History of Science and Engineering Annotation << Back PAGES OF THE HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREENHOUSE GROWING R.D. Nurmetov, N.L. Devochkina, A.F. Razin, R.A. Meshcheryakova, L.N. Pryanishnikova The main results of scientifi c research in the field of protected ground are presented. Since the establishment of the institute, research has gone from the improvement of protected ground structures in the form of greenhouses and elementary shelters using manual labor and the simplest covering materials to the construction of greenhouse complexes with a high degree of automation and mechanization of technological processes. Means of small-scale mechanization were developed - hand seeders, machines for making peat pots, hand-held sprayers, devices for stuffi ng greenhouses with biofuel and soil, and others. In the post-war period, the improvement of small-scale mechanization tools and hand-made garden tools made it possible to equip vegetable growing and individual gardening with the necessary tools. With the organization at the institute of a laboratory for mechanization and microclimate of greenhouse vegetable growing and a specialized design and technological bureau for greenhouse vegetable growing with experimental production, the Institute developed automated, energy-saving technical equipment that optimizes the water-air regime of the root habitat. Developed energy-saving environmentally friendly agrotechnical techniques, technical means and technological equipment for the production of seedlings and vegetables in greenhouses. The introduction of the Institute’s developments at state farms in the Moscow Region showed high economic efficiency in the production of vegetables, an increase in the yield of seedlings per unit area by 1.8–2 times, a reduction in materials, and an improvement in working conditions. Many technological developments of the institute were used in the design work of Giproniselprom and the Central Design Bureau of Industrial Heating. Extensive studies have been conducted to improve the new energy-saving low-volume technology for growing vegetables on peat and mineral wool substrates by drip irrigation, low-volume hydroponics. For the first time, new elements of the technology for growing tomatoes and cucumbers with additional illumination (light culture) were developed and recommended for production. The scientific novelty of the proposed engineering and technological developments is protected by more than 170 copyright certificates and patents for inventions. Keywords: sheltered soil, seedling production, microclimate in cultivation facilities, soil disinfection, polymer materials, machine system, seedling-vegetable complex, substrate, drip irrigation. DOI: 10.25791/intstg.10.2020.1218 Pp. 028-034.