Application of Polycarbonate Panels in Modern Agriculture
What Are Polycarbonate Panels?
With the recent unpredictable climatic conditions and many plants requiring controlled environments to grow fully, greenhouses have come in handy. Greenhouses provide maximum nurturing conditions by providing the right amount of warmth, temperature for seedlings, and plants to survive. In the outside environment, frost falls can damage plants hence safer in greenhouses. Agriculture is revolutionizing, from the use of plastic to glass greenhouses and in recent years the setting in polycarbonate sheets in greenhouse making.
Polycarbonate sheets make a longer-lasting greenhouse but at a competitive cost. Polycarbonate panels are unbreakable polymers that transmit plenty of light, insulate it from escape, and withstand severe weather at the same time. The panels are guaranteed to withstand ultra-violet (UV) radiation for an extended period. What more will a farmer or hobbyist need after installing polycarbonate sheets on their greenhouse? Perfect temperature control, which is the major focus of greenhouse and UV protection all in one package.
The unbreakable polycarbonate panels come in two different and distinct forms;
Otherwise, there are integrated polycarbonate systems, such as:
Polycarbonate Panels in Modern Agriculture
The agricultural sector is lucrative, sustains life on earth, and, more importantly, holds the world’s economy on its hinges. To name a few applications, the polycarbonate panels are excellent and cost-effective in making greenhouses, poultry shelters, dairy farms, fish farms, storage buildings, meatpacking, and food processing.
First, polycarbonate sheets have replaced glass and plastic material when it comes to making greenhouses. The sheets stand out because unlike glass, which is massive, breakable, and susceptible to damage in adverse weather conditions, Polycarbonate is the exact opposite. With such features, polycarbonate sheets are the preferred material for agricultural structures like livestock breeding, animal feeding apart from greenhouse making.
Polycarbonate sheets have uniform heat distribution. All the light rays passing through the sheets into the structure are equally distributed and evenly spread to all parts of the building. The light reaching all the plants or seedlings in equal intensity translates to the growth, flowering, and maturity of the plants at the same time. This is because the level of light transmittance of the greenhouse is a direct factor in plant growth. With equal transmission, at the time of harvest, all plants are maximally grown and ready for disposal for the intended purpose.
Can I use the acrylic sheet for my greenhouse?
No. Although acrylic sheet offers excellent light transmittance, acrylic is not stronger than polycarbonate sheet, and it will be broken if you curve it. Normally, acrylic can be manufactured in different types, acrylic film, acrylic rod, and acrylic tube. But the acrylic sheet can’t be used for the greenhouse, it is widely used for POP display, and home decoration.
The thermal insulation effect provides just the right warm conditions necessary for plant growth. From raising seedlings to growing herbal medicine, the insulation makes the crops grow in a much more suitable environment. Compared to polycarbonate sheets, glass has poor thermal insulation; hence the crops would not produce as much better in structures made of glass. Right temperatures accelerate the growth process and improve the nutritional content of the plants grown under such conditions.
Diffused panels that are available in the form of twin-wall Polycarbonate create even light. This reduces plant burn, which is caused by too much light. The diffused panels also reduce shaded areas which otherwise promote disease and micro-organism growth. Thus, using polycarbonate panels reduces the chances of disease spread in the greenhouse, consequently leading to maximum harvest.
In the construction of nurseries and other plants are grown in greenhouses, UV protection is vital. Polycarbonate sheets provide excellent protection against harmful UV radiation while allowing entry into the sunlight. Depending on the requirements needed for the crop being grown, you can choose from single-walled, twin-walled, or multiwall polycarbonate sheets.
Single-walled polycarbonate sheets have reduced light diffusion and low thermal effect in contrast to twin-wall sheet. Multi-walled sheets are well equipped with these qualities of excellent light distribution and heat holding capacity, providing the right temperatures for growth.
Maybe you want to know five wall polycarbonate sheet, here.
Apart from greenhouses, polycarbonate sheets are used in making walls and roofs of the animal shelter. Unlike concrete walls, these sheets allow infiltration of light into cowsheds, hen houses, and pigsties. The controlled temperatures in the shade enhance animal growth while decreasing disease spread. If you don’t want more light for your greenhouse, frosted polycarbonate sheet will be better choice. All these benefits boost the economy as it reduces costs that would be otherwise invested in controlling the disease.
Ecological parks have also invested in the use of polycarbonate sheets, especially during the cold winters. This gives people a feeling of spring during the freezing winters.
Conclusion
Polycarbonate panels have many features that make them preferable in the agricultural sector. Distinguishing features of these sheets are. Durable as they can withstand damage and scratch, flexible providing a wide range of design of the structure and uniform heat distribution while protecting against harmful UV radiation and light in weight.
UVPLASTIC is a leading manufacturer of polycarbonate in China, and a provider of machining polycarbonate services. If you have any requirements, just be free to let us know. UVACRYLIC is a subsidiary, which is a top manufacturer of plexiglass.
