Multi-Span Film Greenhouses: Innovative Applications in Modern Agriculture
Multi-span film greenhouses represent a significant advancement in protected agriculture, integrating intelligent environmental control and optimized spatial design to deliver multidimensional value in agricultural production. By leveraging smart technologies and flexible structural engineering, these greenhouses enhance crop productivity, resource efficiency, and adaptability across diverse climatic conditions.

Core Functions and Technological Innovations
1. Precision Environmental Control
Equipped with IoT sensors, these greenhouses continuously monitor parameters such as temperature, humidity, and CO₂ concentration. An intelligent automation system regulates ventilation, supplemental lighting, and integrated water-fertilization equipment accordingly. For instance, in tomato cultivation, the system maintains a day-night temperature differential of 5–8°C and relative humidity of 60–70%, thereby improving sugar accumulation and increasing yield. The application of positive pressure ventilation combined with air-source heat pumps can reduce indoor temperatures by over 10°C during summer months while simultaneously lowering the incidence of pests and diseases.
2. Optimized Structural Design
The modular multi-span structure increases land use efficiency by more than 30%, with flexible span widths ranging from 8 to 20 meters to accommodate mechanized operations. Double-layer inflatable film technology creates an insulating air layer between the films, enhancing thermal retention by 15% during winter, making such greenhouses particularly suitable for colder northern regions.
Typical Application Scenarios
1. High-Value Crop Production
For fruit-bearing vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers, yields per acre can reach three to five times those of traditional open-field cultivation. When combined with soilless cultivation techniques, productivity is further increased. In flower seedling propagation and medicinal herb production, partitioned light control systems enable precise quality management.
2. Integrated Ecological Models
Innovative models such as "planting–aquaculture integration"—for example, cultivating strawberries in the upper layer while raising fish below—create circular ecological systems. Some greenhouses are also equipped with photovoltaic panels, achieving "agricultural–photovoltaic complementarity" and moving toward energy self-sufficiency.
Economic Benefits and Sustainability
1. Cost Advantages
Compared to glass greenhouses, multi-span film structures reduce construction costs by 30–50%. High-quality PO film can remain serviceable for 5 to 8 years, offering long-term reliability.
2. Resource Efficiency
Drip irrigation systems achieve water use efficiency of up to 90%, while precise fertilization reduces nitrogen application by 40%. Additionally, up to 85% of the film material can be recycled, minimizing environmental impact.
Regional Adaptation Cases
1. Northern Regions
Sunk-type designs, with greenhouses built 80–100 cm below ground level, improve heat retention. External thermal blankets further reduce heat loss by approximately 36%.
2. Southern Rain-Prone Zones
Sawtooth roof structures enhance wind resistance against typhoons, and integrated drainage systems prevent waterlogging.
Through the integration of these technologies, multi-span film greenhouses facilitate a transition from traditional farming to smart agriculture. They have become essential tools for enhancing the competitiveness of agricultural products and promoting sustainable farming practices, contributing significantly to rural revitalization and the development of ecological agriculture.