LED GROW LIGHTING 101: A Guide to Greater Yields, More Harvests and Higher Profits LED GROW LIGHTING 101 To maximize profits, indoor growers need to harvest high-revenue items in the shortest time possible. A new generation of LED lighting products can help you accelerate photosynthesis and generate a greater return on leafy greens, herbs, microgreens and cannabis, as well as specialty crops and flowers that have quick production cycles. This guide presents key considerations to explore, pitfalls to avoid and next steps to take when choosing a superior lighting solution for your greenhouse, indoor farm or controlled environment facility. GROWING UP Worldwide, the outlook for controlled environment agriculture On one hand, LEDs can boost revenue by reducing lighting energy (CEA) is bright. In 2017, the global indoor farming market costs by about 50% compared to conventional high-pressure accounted for nearly $107 billion USD and is expected to top sodium (HPS) and fluorescent lamps.4 On the other, having greater $171 billion by 2026.1 Specifically, the vertical farming segment lighting control helps growers accurately predict output, harvest is anticipated to reach $9.96 billion USD by 2025, surging ahead year-round and customize crops in a variety of ways. at a 21.3% CAGR.2 Lighting technology is a critical component of the complete Urban densification, limited cultivation space and increasing growing equation, and as CEA production hits high gear, LEDs demand for high-quality foods are just a few of the factors behind can promote healthier plants and profits. the budding popularity of CEA. Across North America, Europe and Asia especially, growers of all types are aiming to provide ideal conditions for plants to thrive. It is no surprise that LED agricultural lighting is also expected OUR ADVANTAGE 3 to witness significant growth in the years ahead. From small GE Current, a Daintree company, startups to commercial-scale farms, LED lighting systems that produce multiband color spectrum are already increasing yields connects indoor growers to relevant and extending the availability of crops as part of a more efficient lighting products with their unique and sustainable operations strategy. interests in mind. Leveraging decades of LED expertise and lighting technology innovation, we support CEA by delivering highly efficient solutions. REFERENCES 1ResearchAndMarkets; "Global Indoor Farming Market - Segmented by Growing System, Facility Type, Crop Type, and Geography- Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 - 2024)"; June 2019. 2Grand View Research; “Vertical Farming Market Worth $9.96 Billion by 2025”; April 2019. 3Mordor Intelligence; “Indoor Farming Market - Growth, Trends, And Forecast (2019 - 2024)”; June 2019. 2 4Maximum Yield; “How Plants Breathe: The Stimulating Story of Stomata”; February 8, 2018. LED GROW LIGHTING 101 HELPING PLANTS REACH THEIR POTENTIAL Every plant requires the same essentials: light, CO₂, water and At Current, we make it easy to tailor light to the needs of nutrients. The ability to control various elements of this growth individual crops. Our Arize™ LED lighting systems provide three “recipe” means plants can reach their full potential. However, color spectrum categories suited for each stage of the growth each element must be carefully managed to optimize its impact cycle. These include: on plant morphology, starting with light. • Type R: High red light to optimize plant growth and Sunlight spans a broad spectrum of radiation from UV to infrared photosynthesis. wavelengths. Green wavelengths, for instance, are reflected more strongly by a plant’s leaves than red and blue wavelengths that • Type B: The perfect mix between Types R and V—light supports are mostly absorbed and used as energy (thus the reason most biomass and secondary metabolite production. plants appear green). Light can also “signal” a plant to develop • Type V: Lowest red light for secondary metabolite production in a certain way, such as encouraging greater leaf mass, taller to promote plant structure and leaf mass. stems or early flowering. The optimal color spectrum depends on the type of plants you Of course, different plants have different needs and respond are trying to grow and your goals. Reach out to us or a trusted differently to light and the length of the growing day expert like our partner Hort Americas to help you determine the (the photoperiod). In recent years, significant strides have been ideal light recipe for your crops. made in isolating and combining specific light wavelengths using LED technology. Suddenly, growers have far greater control when using artificial light to help plants along. TYPE R TYPE B TYPE V 3 LED GROW LIGHTING 101 How Light Affects Common Crops HORT AMERICAS, A LEADING HORTICULTURE SUPPLIER, OFFERS A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW LEDS MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CROPS. By providing a specific light spectrum, plant photomorphogenesis can be regulated. Photomorphogenesis (Latin for “light shape change”) is a process by which plant architecture is mediated in response to light signals. Alongside photomorphogenesis, plant phytochemical content can also be modulated, which can have an impact on people’s health. Light quality is one factor that affects the biosynthesis, metabolism and accumulation of phytochemicals. This means light affects not only plant shape and growth, but also taste, aroma, nutrition, chemical entities and more. While there is still much to learn about how crops respond to different spectra, many studies have already been conducted, enabling the development of more effective lighting strategies. The following table summarizes recent research on light quality for common crops: Light Quality Tomato Response Leafy Green Response Cucumber Response Pepper Response Cannabis Response Far-Red By lowering R:FR ratio, Increased total biomass Stimulated stem elongation Increased plant height and tomato seedling stem and leaf elongation (Stutte and leaf expansion at lower stem mass compared to elongation was significantly et al., 2009), decreased R:FR (Shibuya et al., 2019). red light alone (Brown et increased (Chia and Kubota, anthocyanin concentration Increased stem dry weight al., 1995). 2010). (Stutte et al., 2009; Li and and sugar content (Cu et Kubota, 2009). al., 2009). Red Use of supplemental red Preharvest exposure Increased number of leaves, Increased number of leaves Significantly increased light increased tomato fruit reduced nitrate root and shoot growth per plant and shoot length yield, tetrahydrocannabinol yield by 14% (Lu et al., 2012) concentration (Wanlai et (Marques da Silva et al., (Marques da Silva et al; (THC) (Hawley et al., 2018) and chlorophyll content al., 2013; Ohasi-Kaneko et 2016). 2016; Tang et al., 2019). and cannabidiol (CBD) compared to the control al., 2007; Samouliene et al., (Magagnini et al., 2018) treatments (Yang et al., 2018). 2009; Samouliene et al., content in bud tissue. 2011). Increased phenolic (Li and Kubota, 2009; Zakauskas et al., 2011) and carotenoid (Brazaityte et al., 2014) concentration. Green Partial replacement of blue High light intensity Increased growth, leaf Increased leaf area Significantly increased and red light with green promotes growth compared area, fresh and dry weight (Samouliene et al., 2012), α-pinene, borneol (Hawley increased plant growth in to fluorescent lamps (Johkan (Brazaityte et al., 2009; growth, yield phenolic et al., 2018) and THC in dense canopies, improving et al., 2012), reduced nitrate Samuoliene et al., 2011; and carotenoid content bud tissue and antioxidant yield, chlorophyll and concentration and increased Novickovas et al., 2012) compared to HPS lamps capacity compared to carotenoid concentration ascorbic, tocopherol and compared to HPS lamps. (Guo et al., 2016). sunlight (Livadariu et al., (Kaiser et al., 2019). anthocyanin content 2018). (Samuoliene et al., 2012). Blue Proved to be required for Increased ascorbic acid Increased leaf area, fresh Suppressed plant growth Increased polyphenols, normal chloroplast structure (Ohashi-Kaneko et al., and dry weight and and biomass formation flavonoids, fresh weight (Lu et al., 2012) and reduced 2007), B-carotene (Lefsrud photosynthetic pigments compared to cool white and protein compared to internode length (Menard et al., 2008), anthocyanin compared to natural light fluorescent lamps when sunlight (Livadariu et al., et al., 2006; Nanya et al., (Ohashi-Kaneko et al., 2007) and HPS lamps (Samuoliene used in high amounts 2018). 2012). Used alone, blue light content, leaf expansion et al., 2012). Decreased (Hoffmann et al., 2015). tends to reduce yield and (Stutte et al., 2009) and hypocotyl elongation photosynthesis efficiency root growth (Johkan et al., (Novickovas et al., 2012; compared to red (Lu et al., 2010). Decreased nitrate Hernandez and Kubota, 2012; Menard et al., 2006). concentration (Ohashi- 2016). Kaneko et al., 2007). UV There was a significant Increased anthocyanin Positive results controlling increase in carotene concentration (Li and powdery mildew concentration when plants Kubota, 2009). (Suthaparan et al., 2017). were exposed to UV light before harvest (Li and Kubota, 2009). Visit the Hort Americas blog or contact us for more helpful advice. Far-red light can promote increased biomass and leaf elongation in herbs and vegetables. 4 LED GROW LIGHTING 101 WHAT IS LIGHT QUALITY? DID YOU KNOW? To understand light quality, consider that light particles have different amounts of Light isn’t just critical to maximizing energy determined by the