Summary
In order to overcome severe agricultural environments in Kagoshima area such as falling volcanic ash, typhoons and high temperature in summer season, a concept of underground plant cultivating system was proposed. A space in semi-underground with sunlight collector was designed and constructed to investigate the feasibility of underground agriculture on a practical scale. Air temperature of the space in semi-underground and soil temperature in underground were measured. Air temperature in a plastic greenhouse on the ground was also measured and compared with that of the space in semi-underground. The air temperature of the space in semi-underground was very stable in all the year round, and there was little difference of temperature between daylime and nighttime. Heat balance of the space in semi-underground was discussed. The heating and cooling load of the space in semi-underground was estimated and the energy load was compared with that of the plastic greenhouse on the ground. The space in semi-underground was considered to be valid for controlling and keeping stable air temperature and saving energy.HomePageKeywords: underground plant cultivating system, space in semi-underground, heat balance analysis, soil temperature, heating and cooling load