Experts: LED plant lighting is good for greenhouses, but standards need to be improved

According to US media reports, research from Rutgers University in New Jersey shows that although LED lighting can enhance plant growth in greenhouses, standards still need to be established to determine the best light intensity and color to help improve gardening Energy efficiency of lighting products.

At present, many lighting companies are selling their LED products, and their "light formula" usually consists of a combination of wavelength and color ratio, such as a 4: 1 red-blue ratio in the spectrum. Plant scientists often use this information to assess the potential effects of lights on plant growth and development. However, according to a study to be published in Acta Horticulturae, standardized procedures for how to calculate these ratios are still lacking.

AJ Both, a professor of environmental science at Rutgers University and an expert in control environmental engineering, said: "The more efficient the auxiliary light source, the less electricity the grower needs to complete the crop planting." More cost-effective. "

He said improving energy efficiency would have a major impact on growers and information on new plant lighting strategies would help the booming indoor agriculture industry.

According to Both's previous research, in greenhouses and controlled environments, lights are used to supplement sunlight and extend the lighting time to help produce horticultural crops such as vegetables, flowers and herbs. Recent advances in energy-efficient LED technology provide multiple lighting options for the horticulture industry. But due to the lack of independent data on lamp performance, growers cannot easily compare lighting technologies and LED options. The study proposes standardizing product labels so that fixtures can be compared between manufacturers.

Both and his colleagues will continue to work on independently evaluating performance metrics such as power consumption, efficiency, light intensity, and light distribution patterns, and passing this information to commercial growers. His research shows that the latest advances provide an opportunity to precisely control the light of LED lights and study their effects on plant growth and development.

This new study suggests the use of a spectroradiometer to measure light output over a specific wavelength range. Researchers report that when comparing sunlight to ordinary lamps, including LEDs, high-pressure sodium lamps, incandescent lamps, and fluorescent lamps for plant lighting, the ratio of light varies widely. Researchers hope that their work will help develop standard definitions for specific bands (wavelength ranges).