Abstract
In this study, a ventilation model was developed to determine a ventilation rate for the balance of heat, moisture and $CO_{2}$ in a mushroom house. Internal and external temperature, relative humidity and $CO_{2}$ concentration were measured and used to validate the ventilation model. The effects of various environmental factors on physiological responses of mushroom were also investigated. The verified model was simulated under the observed ventilation rates with a difference of$ 0.001{\~}0.065\;m^{3}{\cdot}S^{-1}$ (relative error of $0.3{\~}18.9\%$) when external temperature varied 22.5 to $24.8^{circ}C$ and average ventilation rates was $0.35m^{3}{\cdot}S^{-1}$. The optimal conditions for mushroom growth (internal temperature $22 ^{circ}C$, relative humidity $80\%$, $CO_{2}$ concentration 1,000 ppm) were used for the model application with external temperature, relative humidity and $CO_{2}$ concentration of $27.5{\~}33.5^{circ}C$, $60\%$, and 355 ppm, respectively. Thermal balance was a important factor for an optimum ventilation up to the external temperature of $32^{circ}C$, while $CO_{2}$ concentration balance was more important over $32^{circ}C$. This suggests that humidification for moisture balance is required to maintain temperature and $CO_{2}$ concentration at an optimal level by ventilation in a mushroom house.