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Does growing vegetables in plastic greenhouses enhance regional ecosystem services beyond the food supply?
Author(s) -
Chang Jie,
Wu Xu,
Wang Yan,
Meyerson Laura A,
Gu Baojing,
Min Yong,
Xue Hui,
Peng Changhui,
Ge Ying
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1890/100223
Subject(s) - ecosystem services , agriculture , environmental science , greenhouse gas , greenhouse , ecosystem , carbon sequestration , natural resource economics , business , agricultural economics , agroforestry , environmental protection , geography , agronomy , ecology , economics , carbon dioxide , archaeology , biology
In recent years, plastic greenhouse vegetable cultivation (PGVC) has expanded worldwide, particularly in China, where it accounts for more than 90% of all global PGVC operations. As compared with conventional agricultural methods, PGVC has doubled crop yields by extending growing seasons and intensifying agriculture. PGVC also offers more ecosystem services relative to conventional approaches, including greater soil carbon sequestration, lower water consumption, and improved soil protection at regional scales. The economic benefits of this easily implemented agricultural method are attractive to small‐holder farmers. However, greater environmental impacts (eg greenhouse‐gas emissions, generation of large amounts of plastic waste) are associated with PGVC than with conventional approaches. Here, we review what is currently known about PGVC and identify future research priorities that will comprehensively assess the ecosystem services offered by this method of cultivation, as well as its environmental impacts and socioeconomic benefits.