Articles
INFLUENCE OF SUPPLEMENTAL LIGHTING ON THE PRODUCTION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS, SPINACH AND ALFALFA FOR THE NUTRACEUTICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL SECTORS
Article number
711_3
Pages
43 – 50
Language
English
Abstract
During the last few years, the use of medicinal plants as an alternative to traditional medicine has soared considerably as well as the use of specific plants for cosmetic and drug properties purposes.
Consequently, a research program on supplemental lighting of medicinal plants, spinach transplants for the production of cosmetics and nutraceutical products and of alfalfa plants for the production of pharmaceutical drugs was achieved at various sites in Canada.
Medicinal plants were grown in a deep-culture hydroponic system at Hydroserre Mirabel, while spinach transplants were grown in plug trays and alfalfa plants in peat-based containers at Laval University.
The purpose of this paper is to determine the technical and economic feasibility of growing medicinal plants, spinach and alfalfa in greenhouses using assimilation light.
According to our studies, although we were able to obtain much higher yields for most medicinal plant species in greenhouse as compared to field conditions, it was not possible to establish any profitable crops under such conditions, especially under assimilation lighting.
However, our experiments with spinach and alfalfa for very specific pharmaceutical applications may lead to commercial production in greenhouse even under assimilation lighting.
Consequently, a research program on supplemental lighting of medicinal plants, spinach transplants for the production of cosmetics and nutraceutical products and of alfalfa plants for the production of pharmaceutical drugs was achieved at various sites in Canada.
Medicinal plants were grown in a deep-culture hydroponic system at Hydroserre Mirabel, while spinach transplants were grown in plug trays and alfalfa plants in peat-based containers at Laval University.
The purpose of this paper is to determine the technical and economic feasibility of growing medicinal plants, spinach and alfalfa in greenhouses using assimilation light.
According to our studies, although we were able to obtain much higher yields for most medicinal plant species in greenhouse as compared to field conditions, it was not possible to establish any profitable crops under such conditions, especially under assimilation lighting.
However, our experiments with spinach and alfalfa for very specific pharmaceutical applications may lead to commercial production in greenhouse even under assimilation lighting.
Authors
M. Dorais, C. Ménard, A. Gosselin, S. Léonhart, L. Gaudreau, L. Desrochers, M. Martel, L.P. Vézina, M. Purcell, E. Carpentier
Keywords
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