublimate, turning into a gaseous state.
• Action of sublimated CO2: Gaseous carbon dioxide released during the sublimation of dry ice has cooling and disinfectant properties. It destroys microorganisms, pests and pathogens found on equipment surfaces or in the soil.

Benefits of dry ice pest and pathogen control:

1. Efficiency: It has high bactericidal and fungicidal activity, which allows it to effectively destroy harmful microorganisms and pests.
2. Environmentally friendly: Dry ice disinfection does not involve the use of chemicals, making this method environmentally friendly and safe for the environment and humans.
3. Organic Farming Compatibility: The use of dry ice is especially important in organic farming where chemicals are not used and an alternative solution is required to control pests and pathogens.
4. Reduced Risk of Plant Disease and Damage: Controlling pests and pathogens with dry ice helps prevent the spread of plant diseases and damage, resulting in increased yields and product quality.

In summary, the use of carbon dioxide to disinfect greenhouse equipment and soil is an effective and environmentally friendly method of combating pests and pathogens in agriculture. It helps maintain plant health and ensure crop resistance to various diseases and pests.

Improving crop storage conditions:

One of the key aspects of successful agriculture is proper and effective storage of crops after harvest. Dry ice, or solid carbon dioxide, offers a unique opportunity to create ideal conditions for long-term storage of agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables and flowers.

How Dry Ice Storage Improver Works:

• Dry Ice Preparation: Prepared in blocks or pellets and placed in storage.
• Temperature control: Begins to sublimate at a certain temperature, which results in the creation of a cooling environment. The temperature in the storage is controlled in such a way as to provide optimal storage conditions for specific products. For example, for vegetables and fruits, a low temperature of about 0°C is often used.
• High Humidity: Sublimation of dry ice also increases the humidity level inside the storage facility. This is especially important because high humidity helps prevent shrinkage and weight loss of food during storage.
• Gas Management: Individual storage facilities can be modified to control oxygen concentrations and carbon dioxide levels, which also impact product preservation. For example, reducing oxygen levels can slow down oxidation processes and help maintain product quality.

Benefits of improving storage conditions with dry ice:

1. Product Preservation: Improving storage conditions with dry ice can extend the shelf life of agricultural products, which helps preserve and maintain product quality.
2. Preservation of freshness: High humidity and low temperature help to preserve the freshness and aroma of food products, which is important for maintaining their market value.
3. Environmentally Friendly: Dry ice storage enhancement is environmentally friendly as it does not involve chemical preservatives or treatments.
4. Economic Benefit: By extending shelf life and reducing wastage, farmers can save money by reducing the amount of food that is wasted.

Successful results of dry ice application in agriculture confirm its effectiveness in solving various problems related to climate conditions, protection from pests and diseases, as well as increasing the yield and productivity of agricultural crops. This method is becoming an increasingly important component of modern agriculture.

Efficiency and economic benefit

Using dry ice in agriculture can bring significant economic benefits compared to traditional methods. To better understand the effectiveness of this method, consider the calculation of economic benefits and the analysis of the cost and availability of carbon dioxide for agricultural enterprises.

Calculation of economic benefit:

• Increased Crop Yields: Using dry ice to cool greenhouses, maintain CO2 levels, and control pests and pathogens can result in significant increases in crop yields. Increased yields translate into increased revenue for the farming business.
• Reduced Produce Loss: Improved storage conditions using dry ice help reduce post-harvest produce losses, which is cost effective for farmers.
• Reduced Energy Costs: Can be more efficient and economical to use than some traditional air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
• Reduced Costs of Chemical Treatments: Using dry ice to control pests and pathogens can replace the need for chemical treatments, reducing costs and environmental risks.

Dry Ice Cost and Availability Analysis:

1. Dry Ice Cost: Dry ice costs can vary by location and supplier. However, in general, carbon dioxide is available from specialist suppliers and can be priced competitively with similar products.
2. Infrastructure: Dry ice requires minimal infrastructure to store and use, making it accessible to most agricultural businesses, including small and medium-sized farms.
3. Long-Term Savings: While some initial investment may be required to purchase equipment and dry ice, the economic benefits of using this method will be tangible in the long run through increased yields, reduced losses, and lower operating costs.

The use of dry ice in agriculture has demonstrated significant economic benefits, especially when properly applied and integrated into the agricultural process. This method provides increased productivity and reduced risks, making it an attractive option for agricultural enterprises of all sizes.

Potential problems and risks

Using dry ice in greenhouses can be an effective and safe method, but like any technology, it comes with potential problems and risks. It is important to understand these issues and take steps to prevent and manage them. Let’s look at some of the potential problems and risks:

1. Insufficient ventilation:

Problem: Sublimation of carbon dioxide produces carbon dioxide (CO2), which, if not managed correctly, can accumulate in the greenhouse and create an unbalanced climate.

Recommendations: Ensure good ventilation in the greenhouse to avoid CO2 accumulation. Use CO2 sensors to monitor gas concentrations and automatically adjust ventilation.

2. Frosts of plants:

Problem: If used incorrectly or if cooling is not controlled, there may be a risk of frost damage to plants.

Recommendations: Monitor temperature and use according to specific crop requirements. Place CO2 in special containers to avoid direct contact with plants.

3. Personnel safety:

Problem: It is a cold material and may cause frostbite or burns if in direct contact with skin.

Recommendations: Provide personnel with training in the safe handling of dry ice and provide them with appropriate protective clothing and equipment.

4. Improper storage of dry ice:

Problem: Must be stored in special containers at low temperatures. Improper storage can cause it to deteriorate quickly.

Recommendations: Monitor the storage conditions of carbon dioxide and purchase it from reliable suppliers.

5. Environmental issues:

Problem: Uncontrolled use may cause risk of environmental pollution.

Recommendations: Follow safe disposal and handling procedures for dry ice and its wrapping to prevent release into the environment.

6. Dependence on dry ice supplies:

Problem: Unavailability or supply problems may affect the continuity of processes in the greenhouse.

Recommendations: Develop inventory plans and alternative strategies for times when supply may be difficult.

Understanding and managing the risks associated with the use of dry ice in greenhouses is an important step to ensure the safety of plants, personnel and the environment, and to maximise the effectiveness of this innovative technology.

Why do they put dry ice in greenhouses? Results

The use of carbon dioxide in greenhouses opens up exciting prospects for agriculture and provides many benefits. In this article, we have looked at the various aspects of dry ice applications and its importance for agriculture.

Dry ice, with solid carbon dioxide as its base, has proven its effectiveness in maintaining optimal climate conditions in greenhouses. It helps control temperature and humidity, stabilizing the microclimate and creating ideal conditions for plant growth. This allows farmers to increase crop yields and product quality.

Pest and pathogen control is made more efficient and environmentally friendly by dry ice. It disinfects greenhouse equipment and soil, killing microorganisms, which is important for plant health and product safety.

Dry ice also plays a key role in improving crop storage conditions, extending the shelf life of agricultural products and maintaining their freshness.

It is important to note that the use of carbon dioxide also has economic benefits. Increased yields, reduced losses, reduced energy costs and chemical treatments make this method attractive to agricultural enterprises.

However, as with any innovation, there are potential risks such as inadequate ventilation, plant frost, and personnel safety. These risks can be successfully managed with appropriate precautions.

Overall, the use of dry ice in greenhouses is an important step in modern agriculture. It improves the efficiency, sustainability and safety of production, which helps meet the demand for high-quality agricultural products. Dry ice is the technology of the future that will help overcome the challenges of agriculture and ensure food security in a more sustainable world.