Can Wheat Be Grown in a Greenhouse?
Yes, wheat can indeed be grown in a greenhouse. Wheat is one of the most important crops from a worldwide perspective. While wheat has traditionally been cultivated in open fields, its growth faces several challenges. As climate change continues to make agriculture more difficult and land becomes scarcer, innovative solutions are emerging. One such solution is greenhouse farming, which offers a controlled environment where wheat can be grown more sustainably.
In terms of global market trends, North America is expected to maintain a strong share of the greenhouse produce market, thanks to its large population and well-established agricultural infrastructure. However, the Asia-Pacific region is likely to experience significant growth. Wheat and rice are major staples in many Asian countries, and growing these crops year-round in greenhouses could help meet the rising demand from the region’s growing population.
Growing Wheat in a Greenhouse: Key Factors for Success
When we think of wheat, we often picture vast fields under the open sky, where the plants soak up sunlight, turning from green to golden before harvest. But can wheat be grown in a greenhouse? To answer that, it’s helpful to first understand the growth requirements of wheat.
To successfully grow wheat, it’s essential to understand its growth stages and provide the right environment at each phase. Wheat progresses through several stages: germination, seedling, tillering, stem elongation, flowering, milk and dough development, and finally, ripening. Each stage has its own specific requirements, and the growing environment must be adjusted accordingly.
Temperature is one of the most important factors. Wheat grows best in temperatures between 15°C and 25°C. It can handle slightly lower temperatures during germination, but anything below 4°C can slow growth. There’s an exception, though: winter wheat requires a cold period, known as vernalization. When young wheat plants are exposed to temperatures between 0°C and 5°C for several weeks, it triggers flowering. On the other hand, constant warm temperatures speed up the development process, but anything above 30°C can cause heat stress and reduce yields.
Light is also crucial. Wheat requires strong light, especially during the grain-filling phase. To meet its needs, aim for a Daily Light Integral (DLI) of 15-25 mol/m²/day and a photoperiod (the length of light exposure each day) of 14 to 16 hours. In areas with limited sunlight or shorter days, supplemental lighting, like LED grow lights, can help ensure healthy growth.
The ideal range of humidity for wheat is between 40% and 60%. Humidity levels that are too high can promote fungal diseases like rust and mildew, which can damage the crop. Additionally, the pH of the soil should be between 6 and 7 to support healthy wheat growth.
As wheat thrives in warm temperatures, high light intensity, and moderate humidity, a greenhouse is perfectly suited to create these ideal conditions, making it possible to grow wheat year-round even in colder climates and significantly increase yields.
While growing wheat in a greenhouse is possible and offers many benefits, it requires careful attention to detail. By managing temperature, light, humidity, and other factors, greenhouse-grown wheat can thrive and contribute to feeding the world’s growing population.
Greenhouse Wheat Production for Research and Resilience
But what about the yields of greenhouse wheat?
Typically, wheat grown in open fields yields from less than 1 ton per hectare per year in challenging conditions (like drought or nutrient-poor soil) to over 10 tons per hectare per year in ideal climates with ample water and long growing seasons.
While precise figures for large-scale commercial greenhouse wheat production are hard to come by, this method is becoming more popular. Research shows that greenhouses have the potential to produce significantly more wheat per unit area than open fields.
At present, greenhouse wheat production is largely focused on research, seed production, and small-scale commercial efforts.
Scientists use greenhouses to study wheat genetics, develop new and improved varieties, investigate how environmental factors affect wheat growth, and fine-tune growing techniques for controlled environments.
For example, the University of Arizona and Wageningen University in the Netherlands have conducted extensive studies on optimizing light, temperature, and nutrient management for greenhouse wheat. Their research provides valuable insights into how wheat grows and its yield potential in controlled environments.
Greenhouses offer a way to produce high-quality wheat seeds that are free from diseases and environmental stresses, ensuring better crop yields in fields. For instance, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) is using greenhouses to develop climate-resilient rice varieties, addressing the challenges posed by global climate change. This research is highly relevant to wheat production as well, as it explores ways to grow crops in changing environmental conditions.
The Wheat Genetic Resources Center (WGRC), a globally recognized institution, is expanding its greenhouse facilities. The WGRC focuses on preserving and utilizing the genetic diversity found in wild wheat relatives to improve modern wheat varieties. Their greenhouse work will focus on identifying genes that provide resistance to pests and diseases, which will then be incorporated into new wheat varieties for farmers worldwide.
