CURRENT AND FUTURE STATUS OF PROTECTED CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES IN ASIA

There are many forms of protected cultivation in Asia, which provide a better way than the open field to increase the quantity, quality, and off-season production of vegetables, fruits and ornamentals. China alone has more acreage of horticultural crops production under protection than that of the other continents combined. In 2010, there were more than 4 million ha protected vegetable (including melon and watermelon) production in China, which was over 95% of all protected production in China, and over 80% of all protected vegetable production in the world. Protected cultivation facilities in Asia range from low-cost polytunnels made of recyclable materials, which rely mostly on natural solar energy input, to very expensive and sophisticated plant factories, which exclude natural solar energy and rely almost exclusively on artificial energy input. Many horticultural crops (including those unique in Asia) and different stages of plants (including transplants, container plants, plants to harvest fruits and vegetables, etc.) could be produced profitably under various forms of protected cultivation. With the high adoption of protected cultivation in Asia, there is continuous new development in horticultural crops research and production and development in the related industries (i.e., development in LED). This article will overview the current status and future development of protected cultivation of horticultural crops in Asia, especially in East Asia.

CURRENT AND FUTURE STATUS OF PROTECTED CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES IN ASIA Academic Article