Articles
Effects of supplemental lighting using LEDs on the quality of tulips forced hydroponically
Article number
1435_10
Pages
83 – 90
Language
English
Abstract
Tulip (Tulipa L.) is one of the most popular bulbous plant grown for cut flowers during winter time.
In Poland, forcing technology is mainly based on traditional cultivation on soil beds or in containers filled with peat/sand substrates.
In recent years, the biggest farms have been changed their technology to a modern, efficient hydroponic method with automatic spacing-controlled movable bench system.
Tulips do not have high light requirements during forcing and usually they are grown in natural light conditions.
However, for early flowering period, the lack of natural light, from November up to mid January, can negatively influence flower quality and extend cultivation period.
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of supplemental LED lighting on the forcing duration and quality of the cut tulip flowers in hydroponics.
Four commonly grown cultivars: ‘Kung Fu’, ‘Strong Gold’, ‘Strong Love’ and ‘Surrender’ were evaluated.
Control plants were forced in natural light conditions.
For light supplementation, the full spectrum LED lamps (300 and 240 W) were used for 8 or 4 h daily.
The effect of LED lighting on the tulip growth dynamics and the date of flowering as well as some biometric parameters of cut flowers were determined.
The studies showed that supplementing natural light with LED lamps has a positive effect on shortening the forcing period and thus obtaining flowers earlier by 1-6 days, depending on the cultivar and the intensity of light.
Flower buds of tulips grown with LED lamps usually showed color faster and were harvested earlier than control plants.
In three out of four examined cultivars, the mass of cut flowers did not increase, which indicated positive effect of light supplementation with LEDs.
The supplemental lighting did not influence the total plant height of of ‘Kung Fu’ and ‘Strong Love’, and increased plant height of ‘Strong Gold’ and ‘Surrender’. The LED lighting also did not influence the thickness of the tulip stems just below the bud in the ‘Kung Fu’, ‘Strong Love’ and ‘Strong Gold’; only in ‘Surrender’ grown with 240 W LEDs for 8 h, the stem diameter increased by 0.3 cm compared to control plants.
Supplemental lighting influenced positively the vase life, leaf SPAD greenness index and chlorophyll content, and calcium uptake of tulips forced hydroponically.
In Poland, forcing technology is mainly based on traditional cultivation on soil beds or in containers filled with peat/sand substrates.
In recent years, the biggest farms have been changed their technology to a modern, efficient hydroponic method with automatic spacing-controlled movable bench system.
Tulips do not have high light requirements during forcing and usually they are grown in natural light conditions.
However, for early flowering period, the lack of natural light, from November up to mid January, can negatively influence flower quality and extend cultivation period.
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of supplemental LED lighting on the forcing duration and quality of the cut tulip flowers in hydroponics.
Four commonly grown cultivars: ‘Kung Fu’, ‘Strong Gold’, ‘Strong Love’ and ‘Surrender’ were evaluated.
Control plants were forced in natural light conditions.
For light supplementation, the full spectrum LED lamps (300 and 240 W) were used for 8 or 4 h daily.
The effect of LED lighting on the tulip growth dynamics and the date of flowering as well as some biometric parameters of cut flowers were determined.
The studies showed that supplementing natural light with LED lamps has a positive effect on shortening the forcing period and thus obtaining flowers earlier by 1-6 days, depending on the cultivar and the intensity of light.
Flower buds of tulips grown with LED lamps usually showed color faster and were harvested earlier than control plants.
In three out of four examined cultivars, the mass of cut flowers did not increase, which indicated positive effect of light supplementation with LEDs.
The supplemental lighting did not influence the total plant height of of ‘Kung Fu’ and ‘Strong Love’, and increased plant height of ‘Strong Gold’ and ‘Surrender’. The LED lighting also did not influence the thickness of the tulip stems just below the bud in the ‘Kung Fu’, ‘Strong Love’ and ‘Strong Gold’; only in ‘Surrender’ grown with 240 W LEDs for 8 h, the stem diameter increased by 0.3 cm compared to control plants.
Supplemental lighting influenced positively the vase life, leaf SPAD greenness index and chlorophyll content, and calcium uptake of tulips forced hydroponically.
Authors
J. Treder, W. Kowalczyk, D. Sochacki, E. Skutnik, J. Rabiza-Świder, A. Staniuk, A. Połeć
Keywords
bulbous plants, cut flowers, hydroponics, nutrient content, vase life, light spectra
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