Page 17 - Griffin Gazette
P. 17
For CEA growers, lighting is critical to achieving consistent yield Warehouse herbs: Lower-intensity LED
and product quality for year-round production. While some lighting light bars are great choices for the tiered
products bring flexibility for use in several different CEA applications, production systems most often used for
the best solution will be tailored to the production scenario. plant factory production of herbs and
leafy greens. These fixtures generate less
µmol/J relates only to the cost of operation Greenhouse high wire crops: For heat, allowing crops to get closer to the
and does not consider how the light hits the tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers that lights without risk of damage, and reduce
crop. require supplemental lighting, the idea HVAC needs. As described above for
How the light hits the crop, the uniformity, is to simply supplement the natural light leafy greens, light quality can be used to
is the last consideration. Uniformity can be to increase DLI. This goal is traditionally manipulate crop quality.
good or poor with any fixture and is driven accomplished with HPS fixtures. If Warehouse medicinal crops: Propagation
by the installation. Specifically, uniformity choosing LEDs, select full-spectrum and early growth requires lower PPFD and
is impacted by the fixture dispersal pattern, options. Intra-crop lighting (ICL) has been can be managed with LED light bars, T5
the spacing of the fixtures and height at shown to be beneficial in some situations. LEDs/fluorescents and dimmable LEDs.
which they are installed. A well-developed Another good idea: Consider light- However, when it comes to flowering
light plan will deliver a uniform PPFD to diffusing greenhouse coverings. and finishing, high intensity LEDs are the
the crop across the production space. Greenhouse leafy greens: If the goal is obvious choice to provide high DLI while
Be careful about focusing solely on the simply to increase DLI in the greenhouse, minimizing HVAC needs.
average PPFD over a production space; then HPS, MH and full-spectrum LEDs While lighting technology can seem
also consider the difference between the are all useful. LEDs offer several benefits. complicated, a basic understanding will
high and low intensity areas over the crop. First, they produce less waste heat, which help you understand your options. From
With that basic knowledge in place, let’s reduces heat load on the crop. Second, there, Griffin can help you build a tailored
address some common crop scenarios. LEDs allow narrow- spectrum treatments solution for your needs. Contact your
Keep in mind that every situation is to develop red leaf color in some lettuce Griffin salesperson for more information on
different and each production scenario varieties following relatively short how to start the conversation.
will have slight differences. However, some treatments (higher blue light enhances
commonalities do hold true. anthocyanin production).