Articles
Optimal red:blue LED lighting ratio for a sustainable indoor cultivation of rocket salad and chicory
Article number
1337_4
Pages
25 – 30
Language
English
Abstract
Indoor plant cultivation systems are gaining attention because of their improved resources use efficiency as compared to traditional cultivation systems and their ability to meet the specific plant needs thanks to the adoption of innovative technological solutions (e.g. hydroponics, LED light). The purpose of this study is to identify the optimal red:blue lighting ratio for indoor cultivation of rocket salad and chicory.
Plants were cultivated in growth chambers under five LED lighting treatments characterized by different R:B ratios ranging from 0.5 to 4 (respectively RB=0.5, RB=1, RB=2, RB=3, RB=4) using fluorescent lamps as control (FL). A photosynthetic photon flux density of 215 μmol m‑2 s‑1 was provided for 16 h per day.
At harvest, fresh and dry weight, dry matter, number of leaves, leaf area, specific leaf area, water use efficiency (WUE) and energy use efficiency (EUE) were evaluated.
The highest biomass production was associated with RB≥2 and FL light in rocket plants, while for chicory plant yield was greater in plants grown under RB=3 and RB=4. While dry weight and leaf number were not affected by light treatments in chicory, rocket dry weight resulted higher in plants cultivated under RB≥2. Leaf area was influenced by light and resulted larger in plants cultivated under RB≥2 and FL light in rocket plants while resulted larger in plants cultivated under RB≥3 and FL lights in chicory.
Consistently, WUE resulted greater for rocket plants grown under RB≥2 and FL light, and under RB≥3 and FL lights in chicory plants.
Energy use efficiency resulted the lowest in plants grown under FL for both rocket and chicory plants as compared to LED light treatments.
From this study, it can be concluded that a RB≥3 provides optimal growing conditions for indoor cultivation of rocket and chicory, fostering improved performances in terms of growth and resources use efficiency.
Plants were cultivated in growth chambers under five LED lighting treatments characterized by different R:B ratios ranging from 0.5 to 4 (respectively RB=0.5, RB=1, RB=2, RB=3, RB=4) using fluorescent lamps as control (FL). A photosynthetic photon flux density of 215 μmol m‑2 s‑1 was provided for 16 h per day.
At harvest, fresh and dry weight, dry matter, number of leaves, leaf area, specific leaf area, water use efficiency (WUE) and energy use efficiency (EUE) were evaluated.
The highest biomass production was associated with RB≥2 and FL light in rocket plants, while for chicory plant yield was greater in plants grown under RB=3 and RB=4. While dry weight and leaf number were not affected by light treatments in chicory, rocket dry weight resulted higher in plants cultivated under RB≥2. Leaf area was influenced by light and resulted larger in plants cultivated under RB≥2 and FL light in rocket plants while resulted larger in plants cultivated under RB≥3 and FL lights in chicory.
Consistently, WUE resulted greater for rocket plants grown under RB≥2 and FL light, and under RB≥3 and FL lights in chicory plants.
Energy use efficiency resulted the lowest in plants grown under FL for both rocket and chicory plants as compared to LED light treatments.
From this study, it can be concluded that a RB≥3 provides optimal growing conditions for indoor cultivation of rocket and chicory, fostering improved performances in terms of growth and resources use efficiency.
Authors
F. Montefiori, G. Pennisi, A. Pistillo, F. Orsini, S. Nicola, J.A. Fèrnandez, A. Crepaldi, G. Gianquinto
Keywords
Cichorium intybus L., Eruca sativa Mill., vertical farms with artificial lighting (VFAL), plant factory with artificial lighting (PFAL), light emitting diode (LED), red:blue ratio (R:B ratio), resource use efficiency (RUE), water use efficiency (WUE), energy use efficiency (EUE)
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