LED plant lighting is good for greenhouses but needs to be standardized

A recent Rutgers University study noted that while LED lighting can enhance greenhouse plant growth, standards still need to be developed to determine optimal light intensity and color to account for improving the energy efficiency of horticultural lighting products.

Many lighting companies currently sell LED products, and "light recipes" typically consist of a combination of wavelengths and color ratios, such as a spectral 4:1 red-to-blue ratio. Plant scientists often use this information to assess the potential effects of lights on plant growth and development. But according to research to be published in the journal Acta Horticulturae, a standardized formula for how to calculate these ratios is still lacking.

A.J. Both, a professor of environmental science at Rutgers University and an expert in controlled environmental engineering, said: "The more efficient the auxiliary light source, the less electricity growers need to complete their crops, and we hope to increase indoor crops in a more sustainable and cost-effective way. Production."

Improving energy efficiency will have a major impact on growers, and information on new horticultural lighting strategies will help the burgeoning indoor farming industry.

According to previous research by Both, in greenhouses and controlled environments, lamps are used to supplement sunlight and prolong lighting to help produce horticultural crops such as vegetables, flowers and herbs. Recent advances in energy-efficient LED technology offer a variety of lighting options for the horticultural industry. But due to a lack of independent data on lamp performance, growers cannot easily compare lighting technologies and LED options. The study made recommendations to standardize product labeling that can compare lamps between manufacturers.

Both and colleagues will continue to work on independently evaluating performance metrics, such as power consumption, efficiency, light intensity and light distribution patterns, and delivering this information to commercial growers. His research shows that the latest advances provide an opportunity to precisely control the light of LED lights and study the effects on plant growth and development.

The new study suggests the use of spectroradiometers, which measure light output in a specific wavelength range. Comparing sunlight with ordinary lamps, including LEDs, high-pressure sodium lamps, incandescent lamps, and fluorescent lamps used for plant lighting, the ratio of light varies widely, the researchers report. The researchers hope the work will help develop standard definitions for specific wavelengths (ranges of wavelengths).