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Open AccessArticle
Varying Light Intensities Affect Lettuce Growth and Physiology in Controlled Indoor Environments
by
Andres M. Mayorga-Gomez
Andres M. Mayorga-Gomez *,†,
Marc W. van Iersel
Marc W. van Iersel
Dr. Marc W. van Iersel received his PhD from the University of Arkansas in 1994. He has been with of [...]
Dr. Marc W. van Iersel received his PhD from the University of Arkansas in 1994. He has been with the horticulture department of the University of Georgia since 1995, where he now holds the Dooley Professorship. His research focuses on cost-effective supplemental lighting technologies in greenhouses and vertical farms. In 2017, he co-founded Candidus, Inc. (www.candidus.us) to help bring novel lighting strategies to the greenhouse industry.
†
and
Rhuanito Soranz Ferrarezi
Rhuanito Soranz Ferrarezi *
Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, 1111 Miller Plant Sciences, Athens, GA 30602, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors equally contributed to this work.
Horticulturae 2024, 10(9), 931; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090931 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 5 August 2024
/
Revised: 20 August 2024
/
Accepted: 29 August 2024
/
Published: 30 August 2024
Abstract
Agriculture in controlled environments has gained popularity over time. Compared to traditional agriculture, controlled environments emerge as an alternative to mitigate the negative impacts of conventional farming methods. However, controlled environment agriculture, particularly plant factories with artificial lighting, incurs higher electricity costs, primarily for supplemental lighting and dehumidification of the cultivation area. Given these high costs, it is crucial to understand how efficiently plants utilize available light to convert it into biomass. This understanding can be used to design lighting strategies to reduce electricity usage. In this study, we cultivated ‘Rex’ lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plants on a soilless substrate and used an ebb-and-flow system for irrigation and fertilization. Plants grew in varying photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) levels ranging from 125 to 375 µmol·m−2·s−1 and were assessed for various physiological responses. Our findings revealed that plants exposed to higher light levels exhibited greater final dry weight, increased photosynthetic activity, higher water use efficiency, and accelerated growth compared to those under lower light conditions. Notably, plants subjected to higher light intensities did not show a significant increase in transpiration, suggesting a potential trade-off between energy expenditure on supplemental lighting and dehumidification. This finding opens the possibility of reducing energy consumption for dehumidification and achieving economic savings by subjecting plants to optimal growing conditions for shorter durations. This depends on whether higher savings on dehumidification are achieved compared to the energy required to maintain high PPFD levels.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Mayorga-Gomez, A.M.; van Iersel, M.W.; Ferrarezi, R.S.
Varying Light Intensities Affect Lettuce Growth and Physiology in Controlled Indoor Environments. Horticulturae 2024, 10, 931.
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090931
AMA Style
Mayorga-Gomez AM, van Iersel MW, Ferrarezi RS.
Varying Light Intensities Affect Lettuce Growth and Physiology in Controlled Indoor Environments. Horticulturae. 2024; 10(9):931.
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090931
Chicago/Turabian Style
Mayorga-Gomez, Andres M., Marc W. van Iersel, and Rhuanito Soranz Ferrarezi.
2024. "Varying Light Intensities Affect Lettuce Growth and Physiology in Controlled Indoor Environments" Horticulturae 10, no. 9: 931.
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090931
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