Articles
Investigation of light quality and intensity for the production of some vegetable crops in controlled environments
Article number
1391_24
Pages
177 – 184
Language
English
Abstract
Production of crops in controlled environments equipped with artificial light attracted lots of attention nowadays.
Different characteristics of light, including intensity, spectrum and photoperiod, determine the quality and yield of crops in those environments.
At the University of Tehrans Photosynthesis Laboratory, experiments were conducted to determine how varying light conditions affect the crops growth.
Tomato, lettuce, radishes, basil, cucumbers, and savory were among the crops studied in controlled environments.
Different light characteristics significantly affect the growth, physiology, quality and yield of the above plants.
Furthermore, the growth lighting environment also affected the plantRSQUOs resistance to abiotic stresses.
Light spectrum in the range of 600-700 nm increased the growth and yield of most of the mentioned crops, whereas the growth of plants exposed to the wavelength range of 400-500 nm was often restricted.
Despite the positive effects of the light spectrum in 600-700 nm range on plant growth, the lighting environment should be combined with 400-500 nm ranges because of the adverse effects of sole red light on photosynthesis and plant morphology (red light syndrome). The far-red light region of the spectrum 700-750 nm caused the elongation of internodes with no positive effects.
In warm season crops such as cucumber, tomato, and basil, exposure to light (high light intensities) downregulated their photosynthetic functionality.
In conclusion, it is important to control lighting conditions in controlled environment horticultural systems to optimize the production, physiology, and quality of horticultural crops.
Different characteristics of light, including intensity, spectrum and photoperiod, determine the quality and yield of crops in those environments.
At the University of Tehrans Photosynthesis Laboratory, experiments were conducted to determine how varying light conditions affect the crops growth.
Tomato, lettuce, radishes, basil, cucumbers, and savory were among the crops studied in controlled environments.
Different light characteristics significantly affect the growth, physiology, quality and yield of the above plants.
Furthermore, the growth lighting environment also affected the plantRSQUOs resistance to abiotic stresses.
Light spectrum in the range of 600-700 nm increased the growth and yield of most of the mentioned crops, whereas the growth of plants exposed to the wavelength range of 400-500 nm was often restricted.
Despite the positive effects of the light spectrum in 600-700 nm range on plant growth, the lighting environment should be combined with 400-500 nm ranges because of the adverse effects of sole red light on photosynthesis and plant morphology (red light syndrome). The far-red light region of the spectrum 700-750 nm caused the elongation of internodes with no positive effects.
In warm season crops such as cucumber, tomato, and basil, exposure to light (high light intensities) downregulated their photosynthetic functionality.
In conclusion, it is important to control lighting conditions in controlled environment horticultural systems to optimize the production, physiology, and quality of horticultural crops.
Authors
S. Aliniaeifard
Keywords
controlled environment agriculture (CEA), greenhouse crops, light intensity, light quality, photoperiod
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