Green Houses in Ariyalur

A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse, or, if with sufficient heating, a hothouse) is a structure with walls and roof made chiefly of transparent material, such as glass, in which plants requiring regulated climatic conditions are grown.

Greenhouses are frames of inflated structure covered with a transparent material in which crops are grown under controlled environment conditions. Greenhouse cultivation as well as other modes of controlled environment cultivation have been evolved to create favorable micro-climates, which favours the crop production could be possible all through the year or part of the year as required. Greenhouses and other technologies for controlled environment plant production are associated with the off-season production of ornamentals and foods of high value in cold climate areas where outdoor production is not possible. The primary environmental parameter traditionally controlled is temperature, usually providing heat to overcome extreme cold conditions. However, environmental control can also include (Greenhouses in Ariyalur) cooling to mitigate excessive temperatures, light control either shading or adding supplemental light, carbon dioxide levels, relative humidity, water, plant nutrients and pest control.(Greenhouses in Ariyalur)

The use of the greenhouse is mainly for producing seasonal and non-seasonal crops, for the production of high-quality flowers, vegetables, and the preparation of nursery prepared by tissue culture.(Greenhouses in Ariyalur)

The design of greenhouse should be based upon sound scientific principles which facilitates controlled environment for the plant growth. Controlled environment plant production systems are used widely throughout the world to produce plant materials and products at a time or place, or of a quality that can not be obtained outdoors. Controlled environment agriculture requires far more capital investment per unit area than field agriculture and thus must essentially be correspondingly more intensive to justify investment costs. The greenhouse is a structure covered with a transparent material for admitting natural light for plant growth. (Greenhouses in Ariyalur) The main components of greenhouse like structure, covering/glazing and temperature control systems need proper design for healthy growth of plants.

The duration of crop in greenhouse is the key to make the greenhouse technology profitable or the duration of production in greenhouses should be short. In this context, use of containers in greenhouse production assumes greater significance. The containers are used for the following activities in greenhouse production.

• Raising of seedlings in the nursery
• Growing plants in greenhouses for hybrid seed production of flowers
• Growing plants for cutflower production.
• Growing potted ornamental plants.

About Ariyalur

Ariyalur is a town and district headquarters of Ariyalur district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is rich in limestone ,surrounded with seven cement factories and two sugar factories. The town is located at a distance of 310 km (190 mi) from the state capital Chennai. Ariyalur was a part of the erstwhile Trichinopoly District until India's independence in 1947 and Tiruchirappalli district until 1995, Perambalur district until 2007 and subsequently a part of the newly formed Ariyalur district. The town is a part of the fertile Cauvery Delta and the major profession in the town is agriculture.

Located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Ariyalur district was, many eons ago, completely submerged beneath the sea. But geological forces had their way, and as the region rose out of the water, it grew to eventually become a hub for agriculture and the limestone and cement industries.

History suggests that Ariyalur is one of those areas in India that has been inhabited since prehistoric times, by Paleolithic and Neolithic dwellers. Subsequently, many kingdoms have laid claim to this small region, but the one that had the greatest influence on the district was the Chola dynasty. A number of temples in Ariyalur have stood the test of time, since the days of the Cholas, and are important points of interest in the region today.

The village of Gangaikonda Cholapuram, in Ariyalur, is a testament to the Cholas’ long and prosperous rule over the region. They built a number of temples and structures in the area, though most were destroyed in subsequent wars. The one temple that still stands and continues to attract devotees from far and wide is the Brihadeeswara Shiv Temple. The architecture of this temple, declared a protected monument by the Archeological Survey of India, follows the style of the Thanjavur temples, found across the state.