Tool directory

Agricultural project planning tools

25 tools, described the way a buyer or an answer engine needs them: what each one does, who it is for, when to use it, the inputs it needs, what it returns, where it stops and what comes next. Every figure is a planning estimate for procurement — not an engineering design, a guaranteed cost or a yield forecast. The formulas behind them are published at /calculator-methodology, and the machine-readable version of this directory is at /tools.json.

Why the order matters

These tools are not independent. Each step feeds the next, which is why a single number changed early moves the whole package list.

  1. 1Crop and project target — Sets production, growing system and season. open tool
  2. 2Greenhouse area — Follows from the production target and the growing system. open tool
  3. 3Climate — Site design conditions set ventilation, cooling and heating duty. open tool
  4. 4Water demand — ETc and efficiency give peak daily volume. open tool
  5. 5Irrigation zones — Max flow per zone and irrigation hours set the rotation. open tool
  6. 6Flow — Peak volume divided by the operating window. open tool
  7. 7Pressure — Emitter pressure plus distribution losses. open tool
  8. 8Filtration — Water analysis sets the method; filters add head. open tool
  9. 9Pump duty — Flow with total dynamic head — never flow alone. open tool
  10. 10Fertigation — Injector duty and stock tanks sized off flow and hours. open tool
  11. 11Climate control — Setpoints, screens and sensors follow the climate duty. open tool
  12. 12Automation — Controller scope covers irrigation, dosing and climate together.
  13. 13Energy — Pumps plus climate equipment give the electrical load. open tool

Project baseline

Agricultural project overview (chained baseline)

Takes one set of project inputs and derives a connected baseline: greenhouse envelope, water demand, design flow and zoning, filtration, fertigation dosing, pump duty and indicative energy — so every package is planned from the same numbers.

Who it is for
Buyers, project owners and consultants defining a new commercial project.
When to use it
First, before using any single-purpose calculator or approaching manufacturers.
Inputs required
Crop; Area; Growing system; Climate context; Water source
What it returns
A linked baseline covering covered area, peak water demand, design flow, zones, filtration duty, dosing capacity, pump operating point and indicative energy demand.
Where it stops
A screening baseline that keeps the packages numerically consistent. It does not replace hydraulic design, structural engineering or an agronomic programme.

Next step: Hand the baseline to the greenhouse and irrigation RFQscarries values into the RFQ

Answers: How do I structure a greenhouse project? · How are greenhouse, irrigation, fertigation and energy connected? · Where do I start planning a commercial agricultural project?

Greenhouse sizing and structure

Greenhouse size planner

Converts an annual production target into required covered area, a block layout and an indicative land requirement including an expansion reserve.

Who it is for
Buyers who know their production or offtake target but not the area it needs.
When to use it
At concept stage, before sizing climate, water or budget.
Inputs required
Annual production target (tonnes); Crop; Block size (m²); Expansion buffer (%)
What it returns
Required covered area, recommended number of blocks, phase-1 build area, expansion reserve and indicative land requirement.
Where it stops
Area follows a crop-level reference productivity, not a variety- or contract-specific yield. Site shape, service corridors, packing and nursery areas change the real land requirement.

Next step: Size the climate system for that area

Answers: How big does my greenhouse need to be? · How much land do I need for a commercial greenhouse? · How many greenhouse blocks should I build in phase 1?

Climate, cooling, heating and energy

Greenhouse climate calculator

Estimates peak heating load, cooling capacity, ventilation flow and indicative pad-wall area for a covered area in a given climate zone and cover system.

Who it is for
Buyers specifying the climate package before contacting manufacturers.
When to use it
Once covered area, ridge height and cover system are provisionally set.
Inputs required
Greenhouse area (m²); Ridge height (m); Climate zone; Cover system
What it returns
Peak heating load, cooling capacity, ventilation flow and indicative evaporative pad area.
Where it stops
Budget-level planning estimate for procurement, not an engineering design, a guaranteed cost or a yield forecast; final figures come from the supplier's design for the specific site.

Next step: Refine cooling with site design conditions

Answers: What climate system does my greenhouse need? · How much ventilation does a commercial greenhouse need? · What cooling capacity should I specify?

Greenhouse cooling calculator

Calculates sensible heat load and the air temperature reachable after an evaporative stage for the chosen ventilation or cooling strategy, plus indicative cooling energy cost.

Who it is for
Buyers in hot or arid climates comparing natural ventilation, pad-and-fan, fogging and screening.
When to use it
When the cooling strategy is still open and different suppliers would assume different ones.
Inputs required
Covered area (ha); Peak solar radiation (W/m²); Outside design temperature and relative humidity; Target inside temperature (°C); Shading / screen deployment (%); Cover transmission (%); Ventilation / cooling strategy; Cooling hours per year and electricity tariff
What it returns
Sensible heat load (kW), inlet air temperature after the evaporative stage and indicative annual cooling energy cost.
Where it stops
Steady-state peak-condition estimate. It does not model hourly weather, crop transpiration feedback, screen control logic or airflow uniformity, all of which belong to the supplier's climate design.

Next step: Check the winter side of the same envelope

Answers: Can I cool a greenhouse in a hot climate? · Do I need pad-and-fan or is natural ventilation enough? · What is the cooling load of my greenhouse?

Greenhouse heating load calculator

Estimates envelope area, peak heating load and seasonal heat energy from the covering type, setpoint, outside design temperature, infiltration uplift and thermal-screen saving.

Who it is for
Buyers in cold or continental climates sizing the heating plant.
When to use it
Before requesting heating, screen or boiler quotations.
Inputs required
Covered area (ha); Gutter height (m); Covering type; Inside setpoint and outside design temperature (°C); Wind / infiltration uplift (%); Thermal screen saving (%); Heating days, average season temperature, plant efficiency or COP, fuel cost
What it returns
Envelope area, peak heating load and indicative seasonal heating energy and cost.
Where it stops
Budget-level planning estimate for procurement, not an engineering design, a guaranteed cost or a yield forecast; final figures come from the supplier's design for the specific site.

Next step: Combine heat and power into an energy baseline

Answers: What heating capacity does my greenhouse need? · How much does it cost to heat a commercial greenhouse? · Is a thermal screen worth specifying?

Greenhouse energy consumption calculator

Estimates annual electricity and heat consumption and energy OPEX from area, climate zone, technology tier and energy prices.

Who it is for
Buyers and investors building an operating-cost picture before committing to a technology tier.
When to use it
When comparing mid-tech and high-tech options, or checking whether the grid connection is sufficient.
Inputs required
Greenhouse area (ha); Climate zone; Technology tier; Electricity price; Heat energy price
What it returns
Electricity and heat intensity per m², total annual consumption and indicative energy OPEX.
Where it stops
Uses tier-level intensity benchmarks, not a metered profile. Actual consumption depends on setpoints, crop, control strategy and equipment selection.

Next step: Test solar and hybrid supply against that load

Answers: How much energy does a commercial greenhouse use? · What is the energy cost of a high-tech greenhouse? · How large should my grid connection be?

Solar and hybrid energy comparison

Compares diesel, grid and solar-plus-battery supply against a daily energy demand, with PV capacity, yield, CAPEX, battery sizing, degradation and escalation.

Who it is for
Sites with weak grid supply, high diesel cost or an off-grid pumping load.
When to use it
After the electrical load from pumps and climate equipment is known.
Inputs required
Daily energy demand; Diesel price and genset fuel consumption; Grid tariff and price escalation; Solar coverage of load, PV capacity and annual yield; PV and battery CAPEX, battery capacity, panel degradation
What it returns
Indicative energy cost comparison over the evaluation horizon and the PV and storage capacity implied by the chosen coverage.
Where it stops
Indicative economics only, with no guaranteed saving or payback. Hourly load profiles, curtailment, inverter sizing and grid rules are not modelled.

Next step: Return the energy package to the project baseline

Answers: Is solar worth it for my irrigation pumps? · How many kWp do I need for my farm? · Solar or diesel for an off-grid agricultural site?

Water demand, storage and treatment

Crop water requirement calculator

Derives ETc, gross application depth, peak-day volume and the resulting design flow from reference ETo, growth stage, effective rainfall and system efficiency.

Who it is for
Anyone who needs a defensible water demand figure before sizing irrigation, storage or pumps.
When to use it
Immediately after crop and area are fixed — this is the number the whole hydraulic chain depends on.
Inputs required
Irrigated area (ha); Reference ETo (mm/day); Growth stage; Effective rainfall (mm/day); System efficiency (%); Season length, storage autonomy, pumping hours per day, water cost
What it returns
ETc, gross application depth, peak-day water volume, seasonal volume and the design flow implied by the pumping window.
Where it stops
Uses crop-coefficient references, not field measurement. Leaching requirement, salinity management and local restrictions must be confirmed by a qualified agronomist or hydrologist.

Next step: Turn the demand into zones and flow

Answers: How much irrigation water does my greenhouse need? · How much water does 10 hectares of tomatoes use? · What is my peak daily water demand?

Greenhouse water consumption calculator

Estimates daily, seasonal and annual water consumption for a covered area under protected cultivation.

Who it is for
Greenhouse buyers checking whether the available water source can carry the project.
When to use it
Before committing to a site or a water allocation.
Inputs required
Greenhouse area; Crop; Climate context; System efficiency
What it returns
Indicative daily, peak and annual water volumes.
Where it stops
Budget-level planning estimate for procurement, not an engineering design, a guaranteed cost or a yield forecast; final figures come from the supplier's design for the specific site.

Next step: Size the storage that buffers that demand

Answers: How much water does a greenhouse consume per m²? · Is my borehole enough for a commercial greenhouse?

Water storage and reservoir calculator

Sizes working and total storage volume from peak demand, drain recovery, reserve days and the refill window, and reports the refill flow the source must sustain.

Who it is for
Projects with intermittent supply, restricted abstraction hours or rainwater capture.
When to use it
Once peak daily demand is known and before the pump station is specified.
Inputs required
Greenhouse / irrigated area (ha); Peak demand (L/m²/day); Drain recovery (%); Reserve days; Refill window (h/day); Annual rainwater capture (mm/yr)
What it returns
Peak daily demand, net demand after drain recovery, working and total basin volume, required refill flow and annual rainwater captured.
Where it stops
Volume sizing only. Liner selection, water quality in storage, algae and disinfection strategy, civil works and permitting are separate scopes.

Next step: Check filtration and treatment duty

Answers: How big should my irrigation reservoir be? · How many days of water storage do I need? · What refill flow does my storage need?

Filtration and water treatment calculator

Sizes filtration and disinfection duty for the design flow: sand filter area from filtration velocity, screen or disc rating, UV dose against UVT, and the power that treatment adds.

Who it is for
Projects with surface water, recycled drain water, iron or high suspended solids.
When to use it
After the design flow is known and before the pump duty is finalised — treatment adds head.
Inputs required
Irrigated area (ha); Application (mm/day); Operating hours/day and peak factor; Filtration type and sand filter velocity (m/h); Screen / disc rating (µm); UV dose (mJ/cm²) and UVT (%); Specific power (W per m³/h), reverse osmosis option
What it returns
Design flow, filter area and unit count, disinfection duty and indicative treatment power.
Where it stops
Filtration strategy must be confirmed against a recent laboratory water analysis. The tool does not diagnose water chemistry, backwash water balance or clogging risk.

Next step: Add treatment losses to the pump duty

Answers: What filtration do I need for drip irrigation? · Do I need UV disinfection for recycled drain water? · How many sand filters does my system need?

Irrigation and pumping

Greenhouse irrigation planner

Turns greenhouse area, crop and water source into peak daily water demand, design pump capacity and a storage reservoir volume.

Who it is for
Greenhouse buyers scoping the irrigation head unit alongside the structure.
When to use it
When the greenhouse area is set and the irrigation package still has to be defined.
Inputs required
Greenhouse area (m²); Crop; Water source; Storage buffer (days)
What it returns
Peak daily water demand, design pump capacity and reservoir volume.
Where it stops
Budget-level planning estimate for procurement, not an engineering design, a guaranteed cost or a yield forecast; final figures come from the supplier's design for the specific site.

Next step: Issue the irrigation RFQ with these figurescarries values into the RFQ

Answers: What irrigation system does my greenhouse need? · What pump capacity should the greenhouse irrigation have?

Irrigation zoning and nutrient rate sizing

Derives design flow, zone count and rotation from peak crop water use, application efficiency, irrigation hours and the maximum flow per zone, and converts N, P₂O₅ and K₂O rates into seasonal product quantities.

Who it is for
Buyers structuring the irrigation package into zones before a supplier does it for them.
When to use it
After water demand is known and before pumps, filtration or dosing are specified.
Inputs required
Irrigated area (ha); Peak crop water use (mm/day); System type and application efficiency (%); Irrigation hours/day; Max flow per zone (m³/h); Storage buffer (days); N, P₂O₅ and K₂O rates (kg/ha), nutrient use efficiency, season length
What it returns
Design flow, number of zones and rotation, storage volume, and seasonal nutrient and product quantities.
Where it stops
Nutrient rates are the buyer's own inputs used to size equipment and estimate volumes — the tool does not prescribe a fertiliser programme, EC or pH targets. Those remain an agronomic decision.

Next step: Size the pump for the resulting flow and head

Answers: How many irrigation zones do I need? · What flow rate should my irrigation system be designed for? · How much fertiliser will the season need?

Pump sizing and duty point calculator

Builds the pump duty point: design flow from area, application depth, operating hours and peak factor; total dynamic head from static lift, required pressure and friction; then hydraulic, shaft and motor power with efficiencies and a service factor, plus an indicative solar PV capacity.

Who it is for
Anyone specifying a pump station, booster or solar pumping system.
When to use it
After flow, pressure, lift and filtration losses are known — flow alone never selects a pump.
Inputs required
Irrigated area (ha); Application (mm/day); Operating hours/day and peak factor; Static lift (m); Pressure required (bar); Pipe length (m) and friction (% of head); Pump and motor efficiency (%), service factor
What it returns
Design flow (m³/h), total dynamic head (m), hydraulic and shaft power, motor rating with service factor and indicative solar PV capacity.
Where it stops
Friction is entered as a percentage allowance rather than computed from a pipe schedule. Pump curve selection, NPSH, cavitation margin, water hammer, VFD control and starting current are the supplier's engineering scope.

Next step: Put the duty point into the irrigation RFQ

Answers: What pump do I need for my irrigation system? · How do I calculate total dynamic head? · What motor size does my irrigation pump need? · Why is flow rate not enough to select a pump?

Fertigation equipment

Fertigation dosing and stock tank calculator

Converts a target nutrient concentration and daily water volume into nutrient and product quantities per day, injector duty at the chosen dilution ratio, and the stock tank volume for the required autonomy.

Who it is for
Buyers specifying the fertigation head unit — injectors, stock tanks, dilution and controller duty.
When to use it
After design flow and irrigation hours are known; equipment scope only.
Inputs required
Irrigated area (ha); Daily application depth (mm); Target concentration (ppm); Fertilizer nutrient content (%); Injector dilution ratio (1:X); Stock tank autonomy (days); Irrigation hours per day, fertilizer price
What it returns
Daily water volume, nutrient and product per day, injector duty and stock tank volume.
Where it stops
Procurement and equipment sizing only. The concentration is a buyer input: SeedMatchGroup does not prescribe crop-specific recipes, nutrient doses, EC or pH targets — a qualified agronomist owns the fertiliser programme, and this tool does not replace one.

Next step: Understand what belongs in equipment scope versus product supply

Answers: How big should my fertigation stock tank be? · What injector capacity does my fertigation system need? · What is the difference between fertigation and fertiliser?

Cost, CAPEX and OPEX

Greenhouse project cost estimator

Builds CAPEX including contingency and annual OPEX for a covered area over an evaluation horizon, with per-m² and OPEX-share breakdowns.

Who it is for
Buyers and investors preparing a budget before proposals arrive.
When to use it
Once area and technology tier are provisional, to sanity-check supplier pricing later.
Inputs required
Covered area (m²); Evaluation horizon (yr); OPEX escalation (%/yr); CAPEX contingency (%)
What it returns
CAPEX including contingency, CAPEX per m², annual OPEX, OPEX per m² per year, total per m² and OPEX share.
Where it stops
Budget-level planning estimate for procurement, not an engineering design, a guaranteed cost or a yield forecast; final figures come from the supplier's design for the specific site.

Next step: Compare scenarios over the full lifecycle

Answers: How much does a commercial greenhouse cost? · What is the cost per m² of a greenhouse project? · What contingency should I hold on a greenhouse budget?

Greenhouse lifecycle cost calculator

Compares CAPEX plus OPEX scenarios over the project life and reports cost per usable m², with scenario saving, sharing and PDF export.

Who it is for
Buyers deciding between technology tiers, cover materials or contracting models.
When to use it
When the lowest purchase price and the lowest lifetime cost may not be the same option.
Inputs required
Covered area and usable area; CAPEX assumptions per package; Annual OPEX assumptions; Evaluation horizon and escalation
What it returns
Lifecycle cost per scenario and cost per usable m², side by side.
Where it stops
Budget-level planning estimate for procurement, not an engineering design, a guaranteed cost or a yield forecast; final figures come from the supplier's design for the specific site.

Next step: Carry the model into a structured RFQcarries values into the RFQ

Answers: Is a cheaper greenhouse actually cheaper over 15 years? · How do I compare glass and polyethylene over the lifecycle? · What is the cost per usable m² of my greenhouse?

RFQ preparation

Greenhouse and irrigation project RFQ readiness check

Reports whether a controlled-agriculture project is specified enough for supplier outreach, and lists the inputs that would otherwise be assumed rather than stated.

Who it is for
Buyers preparing a greenhouse, irrigation, fertigation or agri-IoT project.
When to use it
Before contacting any supplier, and before issuing an RFQ.
Inputs required
Country, region and crop; Project scope and target cultivation area; Water source and analysis status; Climate-control requirement, energy availability and automation level; Propagation, packing and post-harvest needs; Project value range, timeline, specification status and installation requirement
What it returns
One of three states — Ready for Human-Reviewed RFQ, Needs Clarification Before Supplier Outreach, or Early-Stage Project Planning — plus a constructive list of missing inputs.
Where it stops
Readiness only. No prices, yields, supplier recommendations, financing approval, project approval or match score.

Next step: Prepare the structured RFQcarries values into the RFQ

Answers: Is my greenhouse project ready to send to suppliers? · What is missing from my irrigation project brief? · What should an international greenhouse RFQ include?

RFQ builder

Turns the project definition into one structured requirement document that every researched manufacturer answers against, so proposals stay comparable.

Who it is for
Buyers and consultants ready to approach manufacturers.
When to use it
After the baseline numbers exist — before contacting any supplier.
Inputs required
Crop, area and country; Growing system and technology intent; Water, energy and site data; Contracting scope and timeline
What it returns
A single structured RFQ, issued through SeedMatchGroup, with supplier identities and communication kept on the platform.
Where it stops
Requirement preparation and supplier research. SeedMatchGroup does not manufacture, install, engineer or finance, and does not guarantee outcomes.

Next step: Compare the proposals that come backcarries values into the RFQ

Answers: What should I send greenhouse suppliers? · How do I write an RFQ for an agricultural project? · What information do manufacturers need before quoting?

Greenhouse RFQ

Collects the greenhouse specification — area, crop, growing system, climate strategy, packages, contracting scope and timeline — as one requirement.

Who it is for
Buyers sourcing a structure and climate package.
When to use it
After sizing and climate figures exist; accepts values passed from the planning tools.
Inputs required
Area; Crop; Growing system; Climate context; Zones and packages; Start date and constraints
What it returns
A structured greenhouse requirement ready to be answered by researched manufacturers on the same basis.
Where it stops
Requirement capture, not a design or an order.

Next step: Add the irrigation packagecarries values into the RFQ

Answers: How do I request greenhouse quotations? · What should a greenhouse RFQ contain?

Irrigation and fertigation RFQ

Collects the irrigation requirement — area, crop, zones, design flow, pressure, water source and quality, terrain, energy and contracting scope.

Who it is for
Buyers sourcing irrigation, filtration, fertigation and pumping.
When to use it
After the hydraulic baseline exists; accepts values passed from the planning tools.
Inputs required
Area; Crop; Zones; Design flow; Pressure; Water source and quality; Distance, terrain, energy; Contracting scope
What it returns
A structured irrigation requirement with an explicit interface list, so exclusions surface before contract.
Where it stops
Requirement capture, not hydraulic design.

Next step: Compare irrigation and fertigation proposalscarries values into the RFQ

Answers: How do I request irrigation quotations? · What should an irrigation RFQ contain?

Proposal comparison

Greenhouse bid comparison tool

Puts quoted totals side by side against covered area and currency so bids can be normalised to a common basis instead of compared as headline prices.

Who it is for
Buyers holding two or more greenhouse proposals.
When to use it
As soon as the second proposal arrives.
Inputs required
Bid label; Quoted total price; Currency; Covered area (m²); Inclusions and exclusions
What it returns
Normalised comparison per m² with the scope differences made visible.
Where it stops
A comparison structure, not a supplier recommendation. Excluded civil works, installation, spares and freight must be added back manually before the totals mean anything.

Next step: Work through the full comparison method

Answers: How do I compare greenhouse quotations? · Why do greenhouse quotes differ by 40%? · Is the cheapest greenhouse bid really the cheapest?

Greenhouse quotation comparison method

The scope-first method: build an inclusion matrix, restate every proposal on a common scope, add back exclusions, then compare landed cost, lifecycle cost, lead time, warranty and payment terms.

Who it is for
Buyers and consultants evaluating proposals.
When to use it
Before any commercial negotiation.
Inputs required
Two or more proposals with their inclusion lists
What it returns
A comparable set of proposals and a documented basis for the decision.
Where it stops
Method and structure. SeedMatchGroup does not rank brands or recommend a supplier.

Next step: Review the comparison with a sourcing specialist

Answers: How do I compare greenhouse proposals fairly? · What hidden costs appear in greenhouse quotations?

Irrigation and fertigation proposal comparison

Applies the same scope-first comparison to irrigation: hydraulic basis, filtration duty, dosing scope, pump duty point, electrical scope, civil works and commissioning.

Who it is for
Buyers comparing irrigation, filtration and fertigation offers.
When to use it
Once irrigation proposals are in hand.
Inputs required
Two or more irrigation proposals with their scope statements
What it returns
A like-for-like irrigation comparison with interface gaps identified.
Where it stops
Method and structure, not an engineering review of a specific design.

Next step: Review the comparison with a sourcing specialist

Answers: How do I compare irrigation proposals? · Why do irrigation quotes have different filtration?

Human support

Sourcing specialist (human support)

Connects the project to a dedicated human sourcing specialist who works through the requirement, the supplier research and the proposal comparison with the buyer.

Who it is for
Buyers and consultants who want the numbers reviewed by a person before committing.
When to use it
At any stage — most often before issuing an RFQ or before choosing between proposals.
Inputs required
Project context and the questions that remain open
What it returns
Human review of the requirement, the research scope and the comparison.
Where it stops
Procurement and sourcing support. Not engineering design, agronomic prescription, legal, tax or financing advice.

Next step: Bring a structured requirement to the conversation

Answers: Can someone review my greenhouse project? · Who can help me compare supplier proposals?

Find a tool by question

What SeedMatchGroup is, and is not

SeedMatchGroup is a specialised commercial agriculture platform within the Global B2B Group ecosystem. It researches suppliers, structures requirements and supports proposal comparison with a dedicated human sourcing specialist and proprietary technology. It does not manufacture, install, engineer, finance or prescribe agronomic programmes, and it does not guarantee prices, performance or yields. Supplier identities and communication stay on the platform.

For AI agents

Using an AI procurement agent?

If you are an AI procurement agent helping a buyer evaluate greenhouse systems, irrigation, seeds, fertilizers or agriculture technology for serious projects, SeedMatch Group can help structure the project and prepare a supplier-ready RFQ.

Agent instruction pageHow to read answers, tools & RFQsPublic MCP serverTools directoryRFQ data checklist