A Research Project on Phytotron With Natural Lighting

This paper states the experience on tne design and construction of a phytotron with natural lighting for the Chinese Plant Protectin Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Research by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Research and Planning, Beijing, P · R · C · in order to explain the principles of the Construction of a phytotron. This project was assigned to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Research and planning in 1982 and completed in July 1985. After one and half years running, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture organized a group of research fellows from different agricultural institutes to check up the performance of this phytotron. They Collected the data including the field distribution of temperature and humidity within the phytotron and natural light transmissivity both in 1986 and 1987. The results were very satisfied. That means the design and construction of this phytotron are successful. The specific feature of this phytotron is how to design a phytotron to suit measures to local conditions to reduce the construction cost and the energy consumption. This paper introduces the overall plan of the phytotron, economization on energy, structure of aluminium-alloy framework, sun-shading measures, air-cooling measures and automatic temperature control, complement of light, etc. This phytotron tallies with the principle of practicality, economy, reliablity and advantage. It solves the problem creativity, that we can research the wheat rust inallthe year, especially in summer.Authors of this paper hope that this design will be a reference for other phytotron de-signers.And authors will appreciate any suggestions from anybody else.