LED lighting test results for horticultural applications are gratifying, allowing growers to harvest raspberry in January
The test was conducted in the Netherlands. Willemvan Eldik, a member of the Dutch research group Delphy, said that the crop was sown in November and that the large leaves that grow out of the mix of red and blue LEDs are “as fast as summer”.
Van Eldrik said that the buds soon grew and quickly produced nectar. Bumblebees and bees pollinated and picked fruit on January 31 this year.
The test uses the summer species Tulameen (rubusidaeus), conducted in a climate-controlled greenhouse. At the same time, experiments were also conducted on the cultivation of blackberries. From November 20 last year, buds emerged in January of this year, pollinated by bumble bees and bees, and fruits were harvested in February. The researchers hope the study will help Dutch growers achieve full-year production.
The potential of LED has caused great concern in the field of horticulture. Unlike traditional high-pressure sodium lamps, LED lighting can be dimmed according to a variety of crops, the so-called "light recipe."
Each plant requires different lighting at different times of the day and at different stages of growth. Most growers currently mix blue light at a wavelength of 450 nanometers (which contributes to the production of chlorophyll and beta-carotene) and red light at 660 nanometers (which affects germination, plant growth, leaf growth, and flowering).
More red light usually increases the crop yield linearly. Lighting can also dimming, affecting the plant's shape, taste and other characteristics.