Articles
The assessment of lettuce Lactuca sativa ‘Rex Butterhead’ growth performance by implementing varying light colors using GREENBOX technology
Article number
1426_22
Pages
151 – 158
Language
English
Abstract
GREENBOX technology is a novel, low-cost, independently functioning unit capable of fresh crop production in response to increased pressures on food security, especially in urban areas.
GREENBOX technology consists of individual climate-controlled units, including a thermally insulated growth apparatus, an artificial lighting source, a soilless cultivation method of hydroponics, and environmental controls.
Previous studies on ‘Rex Butterhead’ lettuce (Lactuca sativa) have focused on white lighting for crop growth, but none have explored the effects of different light spectrums using GREENBOX technology.
To address this gap, the APS Laboratory for Sustainable Food evaluated the impact of purple, orange, and white lighting spectrums on ‘Rex Butterhead’ lettuce production using GREENBOX technology.
We conducted comparative crop growth studies using purple, orange, and white (control) colored light treatments.
The crop production cycle began with all lettuce plugs being cultivated for 15 days under the same treatment conditions, and then we randomly selected plugs for transplantation to the nutrient film technique (NFT) channels and grown for 30 days to maturity, ready for harvest.
Collected biomass data included wet weight (g), dry weight (g), and leaf area (cm2). We collected chlorophyll concentration (mg cm‑2), nitrogen concentration (mg g‑1), leaf color (CIELAB), leaf count (n), and microbial (n) data in the purple and orange treatments.
We derived data that included the leaf area index (LAI, cm2 cm‑2) and specific leaf area (SLA, cm2 g‑1). Analysis of color data revealed no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) between the CIE-LAB values obtained in the purple and orange treatments.
Analysis of the nutrient solution indicated that by day 10, there was low-level algal contamination in the circulating nutrient solution.
Results from this study will inform the future iterations of GREENBOX design.
GREENBOX technology consists of individual climate-controlled units, including a thermally insulated growth apparatus, an artificial lighting source, a soilless cultivation method of hydroponics, and environmental controls.
Previous studies on ‘Rex Butterhead’ lettuce (Lactuca sativa) have focused on white lighting for crop growth, but none have explored the effects of different light spectrums using GREENBOX technology.
To address this gap, the APS Laboratory for Sustainable Food evaluated the impact of purple, orange, and white lighting spectrums on ‘Rex Butterhead’ lettuce production using GREENBOX technology.
We conducted comparative crop growth studies using purple, orange, and white (control) colored light treatments.
The crop production cycle began with all lettuce plugs being cultivated for 15 days under the same treatment conditions, and then we randomly selected plugs for transplantation to the nutrient film technique (NFT) channels and grown for 30 days to maturity, ready for harvest.
Collected biomass data included wet weight (g), dry weight (g), and leaf area (cm2). We collected chlorophyll concentration (mg cm‑2), nitrogen concentration (mg g‑1), leaf color (CIELAB), leaf count (n), and microbial (n) data in the purple and orange treatments.
We derived data that included the leaf area index (LAI, cm2 cm‑2) and specific leaf area (SLA, cm2 g‑1). Analysis of color data revealed no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) between the CIE-LAB values obtained in the purple and orange treatments.
Analysis of the nutrient solution indicated that by day 10, there was low-level algal contamination in the circulating nutrient solution.
Results from this study will inform the future iterations of GREENBOX design.
Publication
Authors
G.P. Buss, M.A.C. Griffith, P.A. Carroll, J.L. Griffis, Ö. Tuncay, B.H. Rosen, X. Yang, G. Papkov, S. Bauer, K. Jackson, A.K. Singh
Keywords
controlled environment agriculture, light spectrum, GREENBOX, hydroponics, LEDs
Groups involved
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Working Group Nettings in Horticulture (subgroup of Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates)
- Working Group Light in Horticulture
- Working Group Organic Greenhouse Horticulture
- Working Group Vegetable Grafting
- Working Group Modelling Plant Growth, Environmental Control, Greenhouse Environment
- Working Group Protected Cultivation, Nettings and Screens for Mild Climates
- Working Group Computational Fluid Dynamics in Agriculture
- Working Group Design and Automation in Integrated Indoor Production Systems
- Working Group Mechanization, Digitization, Sensing and Robotics
- Working Group Greenhouse Environment and Climate Control
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Working Group Vertical Farming
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