Facilities Agricultural Biology and Environmental Engineering Research Team

1.Introduction

Principal Investigator: Professor Zhirong Zou


Professor in the College of Horticulture, National Renowned Teacher, National Ten Thousand People Plan Candidates, Special State Allowance Specialist, Director of Key Laboratory of the Protected Horticulture Engineering in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture. Main research focuses on protected agricultural engineering and protected horticulture physiological and ecological.


Concurrent Academic Appointment


Deputy Director of the Protected Agricultural Engineering Speciality Committee in the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering and the Chinese Society of Horticultural Science, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shaanxi Society of Horticultural Science and Deputy President of the Shaanxi Society of Agricultural Engineering, Director of the Protected Agriculture Science and Engineering Research Centre in the Shaanxi Province.Member of the first and the second session in the Ministry of Education Teaching Steering Committee, Member of the Shaanxi Provincial Government Expert Advisory Committee.


2. Main Research Fields & Contents


1)Theory and Optimum Design of Protected Agricultural Building Structures

2)Precise Regulation of Agriculture’s Biological Environment;

3)Theory of High Yield of Greenhouse Vegetable and Soilless Cultivation technique

4)Physiology and Molecular Biology Mechanisms of Protected Crops Grown in Stress Conditions

5)Soilless Cultivation and Organic Cultivation Techniques of Protected Crops

6)Leisure Agriculture Theory and Park Planning


3. Major Projects Undertaken


National Key Technology Support Program from the Ministry of Science and Technology


National Natural Science Foundation of China

The Earmarked Fund for Scientists of the National Vegetable Industry Technical System from the Ministry of Agriculture

The "948" Program from the Ministry of Agriculture

Profession Scientific Research Special item of Agricultural Public Welfare

National "863" Sub-Program

The Sub-Program of the National "spark plan"

Shaanxi Science and Technology Innovation Project of Local Major Project

Shaanxi Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation and Transformation Project


4. Academic Achievements


The research of the group mainly focuses on greenhouse structure design in Northwest China, greenhouse environmental control, and key technology systems of efficient cultivation to protect crops. A lot of achievements have been made in the past five years. We received four awards, including the first award for Shaanxi Science and Technology in 2014 "Research and application of active lighting and thermal storage in tilting roof solar-greenhouse," the SINOREF horticulture award in 2014 "Cultivation and production technology in greenhouse vegetables," the first award for Shaanxi Science and Technology Promotion in 2013 "Integration and promotion of key technology to vegetable quality and efficient production in the Shaanxi Province," and the first award for Yangling Science and Technology in 2011 "Research and promotion of modern agricultural park planning and key technology." We published over 200 papers, of which 30 papers were indexed by SCI/EI; authorized 32 national patents, including seven invention patents; formulated and issued six sets of regulations for greenhouse construction; three greenhouse cultivation techniques standards; and four technical specifications.



5. Team Members


The research was supported by the Protected Agriculture Science and Engineering Research Centre in Shaanxi Province and the Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture Engineering in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture. The research members include professors, associate professors, young lecturers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students.


Dr. Jianming Li, Professor of the College of Horticulture College of horticulture and Scientist of National Vegetable Industry Technical System from the Ministry of Agriculture,

Research Description: large span greenhouse, water-fertilizer dissipation mechanism driven by the environment, water-fertilizer coupling mechanism, and organic vegetable production technology.


Dr. Xiaohui Hu, Vice president of College of Horticulture, professor and doctoral supervisor. Scientist of "National Industrial Technology System". Scientist of "Shaanxi Province Vegetable Industry Technology System".

Research Description: Engaged in research on the theory and production technology of facility agriculture, mainly including the mechanism of resistance to abiotic stress in protected vegetables and application technology, high quality and efficient production technology of protected vegetables, soilless cultivation technology, greenhouse environmental control and automation management, etc.


Dr. Zhenchao Yang, Associate Professor in the College of Horticulture,

Research Description: Plant factory and organic cultivation.


Dr. Zhi Zhang, Associate Professor in the College of Horticulture,

Research Description: Environment model, control algorithm, and control system design in a greenhouse.


Dr. Jiayue Feng, Associate Professor in the College of Horticulture,

Research Description: Genetic breeding and molecular mechanisms of resistance to powdery mildew in strawberries.


Dr. Xianpeng Sun, Associate Professor in the College of Horticulture,

Research Description: Energy engineering technology in facility agriculture.


Dr. Ming Ding, Associate Promotion Researcher of College of Horticulture.

Research Description: Vegetable grafting physiology and industrial seedling nursery.


Dr. Ai Zhen, Lecturer at the College of Horticulture,

Research Description: Mechanism of resistance physiology and molecular biology of greenhouse vegetables.



Dr. Yanfei Cao, Associate Professor of the College of Horticulture.

Research Description:Thermal environmentsimulation and energy-saving design of the next generation of new greenhouse, heating and cooling system based on renewable energy, dehumidification system, facility agricultural environmental control system and automatic fault detection and diagnosis of greenhouse insulation system.


Dr. Xiaojing Li, Lecturer at the College of Horticulture,

Research Description: Horticultural plant physiology and the function of hormones in plant growth and development.



Dr. Guobin Li, Lecturer at the College of Horticulture.

Research Description:Physiological and molecular regulation mechanisms of stress resistance of horticultural plant.


Dr. JinxingWang,Associate Professorin the College of Horticulture.

Research Description:Research and development of biomass water-retaining agent and new materials for facility agriculture; agricultural waste resource utilization technology