Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Heat stress suffered by workers employed in vegetable grafting in greenhouses

Author(s):

Alvaro Marucci *, Barbara Pagniello, Danilo Monarca, Massimo Cecchini,  Andrea Colantoni, Paolo Biondi

Recieved Date: 2012-02-08, Accepted Date: 2012-04-28

Abstract:

The use of grafted plants on resistant genotypes is now widely widespread in Mediterranean horticulture. Plants with a greater resistance to infection from soil-borne pathogens and an increased tolerance towards abiotic stress are obtained from the different grafting techniques.Vegetable grafting is carried out in controlled environments; the most commonly used are greenhouses which allow us to adjust the main climatic factors that can affect the healing process: temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation. The values of air temperature recommended by literature for healing process are from 24°C to 27°C although some authors indicate higher values, the relative humidity must be close to 95% and shade cloths must be used to reduce radiation on plants.Total automation of grafting operations is difficult to achieve due to the imperfect uniformity of the plants but some phases of grafting can be automated to increase labour productivity. In this context, the presence of the operator is essential and he is subject to heat stress in addition to carry out repetitive tasks. The aim of this study is to assess the heat stress of workers employed in vegetable grafting in Mediterranean greenhouses. For this purpose climatic and microclimatic data were gathered in a greenhouse used for vegetable grafting (tomato, watermelon, melon, etc.) at a farm in northern Lazio in the period from September 2010 to June 2011 and the main indices used for heat stress (WBGT, PMV and PPD according to the regulations, ESI as an alternative to WBGT) were calculated. The results proved to be much higher than the critical thresholds of all the indices in the months of May and June, while in April the thresholds are exceeded only for short periods. In order to mitigate the conditions of heat stress we can take different measures: a more accurate control of higher temperatures in confined environment (ventilation, cooling, etc.), a better choice of worker’s clothing  and a reduction in time of exposure to high temperatures. 

Keywords:

Heat stress, stress index, Mediterranean greenhouse, vegetable grafting

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
Category: Environment
Pages: 1117-1121

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