Controlled Environment Agriculture

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is any agricultural technology that enables the grower to manipulate a crop's environment to the desired conditions. CEA technologies include greenhouse, hydroponics, aquaculture, and aquaponics. Controlled variables include temperature, humidity, pH, and nutrient analysis.

In research, CEA is useful for isolating specific environmental variables for closer study. For example, researchers may study photosynthesis by comparing a crop from a greenhouse with special pane tinting with one that is not tinted. The advantage is that all other factors can be kept constant, reducing the incidence of another influence on the experiment.

In commercial agriculture, CEA can increase efficiency, reduce pests and diseases, and save resources.

[edit] See also

• Aquaculture
• Aquaponics
• Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) at the University of Arizona
• Greenhouse
• Hydroponics