Micrometeorological environment in traditional and photovoltaic greenhouses and effects on growth and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

In recent years there was a large spread of photovoltaic (PV) greenhouses, in spite of some agronomic problems caused by micrometeorological limitations for the underlying crops during cold season. To evaluate the effects of PV panels situated on the roof of a greenhouse, Air Temperature (AT) and Global Solar Radiation (GSR) were monitored in a PV greenhouse and a traditional one and their effects on quali-quantitative features of tomato berries were analysed. In the PV greenhouse a relevant reduction of temperature (about -2°C in march-may) and global solar radiation (less than a half of the traditional one in the same period) was observed and tomato yield was lower, with a poor content of lycopene, β-carotene, sucrose, reducing sugars and total sugars in the fruits. On the contrary, chlorophyll concentration in the leaves and use efficiency of solar radiation were higher and the compensation point lower in comparison to the plants grown in the traditional greenhouse.