In almost all of our plant breeding article series, we draw attention to the fact that the correct use of carbon dioxide greatly increases the yield. So what kind of carbon dioxide reactor is suitable for a greenhouse, gardener or hobby grower? In this article, we will share the answers to this question.
CO2 tubes and burners are among the most suitable carbon dioxide solutions for indoor greenhouses and indoor plant growing facilities. CO2 tubes are connected to the outlet with the help of a regulator and carbon dioxide support is provided to the greenhouse. When using carbon dioxide tubes, it should be ensured that air is not evacuated and carbon dioxide accumulates inside. Preferably, the pipes that will coincide with the active area of the fans or the top of the plants and the outlets to be placed as you can see in the photo will contribute to the equal distribution of carbon dioxide in the greenhouse. It can be counted among the most effective methods, but its cost is high. Do not be late to train your employees on the use of carbon dioxide, as this high cost will return you as a high harvest and quality product in correct use.
On the other hand, furnaces produce carbon dioxide as a by-product by burning various chemicals (such as LPG and propane) and are suspended from the ceiling of the greenhouse. Since carbon dioxide molecules are lighter than air, the output of your carbon dioxide reactor must be at a higher level than the plants. Furnaces are efficient carbon dioxide reactors. Costs are more reasonable than tubes. Although they cannot provide as concentrated and fast production as tubes, they contribute to the accumulation of sufficient carbon dioxide even in greenhouses that can be considered very large. For small greenhouses, they can be considered as the most logical carbon dioxide reactor alternative. It is the most logical choice for greenhouses that need heat or high carbon dioxide and heat. For hobby gardeners, there are many alternatives for carbon dioxide sources. Various micellar, yeast and acid systems that claim to provide 1200-1300 PPM continuously in volumes such as 4x4x3 m spaces that are marketed to hobby gardeners. The efficiency of these systems is limited and their costs are in the top segment of carbon dioxide sources. The ratio between the money spent and the amount of CO2 produced is far from satisfactory. For this reason, it is recommended that hobby gardeners looking for a sustainable carbon dioxide reactor set up their own yeast fermentation systems.
A 25 liter paint can with a lid is used as a hopper to mix yeast, sugar and warm water. Two holes are drilled on the cover and after the air pump is placed, air contact with the outside of the system on the cover is cut with the help of a silicone and plastic container. CO2 outlet is given to an area in your growing cabin where the ventilator is deemed active with the help of a long air hose to be connected to the air pump, and thus circulation within your cabin is ensured. Turning off the exhaust fan of your cabinet or turning it off completely helps carbon dioxide to accumulate inside. The yeast and sugar mixture to be prepared in a 25 liter tank is effective for 5-7 days for a 120x120x200cm cabinet. For hobby growers' gardens using powerful agricultural lighting units such as yeast-based carbon dioxide reactors, LEDWisdom grow lights, it would be an invaluable improvement that can be achieved with a simple investment.
Measuring the routine amount of carbon dioxide in your greenhouse is very important. Many devices that can record these measurements on a daily basis are readily available in the market. Plants can use up to 1500 PPM carbon dioxide (We recommend that you take a look at our other article that examines the relationship between carbon dioxide and temperature.) 1500 PPM carbon dioxide can be considered an extreme amount even for plants with high requirements, and at such high carbon dioxide levels, a temperature around 32-33 degrees. and an average PAR value of 1500 μmol · m-2 · s-1 should be provided. We hope our article will be useful and suggest that you start your research quickly to choose the right carbon dioxide system for your application.