Migrant Labour accommodation in Tarleton, Lancashire. UK Weather. 12th December 2020. Strange reddish reflections in the cloudy skies over the farmland generated by sodium-type lighting in an intensive tomato-growing complex. High-intensity light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used as an attractive alternative to high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps for plant growth because of their energy-saving potential. The pink aurora caused some consternation among locals when first observed early this month when birds gathering for warmth were seen in the eerie lights.
Many lighting companies market their LED (light-emitting diode) products with claims of delivering an optimal "light recipe" that often consists of a combination of wavelengths and color ratios, such as a 4-to-1 red to blue ratio on the spectrum (colors of a rainbow). Plant scientists often use this information to evaluate the potential effects of lamps on plant growth and development. But standardized procedures on how to calculate these ratios are lacking, according to a study soon to be published in the journal Acta Horticulturae. "The more efficient supplemental lighting sources are, the less electric power growers need to finish their crops," said senior author Both, a professor and extension specialist in controlled environment engineering in the Department of Environmental Sciences in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. "We hope to help make indoor crop production more sustainable and affordable." Increased energy efficiency can have a big impact on the bottom line, and information about new crop lighting strategies will help the burgeoning indoor farming industry, Both said. In greenhouses and controlled environments, electric lamps are used to supplement sunlight and extend lighting times to produce horticultural crops, such as vegetables, flowers and herbs, according to a previous study led by Both. Recent advances in energy-efficient LED technology provide the horticultural industry with multiple lighting options. But growers can't easily compare technologies and LED options because of a lack of independent data on how lamps perform. That study led to a proposed standardized product label allowing for comparisons of lamps across manufacturers.
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Location: Tarleton, UK
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