Tongji University has developed an automated greenhouse which protects plants from snow and frost while saving energy.
The greenhouse can have a temperature five degrees Celsius higher than a standard one but with energy consumption some 15 to 20 percent lower.
Jointly developed by the university's eight colleges, the greenhouse has a sawtooth-shaped structure with a double-layer membrane covering.
All its roof windows, side windows and heat preservation membrane inside can be opened and the design allows better light, ventilation and heat preservation, the Tongji researchers said.
After ticking what to grow, when to grow it and the expected energy consumption on a computer, farmers don't need to take special care of the plants. The automatic control system determines the entire watering, fertilizing and temperature process.
Wu Junhui, a lecturer with Tongji's modern agricultural sciences and engineering research institute, said one of the greenhouse's highlights was its adjustable automated computer system. He said imported systems didn't suit local climate conditions and used more energy. The new greenhouse costs about one-third of the cost of an import.
The system has been designed to be user-friendly and suitable for farmers who only had a rudimentary knowledge of computers, Wu said. The greenhouse has been adopted by at least 20 farm areas.