Horticulture Lighting Spectral Control for Bolting Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In horticulture, especially in plant factories and vertical farms, there is a challenge in providing optimal light to plants to prevent bolting and increase yield, while also minimizing energy consumption and maintaining leaf quality.
Innovation Solution
A horticulture lighting system that provides a specific light recipe with a high percentage of far-red light (at least 5% of photons in the 700-800 nm range) and deep-red light (at least 40% of photons in the 640-700 nm range), while limiting blue light (no more than 10% of photons in the 400-500 nm range), to reduce bolting and enhance biomass production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional horticulture lighting with standard spectral composition is used, then plants receive balanced light for general growth, but bolting occurs and yield is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the spectral composition parameters of the horticulture lighting system. Specifically, it increases the far-red light component to at least 5% of total photons and deep-red light to at least 40% of total photons, while limiting blue light to no more than 10% of total photons. This spectral parameter adjustment prevents bolting and increases yield by altering how plants perceive and respond to light signals.
2Productivity
If high intensity horticulture lighting is provided to increase yield, then biomass production increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes energy efficiency by changing the spectral distribution parameters rather than simply increasing overall light intensity. By adjusting the ratio of far-red (≥5%), deep-red (≥40%), and blue (≤10%) photons, the system achieves higher biomass production with reduced energy consumption. This approach targets specific photoreceptor pathways to maximize photosynthetic efficiency and growth response per unit of energy input.
3Reliability
If standard lighting spectrum is used, then all plant growth needs are met, but leaf quality deteriorates due to bolting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the conflict between leaf quality and yield by changing the spectral composition parameters. The specific formulation with far-red light (≥5%), deep-red light (≥40%), and limited blue light (≤10%) prevents bolting while maintaining or enhancing leaf quality. This spectral parameter optimization ensures that plants remain in vegetative growth mode, producing high-quality leaves without premature flowering that would reduce marketable yield.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This lighting approach effectively reduces bolting, increases yield, and improves leaf quality, while also potentially reducing investment costs in lamps and energy use.
Implementation Method 1
Plants use the process of photosynthesis to convert light, CO2 and H2O into carbohydrates (sugars)
Implementation Method 2
Two important absorption peaks of chlorophyll a and b are located in the red and blue regions, especially from 625-675 nm and from 425-475 nm, respectively. Additionally, there are also other localized peaks at near-UV (300-400 nm) and in the far-red region (700-800 nm)
Implementation Method 3
The phytochrome photo system includes two forms of phytochromes, Pr and Pfr, which have their sensitivity peaks in the red at 660 nm and in the far-red at 730 nm, respectively
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method of providing horticulture light to a plant (1) in a horticulture arrangement (1000), the method comprising providing during a controlling mode first horticulture light (1111) to the plant (1) wherein at least 15% of the photons of the first horticulture light (1111) have a wavelength selected from the range of 700-800 nm, wherein at least 45% of the photons of the first horticulture light (1111) have a wavelength 5 selected from the range of 640-700 nm, and wherein at maximum 10% of the photons of the first horticulture light (1111) have a wavelength selected from the range of 400-500 nm.