KNOWLEDGE-BASED CONTROL-SYSTEMS FOR SINGLE STEM ROSE PRODUCTION - PART II - IMPLEMENTATION AND FIELD-EVALUATION

Field evaluations of knowledge-based control systems (KBS) for single stem rose production were performed. TWO fuzzy inference systems (FIS) for automated selection of daytime and nighttime temperature were inc orporated into the design of the integrated environmental control syst ems. Assessments of systems' operational characteristics for daytime a nd nighttime temperature settings, single stem rose performance, and p otential supplemental heating energy savings were performed over three consecutive crops. It was found that the KBS is capable of making a c ritical decision for daytime temperature settings based on the princip le of economic optimization. Single stem roses produced by the KBS wer e graded by stem Length. Overall crop quality was in the medium to hig h grades far the first two tests and poor for the last test. From the investigations, it was learned that undesirable low daytime temperatur e and light level during plant establishment promotes flower bud abort ion. Potential benefits of heating energy savings using the KBS were e stimated compared to a blueprint set point schedule (21 degrees C). A moderate reduction in heating energy costs could be realized by using the KBS. The new method demonstrated the success of incorporating a FI S into decision support for daily environment control decisions, where conflicting economic goals must be dynamically re-evaluated as crop c onditions and weather vary.